ONCOLOGY MENOPAUSE CLINIC

Our Foundation has previously supported successful projects run by Bristol and Weston Hospitals Charity (formerly Above and Beyond) including a contribution towards the provision of 2 4D scanners at the foetal medicine unit which have enabled lifesaving procedures to be carried out on unborn babies. When we received their application about funding a specialist clinic to provide support and treatment to current and previous cancer patients who are experiencing severe symptoms of the menopause, we were happy to get involved.

Women who have undergone treatment for cancer often experience severe symptoms when they enter the menopause and some treatments can even trigger its early onset. These physical and mental symptoms can have a huge impact on women's everyday lives. Menopause is the stage at which the female body's natural levels of oestrogen and progesterone decrease and ovaries cease to produce eggs. It is a difficult time for women where they experience many unpleasant symptoms such as hot flushes, mood swings and vaginal dryness. GPs are often understandably reluctant to prescribe cancer patients the same medications they would give to other ladies to relieve menopause symptoms due to their increased risk of cancer recurrence, often leaving these women feeling forgotten and suffering.

Clinicians identified a need for a tailored approach for these women in the form of a multidisciplinary oncology menopause clinic. Together with Bristol and Weston Hospitals Charity, the clinicians devised a year long pilot scheme of monthly clinics attending to 150 women from the Bristol area. The scheme was intended to institute a much-needed cancer after-effects service whilst collecting evidence to analyse the impact of this service on patients and service provision.We are hopeful that the positive impact and clear evidence of need that the pilot year has demonstrated will lead to the establishment of a permanent service in Bristol.

In its first 6 months the clinic has benefitted 92 women and has enough referrals to continue until Spring 2022 and beyond. It has received high praise from both medical staff and service users. One surgeon said that "this has been a very powerful and life changing service" for his patients and a patient claimed that they felt that 'the appointment may well be the start of a better quality of life" which is exactly the aim of such a project!

The outcomes have certainly surpassed expectations. Ongoing feedback from patients has seen an increase in initial appointment timeslots from 30 to 45 minutes to ensure that each patient has sufficient time to discuss all of their needs. The clinic is now fully booked until the end of 2021. New referrals are being received every week and by extending the clinic to one full day a month rather than half a day, the charity hopes to cut women's waiting time in half.

This project is having a direct impact on the lives of many women in our local area. With a patient centric approach we look forward to seeing how this service goes on to support many more women in our area.