Menopause Caused By Chemo? Posted: 11-14-05 05:29am
Hi,
i am 40 yrs old, have been told that chemo
has put me into menopause. A bloodtest
of the estrogen level has confirmed this.
Estrogen levels are very low.(i have not
menstruated for 4 months). I was put on
tamoxifen for 2 weeks then switched to
arimidex. I have been taking arimidex
for about 5 weeks now. I am now
experiencing problems with vaginal
bleeding. Has anyone had this side
effect with arimidex?? Or has anyone been
thrown into menopause by chemo??
Be well....
|
Susan King
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 04 Aug 2005 Posts: 8 Location: Liberty, Missouri
Menopause Posted: 12-19-05 09:13am
I would like to know how you are doing.
In april I went for my regular mamogram,
and after leaving the office I was called
back for a sonogram. Tumors were found
in my left breast, and a lumpectomy the
following week confirmed cancer. In may,
on my 40th birthday, I had ct scans done
to see if the cancer had spread and tumors
were found on my left ovary and tube, so
two days later they were removed. I had
a double mastectomy two weeks later,
begnign tumors were found in my right
breast. Luckily for me all 16 lymph
nodes they removed were clean, my pet scan
was clean and my oncologist said that
chemo would not be necessary for me if I
didn't really want to do it. So we
agreed to go for the hormonal therapy.
Unfortunately a severe infection set in my
chest a month later and I have had to wait
6 months to make sure the infection did
not return before I could begin
reconstruction again and have my right
ovary removed, which is required to begin
the hormonal therapy. My reason for
writing you is to ask about the side
effects of the menopause. My oncologist
told me that I would have to be forced in
to menopause, by the removal of both
ovaries, to begin arimidex, and said that
I would have the normal side effects of
menopause, hot flashes, mood swings,
possible sexual side effects, vaginal
dryness, etc., but he also said he had
medication for all of that if it happened.
Last wednesday I had my ovary removed,
and tomorrow I have the tissue expanders
put back in. I am more scared of the
menopause than I am of the pain of the
tissue expanders. How bad is it? Do
you have any sexual side effects yet? I
have heard of the possibility of vaginal
bleeding, especially if you still have
your uterus, which I do. Is it painful?
How are you handling the arimidex? I am
nervous, but definitely ready to get this
started so I can finally reach my 5 year
mark and be off the arimidex and be clean
of cancer! I have to believe the cancer
is not going to return, because if I think
otherwise I go crazy! I have to believe
I can handle the menopause at 40, because
if I think otherwise I go crazy! Can you
tell I feel like I am going to go crazy?
Good luck and keep me informed. I hope
things go well with you.
|
3pturk
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 14 Nov 2005 Posts: 2
Posted: 12-22-05 05:47am
Hi susan,
i am sorry to hear of all that you have
gone through. I also hope you can get on
the road to survivorship real soon.
In my case, alot has happened since I
wrote that post. I went to gynecologist
and medical oncologist because of the
vaginal bleeding, it is not a normal side
effect when you are being put into
menopause unnaturally. In your situation
unwarranted vaginal bleeding should not be
expected. I had new estrodial levels
taken twice in november and also had a d
& c procedure done. I have benign
fibroids in my enlarged uterus which will
need to be watched. The estrodial levels
came back showing that I am not in
menopause after all. My ovaries have
decided to start working again and I can
expect to regain semi-normal menstrual
cycles. I have been taken off arimidex
and put back on tamoxifen. I feel like
such a yo-yo. But I too hope to get on
the road to survivorship and get my 5
years in. Here are my etrodial results:
sept. 9, 2005 16 (under 20
considered menopause)
nov. 7, 2005 582.17
nov. 30, 2005 187.29 (both
considered premenopause)
the drs. Say they have not seen this
happen in 4-5 years.
Good luck with menopause and arimidex,
hope all is well with you
jill
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