chemopause?

jdubious
jdubious Member Posts: 113
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Hi,
I finished chemo a little over 2 years ago (after single mastectomy and followed up by radiation). I've been in "chemopause" ever since. Was not even peri-menopausal before chemo, and I come from a family history of very hardy, long-lived ovaries on both sides of the family.
Last September I had a period. Notified the onc, since I'm on Arimedex. Got in for a blood test for hormones, but they said blood test showed I was in menopause - couldn't be a period. Sure seemed like one to me - my face broke out and I had all the usual symptoms.
Well - it's back again, with the usual symptoms, break-outs on face, some light cramping, 1 tender breast.
Has anyone else had this experience? I'm confused about the hormone thing - how accurate is the blood test for this? On one hand it is worrysome because of my cancer type, but it's also sort of cool that my body might be throwing off the last of the chemo effects.

jill

Comments

  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #2
    Jill,
    I'm no expert...but...from what I understand, the aromatase inhibitors like Arimidex are only given to post-menopause women because in women with working ovaries, it is not effective in blocking the estrogen (the female body is too good at producing it...). Could be that you have just enough ovary function that it causes 'break thru' state of peri-menopausal, but not consistent enough to catch consistent hormone levels.

    Make sure your gyn knows....

    Also, you MAY want to discuss changing to Tamoxifen, if truly things are returning...this is the only truly effective treatment to reduce breast cancer reoccurance in menstruating women...

    Congrats! Isn't 'normal' a wonderful thing???

    Hugs, Kathi
  • cabbott
    cabbott Member Posts: 1,039 Member
    #3
    I'm no expert either, but don't forget the birth control if there's any question! Arimidex pamphlets state that it is not safe to take during pregnancy.

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