Chemo induced menopause or not.......

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Eil4186

Posts: 753
Joined: Dec 2007

April 11, 2009 - 1:05pm

Hi everyone, I have been meaning to pose this question for a long time but never got around to it. I had my last period after my second treatment of Adriamycin/Cytoxan. That was July 2006. I had a bit of spotting six months after that but since then nothing.

However, according to my bloodwork I am still premenopausal. (Estradoil=99 FSH=12)
So I am wondering if its the tamoxifen that is stopping my period. My primary care doc said if you don't have a period for 12 months you are menopausal. My oncologist said I could still get my period back and I am not menopausal. At a conference I recently attended the oncologist who was the speaker told me that you are considered menopausal with no period for 12 months WITH NO hormone manipulation (and he said tamoxifen is considered hormone manipulation).

That makes sense but it still seems weird to me that my ovaries are producing a premenopausal level of estrogen but no period. I was just wondering if any of you are in this situation as well? Thanks, Eil.

tasha_111

Posts: 1750
Joined: Oct 2008

April 11, 2009 - 1:19pm

Eil

I'm not sure where I am, I was on Depo-Provera for 8 years before diagnosis, it can take up to 3 years for periods to re-start after this. I was taken off depo and put on tamoxifen, now I don't know if i am pre or post menepausal..All I know is I am not having the monthly "Curse" Tamoxifen gives me hot flushes and night sweats Am I going through this or is it yet to come?.. Sorry, totally confused (as usual) J xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Eil4186

Posts: 753
Joined: Dec 2007

April 11, 2009 - 1:23pm

Hi j, thanks for your reply.

Hi j, thanks for your reply. What is Depo-Provera? Don't you hate the night sweats and hot flashes? Don't feel bad about being confused, many of us are right there with ya!

tasha_111

Posts: 1750
Joined: Oct 2008

April 11, 2009 - 1:37pm

Eil

Hi again. Depo Provera is an Injection contraceptive every 3 months.......Stops your periods, manages your (I need to KILL someone or CRY for England moods)..I wish someone would invent a pillow that is always cool... I get through 4 a night/ both sides, Thanks for what you said, I am so totally confused I feel like a freak! But I get by (Just).....Thank you for your understanding......... Hugs Jxxxxxxxxx

Eil4186

Posts: 753
Joined: Dec 2007

April 11, 2009 - 4:27pm

Hi J, hang in there with the

Hi J, hang in there with the night sweats. I find if I aim a fan on me it helps. Btw, I like your picture! Cute hair.

seof

Posts: 257
Joined: Jun 2007

April 11, 2009 - 1:58pm

Im in the same boat

I am in the same boat. I had my last period in September 2007 when I started the same mix of drugs. I finished Herceptin (affects hormones) Feb. 2009 and have not started yet. I am turning 45 on April 15. I asked my Oncologist if I might start up again, or if I am done. He said I could start again up to a year after finishing Herceptin, so I guess I am in a "wait and see" mode. I think the experience is fairly common, and I'm not sure Doctors have definite answers about it. Oh, well, at least I am still here to wonder about it.

Take care, seof

Eil4186

Posts: 753
Joined: Dec 2007

April 11, 2009 - 4:29pm

Thanks Seof. I am also 45.

Thanks Seof. I am also 45. Has your doc done blood work to test your hormone levels?

mjfromtx

Posts: 26
Joined: Aug 2008

April 11, 2009 - 8:25pm

menopause??

I had my last spotty period last September right before my 1st chemo. I too had Depo shots to prevent period onset migraines. My onc took me off of those and had me see a neurologist. I took a drug (name escapes me at the moment) for awhile but had no periods so the Dr. took me off of it to see if I get them back again. My onc says up to a year before I will know if I am menopausal. I turned 50 in Feb. so it's anyones guess as to whether I will get periods back again. guess the chemo really messes up your hormones and it shuts down the ovaries. At least that is what I was told. I'm going to ask about it in two weeks when I go for my first post chemo appointment. MJ

tami90650

Posts: 73
Joined: Mar 2009

April 11, 2009 - 8:42pm

menopause?

Im glad you brought that up. Since Ive been on the tamoxifen. I get a period once every few months and its BAD. Its usually when I forget my pills more than once.

mmontero38

Posts: 1469
Joined: Dec 2007

April 11, 2009 - 10:26pm

I haven't been tested but my

I haven't been tested but my oncologist told me from the onset, that I would definitely stop menstruating once I started chemo. I started chemo July 16th, 2007 and my last period was October 22, 2007 so I guess he was right. I started with night sweats when I started chemo, so maybe my body was starting to go into menopause then. Hugs, Lili

Eil4186

Posts: 753
Joined: Dec 2007

April 11, 2009 - 10:34pm

Lilli, but have you had your

Lilli, but have you had your hormone levels checked? If I hadn't then it would have been easy to assume that I am menopausal. The blood work contradicted that though.

cruf

Posts: 774
Joined: Oct 2000

April 12, 2009 - 9:55am

Menopause

I never had chemo so I didn't have any issues with my period until I started Tamoxifen. I was 48 when I started in Oct. 2000. I got my period in Oct. and that was the lasttime. I was having some symptoms prior to the meds but was still getting it so I guess it's safe to say that Tamoxifen put me into Menopause. Since I wasn't planning on any more children, and I was 48, I have to say this was 1 side effect I didn't mind! HUGS!!! Cathy

Moopy23

Posts: 1298
Joined: Jan 2009

April 12, 2009 - 4:36pm

Menopause or Not

A clinical nurse here told me that I would definitely go into menopause. But I also asked the NCI oncologist that I visited in St. Louis. She told me the only pattern she had noticed was that the women who wanted their periods to stop continued having them, and the women who did not want to lose their period.. . well, you get the picture. I am hoping that mine won't start back as I just turned 49. Would not want to go through hot flashes and menopause twice!

mmontero38

Posts: 1469
Joined: Dec 2007

April 12, 2009 - 9:19pm

I will be having them

I will be having them checked this time when I go to the oncologist. Lili

cats_toy

Posts: 1247
Joined: Feb 2009

April 13, 2009 - 11:56pm

chemo and menopause

I had started chemo in April 2007 and had my last period May 2007, my doc said as I was 50, I would be post menopausal after finishing chemo. I had asked because they told me I would start on the Arimidex after chemo and radiation, and it is for post women only. The night sweats are the worst, but they put me on Effexor and it helped considerably. Hang in there, it does get better with time.

mmontero38

Posts: 1469
Joined: Dec 2007

April 14, 2009 - 7:33am

Other than the night sweats

Other than the night sweats are you having any other side effects? Hugs, Lili

esaud

Posts: 5
Joined: Nov 2009

November 1, 2009 - 8:24pm

Depo, Chemo, Age = Menopause?

Hi All - Right before I found out I had breast cancer, I had completed the FSH and Endriaol test. I appeared to be pre-meopausal. I was 51. I then had to go through chemo which 'probably' caused menoP. During the whole time, I continued taking DepoProvera which was for 10 years as a contraceptive. I don't have periods because of it, so the only way to tell if I am menoP or not is the test. I had the test again last week and was up to 54. I am stopping my depo because it is causing me osteopenia. My Dr is an internist and not sure about all of the 'female' stuff. Anyone else have experience with chemo, depo and possible MenoP.

Thanks.

New Flower

Posts: 233
Joined: Aug 2009

November 1, 2009 - 10:10pm

yes it does

It seems that age is not a factor. Chemo affects hormone balance and many of us have had induced menopause. It stars during Chemo and very often never comes back.
Your Oncologist and GY should have a better idea. They can order a blood test to eveluate your status.
Hugs

aztec45

Posts: 175
Joined: Jul 2009

November 1, 2009 - 11:16pm

Me Too

I was taking medroxyprogestrone for several years. It was prescribed primarily to control my menstral cycle and reduce excessive bleeding. I think this drug also might have caused my breast cancer. Anyway, when I was first diagnosed with breast cancer, my onc told me to stop the drug. After my first chemo treatment, my onc informed me that I was going into menopause primarily based on my symptoms, night sweats, mood swings, irratability, etc. The onc put me on a Clonodine patch. It controls all of my symptoms. I have not had a period or spotting since April 2009. Although I have not had a blood test, my onc does not think my periods will return. I guess we'll see if they will return or not.

Pat

Dawne.Hope

Posts: 188
Joined: Sep 2009

November 2, 2009 - 1:25am

OK I feel dumb ...

I don't have any thing to add ... only more questions! I've heard the chemo-induced menopause is common. One thing I hadn't heard until last week, was that tamoxifen will permantly stop your periods. Talked to a woman who had the type of cancer I had last week and she was pushing me to stop the tamoxifen because it would completely stop ovary function. Until then, I thought that tamoxifen only stopped estrogen from being absorbed in the breast. Didn't think Tamoxifen alone would completely stop periods forever. And definitely didn't think they would completely shut down my ovaries.

I'm confused! Reading through all these posts, just raised more questions and made me more confused. Moopy ... that's funny about the doctor in STL! :)

Any further info would be appreciated. Appreciate you all!

pitt

Posts: 178
Joined: Aug 2009

November 2, 2009 - 6:57am

Hi Eil. I don't know if this

Hi Eil. I don't know if this helps or not, but my oncologist told me that after my treatments I will take Tamoxifen for 5 years. At that point, she will shut down my ovaries and put me into menopause so that I can then take an aromatase inhibitor for another 5 years. Yes, the tamoxifen stops your cycle, but that doesn't mean you are menopausal yet. At any rate, you should discuss this with your oncologist and find out if he/she has plans for you post-Tamoxifen. Good luck! Pitt

CypressCynthia

Posts: 107
Joined: Oct 2009

November 4, 2009 - 10:24am

periods

In 1987 when I was diagnosed (at age 33), no one checked my hormone levels but I can tell you what happened. I had 6 months of chem and 7 years of tamoxifen (I know it's 5 years today but I was a guinea pig back then). I had no periods for at least 2 years and thought yeah I'm done with that. Then they came back regularly until I was 43 when they stopped again. My younger sister was 40 when she was diagnosed and her periods stopped and never came back.

mimivac

Posts: 1571
Joined: Dec 2008

November 4, 2009 - 10:43am

Tamoxifen and menopause

Just wanted to add a note to this discussion. According to breastcancer.org: "Although it causes hot flashes, tamoxifen does not make you menopausal. About 20% of women will have irregular periods on tamoxifen, but only a few stop their cycles entirely. Tamoxifen will not cause early menopause unless you're already on the brink. After you stop taking tamoxifen, your body usually goes back to where it was before. Tamoxifen does not stop ovulation — it actually increases ovulation. This is probably true even at the low daily doses that you take for breast cancer treatment. At higher doses, tamoxifen is in fact used as a fertility treatment."

I went into chemo-induced menopause and have not had a period since January 2009. My doctors are all confident that my cycle will return. My onc. says that it takes about a year and she expects me to start menstrating in December or January again. I don't know...

Mimi

pitt

Posts: 178
Joined: Aug 2009

November 4, 2009 - 10:48am

Mimi - after Tamoxifen

Mimi, does your doctor plan to put you into menopause after your tamoxifen treatment? Mine does so I was just wondering. After tamoxifen (5 years) then we are going to shut down my ovaries to put me into menopause so that I can do 5 years of an aromatase inhibitor. I'm just curious if you will continue on something after tamoxifen. Pitt PS I'm 38 so they want to go ahead and induce early menopause to continue treating me for longer-term success rates...

mimivac

Posts: 1571
Joined: Dec 2008

November 4, 2009 - 10:56am

Hi Pitt,

I think you have a good plan. Tamoxifen, then induced menopause and an aromatase inhibitor is standard of care these days, I think. I am not on any hormonals since I am triple negative. I would love the extra protection, though...

Mimi

jnl

Posts: 786
Joined: May 2009

November 4, 2009 - 11:30am

Thanks again Mimi for this

Thanks again Mimi for this information. For some reason, I thought tamox thru you into menopause because so many had written that it did. Thanks for clearing that up.

Leeza

mimivac

Posts: 1571
Joined: Dec 2008

November 4, 2009 - 2:24pm

No problem, Leeza

BTW, are you still drinking with the beetles? :)

jnl

Posts: 786
Joined: May 2009

November 4, 2009 - 2:26pm

Hiccup LOL

Hiccup

LOL

Dawne.Hope

Posts: 188
Joined: Sep 2009

November 4, 2009 - 3:08pm

thanks mimi! this is along

thanks mimi! this is along the lines of what I'd read but the lady I talked to seemed so confident. thank you for the information!

mimivac

Posts: 1571
Joined: Dec 2008

November 4, 2009 - 3:18pm

Dawne, I was a little disturbed

that this lady would "push you" to stop your medication -- over misinformation at that. I'm not saying that she didn't have a bad experience on Tamoxifen, but cancer is so individual. Your experience may not mirror mine and people should never advise someone to start or stop something based on anecdotal experience alone. My 2 cents.

Mimi

Dawne.Hope

Posts: 188
Joined: Sep 2009

November 4, 2009 - 3:35pm

It upset me too

I'm having a hard enough time taking it. I've read about all the adverse side effects, I know what can happen, but it seems, at least for now, that taking it is the best option for me. To have someone push you and highlight all the bad, and then give you some misinformation is not helpful! Ugh. People mean well, but it really isn't helpful. There is so much information out there that it is hard to sort out the good from the false. One reason why this board is so helpful.

Thanks again! :)

pitt

Posts: 178
Joined: Aug 2009

November 4, 2009 - 4:30pm

Mimi

Triple negative...now everything makes sense. I've read so many of your posts regarding nutrition, etc. I remember reading in some scientific studies that for triple negative bc very simple changes in reducing fat intake and increased exercise significantly reduce recurrence rates; whereas for hormone receptive bc those results would be neglible... although, I still am a proponent of "every little bit helps." Yes - for me the road will be to put me into menopause once I am finished with Tamoxifen...so be it. As I said before, every little bit helps. Pitt

mimivac

Posts: 1571
Joined: Dec 2008

November 4, 2009 - 4:44pm

Yes, you're right

For us triple negs exercise and diet is our Tamoxifen. That's why I feel so damn guilty whenever I put an unhealthy morsel in my mouth or skip a day of exercise. I had to practically glue myself to my seat last night at the movies to stop from getting a nice, fluffy box of buttered popcorn. I swear I could barely enjoy the movie.

pitt

Posts: 178
Joined: Aug 2009

November 5, 2009 - 6:17am

Dang girl! It's always

Dang girl! It's always going to be something, isn't it? I'm coming off a really bad couple of days and just the thought of being on the tamoxifen phase has me chomping at the bit. A new reality...that's what we're living in. Hang in there, Pitt

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