Episode

Episode 227 - The Messy Middle: Restarting HRT and Feeling Invisible

Podcast
Navigating Menopause After Cancer
Published
Jul 22, 2026
Duration seconds
2582
Processing state
not_requested
Canonical source
https://menopauseandcancer.org/podcast/
Audio
https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/58dc08e6-02fa-4528-a1b2-a51684d519f0.mp3
JSON
/v1/public/podcasts/the-menopause-and-cancer-podcast-5554044/episodes/episode-227-the-messy-middle-restarting-hrt-and-feeling-invisible
Markdown
/podcast/the-menopause-and-cancer-podcast-5554044/episode-227-the-messy-middle-restarting-hrt-and-feeling-invisible.md

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Summary

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 ev…