Penny Lancaster inundated with support following tough health admission: 'Good on you!'

Penny Lancaster

Penny opened up about her menopause struggle

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Lauren Williams

By Lauren Williams


Published: 27/06/2024

- 16:07

The former model opened up about her struggle after receiving her menopause diagnosis

Penny Lancaster has been inundated with support from her social media fans after thousands read her recent interview where she discussed the horrific time she faced when going through menopause before being prescribed HRT.

The Special Police Constable was just 49 years old when she first began experiencing symptoms of the menopause and after consulting with her GP, was misdiagnosed with depression and given anti-depressants.


The 53-year-old admitted she felt "numb" whilst taking the medication, but her Loose Women colleagues soon intervened and explained they thought she was going through the menopause - something she thought was impossible due to her age.

After being on the anti-depressants for some time and feeling like they weren't helping, things came to a head when she was cooking dinner for her husband Rod Stewart, 79, and her two sons Alastair, 18, and Aiden, 13.

She told The Times that after shouting for them to come to dinner: "I picked up the plates and I threw them across the kitchen. Which is an outrageous thing to think of — who the hell would throw the dinner?

"But the physical act [was hard to stop]… Because I couldn’t contain it anymore. I didn’t want to hurt anyone. I didn’t want to hurt myself. But I felt like it was getting to that point.

"Hurting myself. Hurting someone. I threw these plates of food across the kitchen as hard as I could, to make as much noise as I could. As if the noise… as if someone would wake up, someone would notice me, someone would have the answer."

"Of course, it was an absolute shock to Rod and the boys. Rod just went, ‘Boys, in the other room. Leave Mummy.’ He came over and said, ‘It’s all right, darling. It’s OK, it’s OK.’ I was shaking.

"I can’t do this. What the hell is going on with me?’ I thought I was going mad. Rod said, ‘Right, we’ve got to get you to the doctor’s. You can’t carry on like this. There’s got to be an answer. There’s got to be something."

She added that despite trying, she "couldn't feel happy" and didn't care about anything or anyone around her.

Penny Lancaster and Rod Stewart

Rod helped Penny get through her tough times

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"Didn’t care about anything that was happening. 'I can’t do this. What the hell is going on with me?’ I thought I was going mad. Rod said, ‘Right, we’ve got to get you to the doctor’s. You can’t carry on like this. There’s got to be an answer. There’s got to be something."

After finally getting the help she needed, Lancaster started taking HRT which left her to gain some weight - something she said that Stewart would hint at but not directly say to her. that Stewart would hint at but not directly say to her.

Lancaster also mentioned in the interview just how surprised she was with how well Stewart dealt with everything.

Fans of Penny have been left grateful that the former model has opened up about her time dealing with menopause and revealed the struggles she had been through, with thousands leaving comments under her Instagram post promoting the aforementioned interview.

Penny Lancaster and sons Alastair and Aiden

Penny was fearful about hurting her family before being medicated with HRT

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One noted: "My journey with menopause has been horrific. I finally am on testosterone and estrogen and progesterone and, who knew I can actually think again! GOOD ON YOU FOR BEING A STRONG VOICE."

Another added: "Supermodel. Wow!! Wish I had your figure and long legs beautiful lady inside and out. So down to earth. You and Rod a wonderful couple. Love your dresses, so stunning."

"Beautiful and I second all these comments re. Menopause and speaking out about it. Incredibly brave and helped so many," a third said before someone else commented: "Thank you! Gorgeous pic! You're a very beautiful lady."

A fifth fan expressed: "You look absolutely gorgeous purple really suits you. Thanks for speaking about menopause, it is a difficult time for many women and people like you make people like me feel as though we are not alone."

Someone else penned: "Wonderful human being. Inside and outside. Thank. You for being such a great role model." (sic)

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