“Coming to Grips” with Chemotherapy-Induced Premature Menopause

Abstract

Chemotherapy for early stage breast cancer has significantly improved survival outcomes but is associated with ovarian toxicity, resulting in early menopause for many premenopausal women. A qualitative study was conducted that generated a grounded theory explaining how women carried on with life in response to breast cancer and menopause. My purpose in this article is to describe three distinct types of responses from women in that study: making the best of it, struggling and barely noticing. The degree of menopausal symptom distress and perceived level of preparation for the menopause experience had the greatest influence on the type of response.

I acknowledge Cheryl T. Beck, RN, DNSc, and Kathy Knafl, PhD, for their mentorship in the development of this article.

The study was supported in part by NRSA T32NR07036 (University of Pennsylvania), Oncology Nursing Foundation Research Grant, and the American Cancer Society Professorship of Oncology Nursing.