New vital resource launched for women navigating menopause and diet after cancer 

29 May 2025

A new vital and innovative resource has been launched for women affected by cancer, who are experiencing a treatment-induced menopause. 

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.  

Developed by CORU-registered dietitians Dr. Samantha Cushen and Ms Katie Johnston, School of Food and Nutritional Sciences and Cancer Research, University College Cork, in partnership with the Irish Cancer Society, the book emerged from the 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. 

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. 

Samantha Cushen, Lecturer in Human Nutrition and Dietetics said: “Navigating menopause after cancer is hard enough—finding clear nutrition advice shouldn’t be. For too long, women have been left to piece together guidance from too many, often conflicting, sources. In a world full of nutrition misinformation, this book brings it all together—offering clarity, compassion, and credible answers in one evidence-based guide designed to support, inform, and reassure.”  

Katie Johnston, Oncology Research Dietitian commented: “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. Shaped by the voices of 16 women who helped design what they needed most – Menopause, Diet and Cancer is not a clinical manual; it’s a book designed to be part of your everyday life—and your kitchen.”  

Jointly, the authors state: “The launch of Menopause, Diet and Cancer marks a crucial breakthrough in Ireland, where dietetic support for cancer survivors is virtually non-existent. This resource takes an important step toward making trusted dietetic advice a standard part of care for women after cancer—but much more needs to be done to ensure every woman has access, and we are determined to make that a reality.” 

Marguerite Herlihy, patient spokesperson said: “I’m a mother of three and a post-primary teacher.  I’ve been openly documenting the highs and lows of life on Instagram after a sudden menopause at age 40, caused by chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, and ongoing hormone-blocking treatment for hormone-sensitive breast cancer. I do this both to support others and to find support myself as I navigate this new and unexpected chapter of life. 

“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 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.”