The SHE-CAN (Sexual HEalth in breast CANcer) Clinic is now open at Mount Sinai Hospital, providing much-needed support to women experiencing menopause symptoms after breast cancer treatment. A collaboration between the Weston and O’Born Centre for Mature Women’s Health and the Marvelle Koffler Breast Centre, this groundbreaking clinic is meeting a long-overdue need for specialized care — and it was made possible, in part, by generous donor support.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, with 25,000 new diagnoses each year in Canada. There are effective treatments, but anti-estrogen therapies can trigger severe menopausal symptoms. In fact, 75 per cent of our patients experience Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM), and as many as 30 per cent will stop their treatment early due to debilitating symptoms such as vaginal dryness, pain, hot flashes and sleep disturbances. Shockingly, many women are never even asked about these symptoms as part of their care.
The SHE-CAN Clinic is one of the only clinics in North America for this patient population and the first in Canada to integrate research in this underserved area.
The clinic provides a central access point to gynaecological care with dedicated clinic hours, enhanced resources and a team committed to improving quality of life, with a focus on sexual health and cancer outcomes.
The clinic extends Sinai Health’s legacy of advancing care for women at every stage of life, with a focus on under-resourced areas such as menopause care. It will also support patients in the PYNK: Young Women with Breast Cancer program, ensuring tailored care to meet the unique needs of women 45 and younger.
With the capacity to see up to 500 patients annually, SHE-CAN is a game changer for women’s health. It is more than a place for care — it’s a promise to women that they don’t have to navigate these challenges alone. With every patient we support, we are redefining what it means to care for women after breast cancer. And we’re just getting started.