Breast cancer remains one of the most significant health challenges for South African women, particularly during and after menopause.
What is Menopause?
Menopause is a natural biological process, usually occurring in women in their 40s and 50s.
As oestrogen levels decline, women may experience hot flushes, night sweats, mood shifts, vaginal dryness, sleep disturbances, and reduced bone density.
Does Menopause Cause Cancer?
Menopause does not cause cancer, but a woman’s risk of developing cancer increases with age.
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
It is important for women considering HRT that they discuss this thoroughly with their healthcare professional.
The conversation needs to consider personal and family cancer history, cardiovascular and liver health, and lifestyle factors such as weight, diet, exercise, alcohol consumption, and using tobacco.
Questions or considerations may include:
What type and duration of HRT, if any, is appropriate for me?
What are my personal risks (family history, hormone exposure, lifestyle)?
What screening tests should I prioritise, especially during and after menopause?
What lifestyle changes can I realistically adopt to reduce my risk?
CANSA advocates that some of the most effective ways to lower risk include maintaining a healthy body weight; engaging in regular physical activity; avoiding alcohol and tobacco use.
Risks of HRT
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is sometimes prescribed to ease side effects of menopause.
Some breast cancers are hormone-sensitive, and long-term use of combined oestrogen-progesterone therapy (beyond three to five years) can increase breast cancer risk.
The good news is that risk levels usually fall back toward baseline within three to five years of stopping treatment.
Short-term or oestrogen-only therapy carries different risk profiles but may have other health implications if not carefully managed.
Beyond cancer, oestrogen decline also affects bone and heart health, increasing risks of osteoporosis, fractures, and cardiovascular disease.
Gwen Thabane (43 yrs) discovered a lump during a breast-self-exam. “I have a family history of cancer and am always on the lookout for symptoms and signs,” she says.
Her story shows that hormone-sensitive conditions don’t wait for menopause.
Diagnosed with endometriosis and fibroids in her late 30s, Gwen had a hysterectomy that left her ovaries intact to delay early menopause.
A few years later, she was diagnosed with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. This is a type of cancer that uses oestrogen and progesterone as fuel.
“All three diagnoses were oestrogen-driven,” she explains.
Gwen’s story is a reminder that while menopause is a key turning point in women’s hormonal health, hormone-sensitive conditions can emerge long before. This underscores the importance of awareness and informed healthcare decisions at every stage of a woman’s life, and regular cancer screening.
How CANSA Helps
CANSA urges women to prioritise breast self-examinations and screenings for breast cancer.
It provides affordable Clinical Breast Examinations at its Care Centres to identify any lumps or irregularities. Patients with medical aid can claim the cost from their medical aids after payment.
Government health clinics offer free clinical breast examinations.
Women can access mammograms at public hospital breast clinics with a referral letter from a medical professional or a CANSA nurse.
Alternatively, women may contact the Radiological Society of SA (RSSA) at www.rssa.co.za to arrange a mammogram. (Women over 40 are advised to undergo annual screenings).
