Within just a year of being diagnosed with breast cancer, lawyer mum and so-called ‘midlife-hipster’ George made the deeply personal decision to restart HRT.
This episode isn't about advocating for or against HRT after breast cancer, and it certainly isn't about telling anyone what they should or shouldn't do. Instead, it's about understanding one woman's journey and exploring the thoughts, emotions and experiences that shaped her decision.
This conversation also goes far beyond HRT. George speaks beautifully about something I know many women will recognise: feeling invisible in midlife. Long before she made the decision to restart HRT, she had already begun finding ways to reconnect with herself. We talk about "Sparkly Fridays", bright lipstick, embracing colour, finding moments of joy and slowly rediscovering her confidence. It's a wonderful reminder that getting your mojo back isn't always about one big decision; sometimes it's the many little things that help you feel like yourself again.
When I first spoke to George, she was right in the messy middle. She had restarted HRT but, for the first time, found herself feeling anxious about that decision. I know so many people in our community are asking similar questions, often without straightforward answers.
My hope is that today's conversation helps us take some of the emotion out of these discussions and instead become a little more curious about one another. We don't all have to make the same decisions, but we can learn so much by listening without judgement.
In this episode, we discuss:
- George's decision to restart HRT after breast cancer
- Living with uncertainty and navigating deeply personal decisions
- Anxiety, confidence and trusting yourself
- Feeling invisible in midlife
- "Sparkly Fridays" and finding joy in the everyday
- Why there is no one-size-fits-all approach to menopause after cancer
- The importance of listening to one another's stories without judgement
Episode Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
04:53 Building an online community
10:58 Early breast cancer diagnosis story
14:10 Discussing HRT decision after cancer
19:19 Anxiety about cancer recurrence
20:34 Discussing menopause and shared decisions
26:10 Discussing hormones and health choices
29:38 Reflecting on past struggles
34:41 Considering future HRT plans
37:40 Heart and bone health after cancer
42:14 Coping with difficult decisions
Next week, you'll hear from another breast cancer survivor whose story is completely different. HRT isn't something she would personally consider, and that's exactly why I wanted to share these conversations side by side. Every experience is unique, and by hearing a range of perspectives, my hope is that we can all feel a little more informed, a little more understood, and a little less alone.
Enjoy!
Follow George here: https://www.instagram.com/awomancalledgeorge/
Dani’s links:
Join my NEW blog ‘Still Becoming’ on Substack: https://substack.com/@danibinnington?r=1osz6a&utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page
Buy my book ‘Navigating Menopause After Cancer’: https://amzn.eu/d/07dUoYBb
Join the 12th September Thames Bridges Trek: https://fundraiseformenopauseandcancer.raiselysite.com/thamesbridgestrekultrachallenge
Set up your own fundraiser: https://fundraiseformenopauseandcancer.raiselysite.com/fundraisingideas
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
Mentioned in this episode:
Fundraiser Walk: https://fundraiseformenopauseandcancer.raiselysite.com/thamesbridgestrekultrachallenge
Substack: https://danibinnington.substack.com/
