Background: Menopausal symptoms following cancer are common and can substantially affect quality of life. Yet, many survivors do not receive adequate information, care is often fragmented, and access to clinicians with expertise in managing menopause after cancer is limited. Scalable models of care are needed that enable survivors to access appropriate support while making effective use of existing resources.
Aims: To develop a patient-driven stepped-care model to support personalised management of menopausal vasomotor symptoms after cancer.
Methods: The MySurvivorCare programme has used a multi-phase approach to understand current care, identify survivor and healthcare professional needs and co-design a digital stepped-care model. Evidence from systematic review, qualitative studies with cancer survivors and healthcare professionals, and co-design and usability testing informed development of the model.
Results: Survivors reported unmet information and treatment needs and difficulty navigating menopause care following cancer. Healthcare professionals identified uncertainty around management, particularly menopausal hormone therapy, and a need for greater support and collaboration across disciplines. MySurvivorCare was developed in response to these findings as a patient-driven stepped-care model in which survivors assess their symptoms and are directed to care matched to their level of need. The model integrates evidence-based self-management, primary care supported by clinician resources, and referral to specialist menopause services for more severe or complex needs. Co-design and usability testing indicated that the model was acceptable and perceived as useful by survivors and healthcare professionals.
Conclusions: A patient-driven stepped-care approach offers a potential health services model for delivering personalised menopause care after cancer. By matching care intensity to need and connecting self-management, primary care and specialist services, MySurvivorCare aims to improve access to evidence-based care while supporting efficient use of specialist services. Evaluation of its feasibility and impact within healthcare settings is the next step.