In this episode, I’m joined by GP and menopause specialist Dr Helen Wall, and we’re exploring something that so many of you have been talking about in our community — struggling with brain fog, focus, memory, total overwhelm, and that feeling of just not feeling like you can manage anymore.

We often call it brain fog. But what if, for some of us, it could be something more?

Today, we’re diving into ADHD in women, and how it can show up — or become more noticeable — during menopause and after, especially cancer treatment.

Because the reality is, many women are only being diagnosed later in life. And for those of us navigating sudden menopause, hormonal changes, and the impact of cancer treatment, it can feel even more confusing to understand what’s really going on in our brains.

This episode is here to help you make sense of it all.

We also talk about:

How do I know what’s what?

Does lifestyle help my ADHD brain?

Can you take ADHD medication after cancer?

And so much more.

Episode Highlights:

00:00 Intro

06:55 Discussing menopause and mental load

10:04 Navigating neurodivergence and perimenopause

16:24 ADHD, oestrogen, and perimenopause link

17:58 The impact of menopause on brain function

22:38 Lack of education on female hormones

25:43 Understanding ADHD in women and girls

28:07 Challenges with post-cancer employment and support

34:08 ADHD medication challenges and support

39:24 ADHD and diet considerations

44:45 Navigating ADHD and menopause

You can find Helen’s book here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Menopause-ADHD-neurodivergence-Vermilion-Empowered/dp/178504642X

And this is Helen’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctorhelenwall/

Connect with us:

For more information and resources visit our website: www.menopauseandcancer.org

Or follow us on Instagram @menopause_and_cancer

Join our Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/menopauseandcancerchathub

In this episode, I’m joined by Lindsey Lester, a British Menopause Society-accredited specialist and breast cancer survivor, for an essential conversation on bone health after cancer and menopause.

Bone health is one of the most common — and least talked about — long-term effects of cancer treatment. Whether your menopause was triggered suddenly by treatment or has developed over time, the impact on your bones can be significant.

We explore how treatments such as chemotherapy, endocrine therapies (including tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors), steroids, and treatment-induced menopause can all affect bone density — across different types of cancer, not just breast cancer.

We also talk about who may be most at risk, how quickly bone density can change, and why bone loss is often called a “silent” condition — with many people not realising until much later.

A key part of this conversation is understanding DEXA scans — when to have one, how often to monitor your bone health, and what it really means if you’re told you have osteopenia or osteoporosis.

But most importantly, this episode is about what you can do.

From nutrition and movement to medications and monitoring, Lindsey shares clear, practical ways to protect your bones — and answers one of the biggest questions so many people have after cancer:

Can we improve our bone health without HRT?

This episode will help you feel more informed, more in control, and better equipped to make decisions about your long-term health.

Episode Highlights:

00:00 Intro

06:09 Participant introductions and background questions

09:00 Discussing osteoporosis awareness plan

13:03 Postmenopausal bone health risks

15:16 Discussing bone health awareness

20:08 Young people unaware of health risks

22:49 Discussing tamoxifen and ovarian function

28:51 Experiencing medical and surgical menopause

31:37 Calcium and vitamin D for bone health

39:52 Tracking calcium on a vegan diet

44:54 Discussing exercise for bone health

49:30 Cholesterol management with exercise

51:47 Benefits of building muscle

Here are some links we mentioned:

https://theros.org.uk/information-and-support/bone-health/nutrition-for-bones/calcium/calcium-rich-food-chooser/

https://strwebstgmedia.blob.core.windows.net/media/0lhowmrk/about-exercise-fact-sheet-february-2019.pdf

You can find Lindsey here: https://healthinmenopause.co.uk/meet-the-team/

Connect with us:

For more information and resources visit our website: www.menopauseandcancer.org

Or follow us on Instagram @menopause_and_cancer

Join our Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/menopauseandcancerchathub

In this episode, I’m doing something a little different.

I’m sharing real stories of who I met, what went on in our menopause after cancer community, and real experiences of what menopause after cancer actually feels like. The parts that often go unspoken.

• I mull over if menopause after cancer needs a rebrand?
• What does it mean to set realistic expectations?

And alongside that, I’m answering your questions.

From hair to how long does menopause last to GLP-1’s and risk — this is a space to bring it all together.

Because so often, we’re told what should happen…

but not what it really feels like to live through it.

And because sometimes the best meaning advice is hard to implement for yourself - right at the end, I’m reading a beautiful poem to you by Jeff Foster - it’s called: Slow Down Friend.

You’re not alone in this. And there are ways to feel better.

Episode Highlights:

00:00 Intro

05:42 Discussing menopause after cancer support

17:40 Answering listener questions on hair thinning

20:54 Diagnosing and treating hair loss

23:04 Discussing hair fibres and re-growth helmets

25:55 Discussing menopause after ovary removal

29:33 Managing cancer treatment and lifestyle risks

32:11 Considering whole patient health

35:26 Finding solace in the poem, Slow Down Friend

Episode mentions:

Episode 118: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/ep-118-what-is-the-evidence-between-hrt-and-breast/id1631842514?i=1000666722248

Episode 191: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/episode-191-i-cant-shift-the-weight-should-i-consider/id1631842514?i=1000736358058

Connect with us:

For more information and resources visit our website: www.menopauseandcancer.org

Or follow us on Instagram @menopause_and_cancer

Join our Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/menopauseandcancerchathub