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.

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