News
Menopause, Diet & Cancer Book Launch
Menopause, Diet & Cancer is a new vital and innovative resource for women affected by cancer who are experiencing a treatment-induced menopause.
Developed by CORU-registered dieticians Ms Katie Johnston and Dr. Samantha Cushen from Cancer Research @UCC and the School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, in partnership with the Irish Cancer Society, the book emerged from our Women’s Health Initiative “Linking You with Support and Advice” (LYSA) Trial.
Cancer treatments can sometimes trigger a sudden, intense menopause, often leading to more severe symptoms than those of natural menopause. For some, these symptoms are manageable, while others may find them overwhelming. They can impact quality of life and compound the physical and emotional burdens many women face during and after their cancer journey.
Menopause, Diet & Cancer is designed to offer practical, evidence-based guidance on how dietary and lifestyle choices can alleviate menopausal symptoms and enhance overall well-being. The book is interwoven with the patient voices of 16 women with lived experience who have helped to design a resource that they needed.
Katie Johnston, Cancer Research @UCC Oncology Research Dietitian & co-author: “There is a serious lack of dedicated dietetic support for women managing the long-term, often debilitating, effects of cancer and treatment-induced menopause. All too frequently, my colleagues and I found ourselves in clinic, reaching for a resource that simply did not exist—one our patients clearly needed. Menopause, Diet and Cancer is not a clinical manual; it’s a book designed to be part of your everyday life - and your kitchen.”
The resource integrates lived experiences, sound scientific evidence, and the invaluable perspectives of patients themselves, making it a trusted companion for women embarking on this complex journey.
The book has been welcomed by patients like Marguerite Herlihy, patient spokesperson who experienced a sudden menopause at age 40, caused by chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, and ongoing hormone-blocking treatment for hormone-sensitive breast cancer: “This experience has been one of the most difficult and unpredictable challenges I’ve ever faced. The very treatments that are keeping me alive also carry long-term risks to my heart, bones, brain, and other vital organs. That’s why nutrition has become such an essential part of how I care for my health going forward.
“This (book) is the first Irish publication that has truly made me feel seen - not just in terms of my diagnosis, but in the full complexity of what I’m dealing with. Beyond understanding, this book offers clear, science-based nutritional advice and practical strategies I hadn’t been able to find elsewhere.”
Download the Menopause, Diet & Cancer resource here: https://www.cancer.ie/menopauseplate