Menstrual problems

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nowonderwoman
nowonderwoman Member Posts: 8
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I had a fairly large malignant tumor in my sigmoid colon and had it removed in March of 2007. Nine out of the twelve lymph nodes removed showed cancer. I had six rounds of folfox and became "allergic" to the Oxalaplatin and finished up with six rounds of Xeloda. In March of 2008 a CAT scan showed metastases to my liver. I had that tumor ablated and then started chemo again with erbutux-folfiri, vectibex-folfiri and today I started Avastin-folfiri.

I was told when I started chemo that my monthly periods would probably stop and probably would not start again (I was 44 years old). Well lucky me! Not only did they not stop, I started having two periods a month. I don't mean just spotting. I was having full fledged periods - PMS and all. Lately, I have had to wear a pad constantly. Out of nowhere I will get a dull cramp and then just gush. I am still working so it is very disturbing to me when I am with a customer and this happens. I have mentioned this to my oncologist and he has had little to say about it. When I saw him yesterday my blood work showed that I was only mildly anemic.

Has anyone else had a problem with this?

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  • usakat
    usakat Member Posts: 610 Member
    #2
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    Ugh...
    On top of everything else...sorry you have to deal with that too.

    I would suggest you go see your gyno or an onco-gyno as soon as you can (an onco-gyno can review your entire case - your colon cancer and your menstruation issues as a whole). Ask the onco-gyno for an ultrasound. My onco-gyno is great!

    It's probably associated with the chemo treatments, but giving you some assurance that nothing is wrong will be good for you.

    I have had problems since I finished chemo too.

    Let us know what happens...
  • crazylady
    crazylady Member Posts: 543 Member
    #3
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    I've been there
    I had a similar problem. I was told that if I did not have a period for a year after chemo I could consider myself in menopause. I was 46 at the time. I started bleeding after 13 months, continously and was anemic. I finally ended up seeing a gyn-onc. I receive an injection every 3 months and take medication 14 days of the month. I still get periods occasionally, but nothing like before.

    Please see a specialist! I know how miserable it is to live that way. Neither my oncologist or my family physician had any idea of how to deal with it. The gyn-onc stated that my uterus should have been removed with the original surgery, but most surgeons don't do it. I wish I had known that and that it had been removed.

    Take care and good luck!
    Jamie
  • lfondots63
    lfondots63 Member Posts: 818 Member
    #4
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    Menstrual problems
    Hi,

    I would say see a specialist too! I went into menapause with the chemo (YEAH) and then about 1 year later started gushing and couldn't stop. I got so scared that went to the doctor and got meds that finally slowed it down. Because I didn't have my menstrual for 1 year there was build up and that was the cause of my problem. Now it is infrequent and a 'suprise' when I do get it. Please tell us how it goes. HUGS.

    Lisa F
  • mk1117
    mk1117 Member Posts: 46
    #5
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    Me, too!
    I was diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer in 2004, when I was 44. I was told the chemo treatments would make me sterile and could possibly kick me into early menopause. I stopped having periods while I was having treatments, but unfortunately, the periods reappeared. They are heavier than they used to be, and my PMS is out of control! (I'm going to see my OB/GYN next week to see if there's something that can help with the PMS). To be on the safe side, my OB/GYN does ultrasounds on me every six months, since colon & ovarian cancer are from the same "family." Find an OB/GYN that you trust!!!

    Kathy
  • assasa
    assasa Member Posts: 1
    #6
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    mk1117 said:

    Me, too!
    I was diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer in 2004, when I was 44. I was told the chemo treatments would make me sterile and could possibly kick me into early menopause. I stopped having periods while I was having treatments, but unfortunately, the periods reappeared. They are heavier than they used to be, and my PMS is out of control! (I'm going to see my OB/GYN next week to see if there's something that can help with the PMS). To be on the safe side, my OB/GYN does ultrasounds on me every six months, since colon & ovarian cancer are from the same "family." Find an OB/GYN that you trust!!!

    Kathy

    Hi
    .
  • Shayenne
    Shayenne Member Posts: 2,342
    #7
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    assasa said:

    Hi
    .

    Awww....
    Congratulations to you, that's wonderful news, you should have made a whole new topic for yourself, so that more people would see this. I wish you the best of luck with a great, healthy pregnancy!

    Hugssss!
    ~Donna
  • chynabear
    chynabear Member Posts: 481 Member
    #8
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    Shayenne said:

    Awww....
    Congratulations to you, that's wonderful news, you should have made a whole new topic for yourself, so that more people would see this. I wish you the best of luck with a great, healthy pregnancy!

    Hugssss!
    ~Donna

    Ugh...
    I had problems too. Recap, diagnosed right at 27. Told I would be 40% less likely to have another baby. Never mentioned menopause. Continued to have normal period. A few years later, I started having longer periods, or rather just spotting for a few days past my regular cycle. Did all of the tests and came up with nothing. They suspected that the chemo just "messed with" my ovaries. I to had very bad mood swings and PMS that I didn't have before. I was put on Yaz which caused me to spot nearly every day during the month (I'm talking like a single spot each day, but still terrible to live with) and then went ot Yasmin 28. This caused my periods to return to normal and mostly the PMS went back to normal. I am about 6 months late to go to the gyno and my periods are still spotting a few days longer. I need to get in, but can't find the time.

    You are better off getting yourself to a gyno to make sure you are seen by the most knowledgable person to figure this out.

    Good luck. It isn't bad enough to have cancer, and chemo, and surgery... but to be topped off with cycle problems just sucks.
  • Julie 44
    Julie 44 Member Posts: 476 Member
    #9
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    chynabear said:

    Ugh...
    I had problems too. Recap, diagnosed right at 27. Told I would be 40% less likely to have another baby. Never mentioned menopause. Continued to have normal period. A few years later, I started having longer periods, or rather just spotting for a few days past my regular cycle. Did all of the tests and came up with nothing. They suspected that the chemo just "messed with" my ovaries. I to had very bad mood swings and PMS that I didn't have before. I was put on Yaz which caused me to spot nearly every day during the month (I'm talking like a single spot each day, but still terrible to live with) and then went ot Yasmin 28. This caused my periods to return to normal and mostly the PMS went back to normal. I am about 6 months late to go to the gyno and my periods are still spotting a few days longer. I need to get in, but can't find the time.

    You are better off getting yourself to a gyno to make sure you are seen by the most knowledgable person to figure this out.

    Good luck. It isn't bad enough to have cancer, and chemo, and surgery... but to be topped off with cycle problems just sucks.

    Me too
    I just finished treatment and was told I am in early menapause at age 44..But I went on the Deprovara SHOT(Can't spell) to get regular and stop the cramps...It helped alot no bleeding or cramps..So check into that with your Gyno...Good Luck
  • tiny one
    tiny one Member Posts: 465 Member
    #10
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    periods
    I went into menopause, I was 47 at the time of my treatments. I remember my last period was in May 07. Not only do I not have periods anymore but I have vaginal shortening and rectal narrowing from radiation. Before I was diagnosed I was having 2 periods a month.

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