121. Breast Cancer, Medical Menopause, and Whole-Person Healing with Sue Weldon of Unite for HER

A cancer diagnosis changes far more than the body. It can shake a woman’s confidence, her relationships, and her sense of control, and for many women it arrives during the same years she is already moving through perimenopause or menopause. Sue Weldon was 39, with three young children at home, when she was diagnosed with breast cancer 22 years ago. Her treatment included a bilateral mastectomy and six months of chemotherapy, which pushed her into medically induced menopause with hot flashes every hour, poor sleep, bone pain, and depression. She found that acupuncture, yoga, and nutrition helped her manage those side effects and stay on treatment, yet none of it was part of her medical care or covered by insurance. That gap became Unite for HER, the national nonprofit she founded to fund and deliver integrative therapies for people affected by breast and ovarian cancer. Sue and I talk about why emotional health belongs alongside physical treatment, how financial strain can quietly determine whether someone stays on therapy, and what she hopes her new book, Heal Empower Restore: A Revolutionary Road Map to Support the Body and Mind Throughout Cancer Care , offers a woman holding a fresh diagnosis. She is clear throughout that these therapies work in partnership with a woman’s oncology team, not in place of it. We also spend time on the people walking alongside a patient: how to ask for help in specific, concrete ways, and why saying yes to a friend’s offer can be a gift to them as well. In this episode How chemotherapy can bring on menopause in younger women, and what helped Sue with hot flashes, sleep, and treatment side effects Why Sue frames acupuncture, yoga, meditation, oncology massage, and counseling as additions to medical care rather than alternatives The connection between emotional distress, food and transportation insecurity, and staying on treatment How Unite for HER’s one-year Wellness Passport covers integrative therapies, nutrition support, and groceries at no cost to patients Practical ways to advocate for yourself, including bringing someone to appointments, recording visits with your clinician’s knowledge, writing questions down, and seeking another opinion when you feel dismissed How to turn “let me know if you need anything” into real help, from frozen broth to weeding the garden What caregivers can keep in mind, including showing up without trying to fix, and caring for themselves too Inside the book: expert-contributed chapters on reiki, ecotherapy, sexual health, and more, plus a recipe section for treatment-related symptoms like mouth sores and low appetite About Sue Weldon Sue Weldon is a 22-year breast cancer survivor and the founder and CEO of Unite for HER, a national nonprofit that provides integrative therapies, education, and community for people affected by breast and ovarian cancer. Before founding the organization, she worked as a gymnastics coach and in sales. Heal Empower Restore is her first book, written with contributions from Unite for HER’s network of physicians and integrative practitioners. Resources mentioned Unite for HER: uniteforher.org Apply for Unite for HER support: uniteforher.org/apply Heal Empower Restore by Sue Weldon, available in print and audiobook (narrated by Sue) from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, and other booksellers Let's Keep the Conversation Going <