Hot Flush

Motherhood, the Menopause and Me

At the age of thirty-three, Michelle Heaton, singer, TV presenter, star of the hit ITV show The Real Full Monty, mother and wife underwent a double mastectomy and hysterectomy to reduce the risk of cancer caused by the BRCA gene mutation. The journey that Michelle’s body embarked upon following the surgeries led her into the menopause in her mid-thirties. In Hot Flush, Michelle traces her path from pop stardom with Liberty X through her burgeoning television career and how she came to discover the truth about the gene mutation and its consequences for her. Though her story is undoubtedly unique, what’s not is her understanding of living and dealing with the menopause as a hardworking mother and wife, and it is this wisdom that she wants to share with other women – over 13 million women in the UK – estimated to be experiencing the menopause. Candid and honest, Hot Flush details Michelle’s struggles with dealing with the menopause in her own head as well as in her marriage, family life and the work place. She details the emotional and physical challenges she has faced – the explosive moods, the hot flushes and the mourning of the loss of a woman’s sex appeal. Along the way, she offers real help and advice on how to stay healthy in mind and body. Inspiring, raw and unfailingly honest, Hot Flush is a candid approach to introducing your body to its next chapter.