NHS charity funds CBT for patients receiving anti-cancer treatment with menopause symptoms

Pictured above from left to right: Linsey Jones and Sally-Ann Rolls

Thanks to generous donations, Hywel Dda Health Charities, the official charity of Hywel Dda University Health Board, has funded cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for those experiencing menopause symptoms when receiving anti-cancer treatment for breast cancer.

Cognitive behavioural therapy is a talking therapy that can help people manage their symptoms by changing the way they think and behave.

Menopause symptoms can include anxiety and depression, as well as other psychological and physiological symptoms such as hot flushes and night sweats, sleep problems and fatigue. During CBT, people can learn different techniques to help them manage and cope with these symptoms.

Linsey Jones, Macmillan Acute Oncology Coordinator, said: “We’re incredibly grateful that charitable funds have allowed us to participate in the CBT intervention.

“The intervention will benefit patients experiencing undesirable side effects as a result of their cancer treatment by introducing them to self-management, evidence-based strategies to address menopause symptoms.”

Sally-Ann Rolls, Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist, CBT Course Lead, said: “This course has been quite literally life changing for some of our patients.  We could not provide this degree of enrichment without the charitable funds so generously provided.”

Nicola Llewelyn, Head of Hywel Dda Health Charities, the official charity of Hywel Dda University Health Board, said: “The support of our local communities enables us to provide services over and above what the NHS can provide in the three counties of Hywel Dda and we are extremely grateful for every donation we receive.”