Still getting periods

susan13

Thought menstruation was supposed to stop, but I have my period, again. Twice since first treatment.  Had 4th AC last week and I got it 3 days later and it's very heavy at that.

Anyone else still getting it during treatment? Is it something I should bring to doc's attention?

Thanks.

lovinmomma

My doc said i would get periods until I had at lest 3 treatments of AC.  They also told me they could get heavier and lots of clots. I would tell the doc next time you see them, esp since you are er+.  That is why my ovaries and uterus are coming out as soon as I am done with chemo.

peapot

I think you should say something to your doctor asap, if for no other reason to keep your counts up.  They gave me progesterone to stop mine until it stopped on its own after my 2nd round of AC.  I was hormone negative though and that might make a difference.  Good luck.

cp418

I was premenopause when diagnosed and had several periods during chemo before they stopped (chemopause).  During each chemo visit my onc always tracked my period status.  When all treatments were done I had an ooph so I could switch from Tamox to AI.  I was strongly hormone receptor positive and decided to be aggressive with my treatments.

Anonymous

I've had 3 FAC's and I've had a period following each infusion. I whined to my oncologist because I seemed to be missing out on the "perk" of NOT having a period while doing chemo. She told me that some women continue to have regular periods throughout their treatment. Apparently, I'm one of them. 

Damn it. 

susan13

I just got back from seeing my Onc. and he and my Gyno say the samet thing.  Some women stop their periods all together and some get it even worse then they normally would have.  So  yeah some of use do miss out on that one perk!  Such is life.

Emily2008

Me too.  2 periods over the course of 4 AC.  Less severe cramps, but lots of heavy bleeding.

Could I pleas catch a break here?  Sheesh!  My husband says it's cuz I'm so darn womanly.  Harumph!  Bald, under reconstruction, scarred up, yet somehow so...womanly!

susan13

Tell me about it!  We don't seem to catch a break do we?!!??!

I guess that's why they call us warriors

StaceyR

I did 6 rounds of chemo (3 x FEC, 3 x T) and had periods until the fifth treatment.  My last chemo was September 18 and I haven't started up again.  I had the same thing as you ladies mention - heavier bleeding.  So you may find that it stops near the end of your treatments yet.

I'd take back menstrual periods over these hot flashes any day, I have to say.  I'm 34 and don't appreciate the preview of what's to come..!

CanItBeTrueNH

I have been getting cramps and clotting for about 3 days.   My stomach has been feeling pretty sick  and I switched to juicing for 4 days after my chemo treatments to help balance my nutrients and keep my energy level up.    When does it get easier?

My sister started a conversation about Thanksgiving Dinner and all I could think of is YUCK food!  So much for those fresh cranberrie/relish sauce I normally make.... I don't know if I can stand the smell this year to make everything from scratch.

susan13

Seems like it won't get easier until we are done with all of this lovely stuff!

Today I finally started to feel good, 12 days after my 4th treatment... and low and behold guess what I got this morning... mouth sores on the roof of my mouth.

CanItBeTrueNH , I'm sorry to hear you are not feeling well. I guess the holidays this year will be a little different then the norm for all of us unfortunately.  Hope you feel better soon. Are you taking a multi-vitamin with iron?  My Onc. told me to start taking one especially seeing that my hemoglobin dropped when I got my period.

CanItBeTrueNH

Hey Sue:

Sorry to hear about the mouth sores.  One of my friends mentioned those to me.  She told me to rinse, rinse and rinse.  I have a feeling if it was meant to me.... it will happen no matter what you do.   Any news on your tumor size or how many more chemo treatments you have to have?

I am almost halfway through my chemo treatments.   Going to ask my doc/onc to run  another image test to see what type of results I am having.  I want to have a bone/pet scan again to track any results. 

Couple more months to go..... onward and upward.

susan13

CanItBeTrueNH,

Half way thru... congrats!  It'll be over before you know it!  Do you notice a difference in the size of your tumor?  I noticed mine shrinking after tx #2, but that was the last measurable shrinkage my onc. noticed.

Well for this week I get a break with chemo.  I see surgeon on Friday and she'll tell me whether I can get to surgery, or if she wants me to have more chemo.  The tumor size is still so unknown cause the boob is just hard all around and mushy in some areas.  One section though has gotten much flatter since I started and now both breasts are pretty much the same size, which hasn't been the case in a very VERY long time, so I think that's a plus.  Onc. wants me to have some sort of test to see what the inside looks like now after 4 treatments, maybe a mammo.  I'll ask about other testing too like a Muga scan or Pet scan. I'll be nervous and going into surgery without knowing if anything has changed since I started, it's been almost 3 months now.

Feel good!

Sue

CanItBeTrueNH

Sue:

That is good news you have noticed a change.   I noticed mine went from getting very soft to very hard.  My onc uses a tape measure and said it went down about a half inch.   I would feel better if it where from an image machine .  It seems my nipple is still inverted upward.  

Brettonwoods is blowing snow all over .... could be open very soon .

Stay strong!

susan13

CanItBeTrueNH,

I know how you feel. I wish mine would just shrivel up to nothing.  The nights right after my treatments I would wake up in the middle of the night and feel it and I guess I was dreaming cause it felt like the boob was a pancake. But then I get out of bed and it's still there:-(  At least there is a little shrinkage in yours, that is a good thing!  The size on your tumor if 2cm really isn't that large so I am sure you will have a great result after your surgery. And the nipple should start to come back out soon.  I was so excited when I got to see mine again

I say my Onc. today, my hemoglobin jumped up a whole 2 points, so if my surgeon tomorrow says I'm ok for surgery I will be scheduled within the next 2 weeks.  Hubby is on a business trip next week so it'll have to wait until Thanksgiving week or the first week of December.  The earlier the better for me, even though I am scared to death of having this surgery.

I sure hope you get to ski this winter! and me too!  Or at least go down the slope on a tube:-)

Happy thoughts and feel good! Keep me posted on your progress.

Sue

CanItBeTrueNH

4 more treatments of Taxol and hopefully no more chemo.   I am scared of surgery too.... know exactly how you feel.  Have you talked to a plastic surgeon?   I have an appointment with 2 next week to collect info.  I may even get a chemical peel in the interim

Stay strong and good luck.   I am praying for you.

susan13

I haven't talked to a PS yet, I guess I'm waiting to hear what my breast surgeon says first.  Been reading up on the subject and seems as though if you need radiation it's best to delay recon. until after radiation. It's all confusing to me. They won't know what can be done until the breast is removed and tissue looked at under a microscope....?  Ugg.  You are smart for doing your homework and seeing PS's now.  I wish I had done that.  Onc. says chemo will be working for about 4 weeks since my last treatment which brings me to first week of December, so I feel like I have to rush on this.

All I want for Christmas is a pair of new boobs...........

Sue

CanItBeTrueNH

Sue:

Hope it all works out for you.   You deserve everything that you ask for girl.  It's been a long road!

susan13

Hey there!

How's the weather up there in NH?  It's cold down here in Jersey, just in the 30's.  We saw a little snow shower this morning.

Well I saw my BS Friday she says it's best to get to surgery.  So today I am seeing a PS to see if I can have immediate recon. I'll take the expanders and have fake boobs!

Sue

CanItBeTrueNH

 It's a little bit chilly.  Hoping to ski either Bretton Woods or Loon for Turkey Day.  I am glad your having a consult with a PS.   Knowledge is the only way to battle this thing.   Good Idea to have immediate recon.   I wouldn't worry about the fake boobs.. just think when your 60 you'll have the boobs of a 25 year old! 

Will they do a SNB along with your surgery?

Good choice.. glad your doing well.

susan13

It was 26 degress this morning, I love the cold!  I never wear a coat, people think I'm nuts!

I saw a plastic surgeon yesterday.  He agrees that it's better to start the expansion process prior to radiation.  Now it's up in the air whether or not I'll need the radiation, so I am going for it!  There are of course risks involved, but I'm willing to take my chances.  Maybe LUCK will be on my side for this one. (I changed my avitar... my face on Dolly Parton's body... a good visualization for my future?!?)

BS will do sentinel node biopsy on my left side where the DCIS is, then on my right side where the ILC is she'll take out the rest of my lower level nodes (I had about 18 taken out back in 1995).  It's nerve racking for sure, I hope I hear a big "ALL CLEAR!". 

Surgery hopefully will be first week of December. I'll keep u posted!

Hope u r feeling good!

Sue

CanItBeTrueNH

Great picture!.. Please wear a coat!  The last thing we need to get is a cold!   Smart move with talking to a P/S.   I find we have to have as much knowledge as possible to battle this.

I have 4 more Taxol treatments and then surgery in January..... I am right behind you.

Have a great Thanksgiving Holiday everyone.