Did your period return after chemo?

faithfulc

Did your period return after chemo?

faithfulc

For the premenopausal sisters out there - did your period return after chemo?  If so, when did it and was it "normal" like pre chemo?

I didn't do a thorough search to see if there was a thread on this already.  If so, would someone point me there?

I wsa 40 last year when diagnosed and my chemo was between Feb and mid May, 2010.  Period stopped one month into chemo and so far nothing yet.  It would be fine if it doesn't come back, really, but just can't help wondering.  Would you share your experience with me?

scrapmom40

faithfulc - I was 40 when I was diagnosed also.  Before the BC diagnosis I was premenapausal and got my periods regularly and they were normal.  When I started chemo I got my period twice in one month and it was out of control heavy with clots.  Then 1/2 way through Chemo treatments my period stopped.  I had my last Chemo treatment on June 9th, 2008 and I did not get my period again until October 26th, 2008 (so about 4 months of no periods).   I tried Lupron shots in February and March of 2009 (was considering having my ovaries removed).  I got my period in February 2009 and then nothing until June 2009 (the Lupron shots caused my periods to stop which is what it is supposed to do and it took a while to start back up).  I had a period in June 2009, July 2009 and September 2009 and then I did not have another period until April 2010.  I should mention I am also on tamoxifen so that could be stopping my periods too.  I have been on Tamoxifen for 2 years this month.  I have not had my period since April 2010.  All of the periods I have had since my chemo in 2008 have been heavier then they were before the BC dx and more clots.  Now I have some thickening of the lining of my uterus.  Could be due to the tamoxifen (one of the side effects) and could be due to the fact that I haven't had my period much in the last year.

I just had the FSH blood test done and as far as my blood is concerned, I am still premenapausal.  I assume it is because my menapause is chemically induced from the Tamoxifen.  I get the hot flashes, night sweats, weight gain - all the typical signs of menapause, but I guess I am not in menapause yet.  Its crazy!

Let me know if you have any other questions.  I don't mind sharing my experience at all.

Take care and good luck.  Wishing you continued good health.

Karen

tamlyn110

I was 41 and premenopausal. I finished chemo in Feb (5 months)and still have not got it back.

faithfulc

Karen and Tammy, thank you both very much!  I am doing rads now and certainly don't want my period back at this point.  After that I'll go on Tamoxifan so we'll see what happens. 

ebann

I was dx in 4/08 finished chemo 1/7/09 Still have not got my periold back. I was 44 & now I am 46.

leisaparis

I was 44 when diagnosed in Oct.09, started chemo, stopped having my period in Oct. Turned 45 in December 09. So far still no period. Hopefully it stayes that way. I would prefer it.

LeapFrog39

I was 39 and premenopausal when I started chemo.  My period stopped second month in.  It came back about three months after chemo was over.  I've had 3 irregular periods and the last one skipped. I'm thinking that the ovaries are fried. I guess I won't know for sure for a few months.

navygirl

I was 42 when I was diagnosed, I had my last period the first A/C treatment. I did 4 rounds of that, 12 weeks of taxol and herceptin, which finished at the end of October 2008. I had no period until February of 2009. I was scheduled for an ooph. a month later so I didn't have a chance to see if it had returned to it's "normal" schedule -which was 28 days like clock work-but the one period I did get, was incredibly heavy and I had the worst cramps of my life. I thought they had been saving themselves up for the whole 10 months it had been gone!

If you're now doing rads, and you don't want it to return, you might discuss with your onc. using some sort of birth control shot or pill.

Good luck, I hope for your sake it doesn't come back -but be prepared just in case! 

collie-flower

I was 49 when I was diagnosed and had no signs of pre-menopause whatsoever.  In fact, I had a very rythmic cycle every 26-28 days.  After chemo #1 and #2 I had a period but nothing after chemo #3 (June 09).  I don't mind not having a period but the chemopause hot flashes....they're something else!

Anonymous

I was 45 @ dx...still was getting regular periods - no signs of Menopause. Once chemo started I never got another period. It's now been 5 years...still nothing. And I don't miss it! lol

Anonymous

I'm 45 and I've been 13 months without a period and absolutely don't miss it. I do hate the hot flashes.

faithfulc

Thank you for sharing your experiences.  

I don't like the hot flashes a bit.  They were the first in the first couple of months.  Now it seems to have abated (I'm about 8 weeks PFC) - only a few times a day and very little night sweats. 

It gets funny when I see the leftover stuff in my closet - I probably will never use them again (knock on wood)!

Drim

Thanks for starting this post faithfulc.

It may be a little early for me to weigh in but I was 43 at dx (6 mo. ago) and started chemo in May. Had a period 1 week after I started. That one was totally normal. Then got what I thought was another period almost 4 weeks later but that was not normal. It was light for a week, then turned normal, then turned VERY HEAVY for a couple of days before it finally died down. Others on the boards have called this an an-ovular period so I figured it was just that and it would never return again. I was wrong because almost 4 weeks after that it started again - very similar to the one 4 weeks prior. Unfortunately the story ends there because this is where I stand today. I will let you know if this turns heavy again in a few days or not.

I am now finished with chemo (as of 5/13/010) and am starting to feel a little bloated (again) from this 'period'. I am going to be starting tamoxifen after rads so I was fully expecting the hotflashes, etc.so I did not care if I didn't get my period back.

faithfulc

Drim, thanks for your post.  I knew nothing is for certain, but I never knew it was this UNcertain.  Hope your rads go well.  I have a total of 33 and I've done 22 so far.  Emu oil rules!

Nordy

I was diagnosed at 37. Was not having periods when diagnosed because I had just had a baby and was breast feeding. Ended chemo in Sept. that year, got my first period back in February - so about 5 months later.

Kate0574

Hi...

Iwas 32 wehn diagnosed, my periods stopped all together right after I started chemo. They returned a month after chemo like normal... however, I have now been on Tamox for almost three years and my periods are next to nothing and the OB dr says this is normal..... hope this helps... HUGGS!!

gcpommom

I was diagnosed at 45 yrs old....had 2 periods the first month of chemo, then no period for 15 months.  Last May, I had 2 periods (heavy ones), figured it was back...but no periods since then.  Weird.

Prior to my periods returning in May, I had noticed that my hot flashes were gone.  They still have not returned...I have no idea what is going on with my body, lol!

soonerfan

My periods stopped after my first chemo treatment 2 1/2 years ago and have not returned. I'm 48 and recent blood tests indicate that I'm not in menopause yet and not even close. 

o2bhealthy

I was 38 when dx'd...I had my period two days after my first TCH.  It lasted only a few days and was dark (old blood) looking.  This was in July 2009.  I had one instance of spotting (again dark) for two days in May (had internal US to make sure uterine lining was not thickening on Tamoxifen). I went into instant chemopause and have pretty much stayed there.  I was so NOT mentally/emotionally prepared for menopause so early but I do enjoy not having to deal with the monthly 'gift'.

unklezwifeonty

I was also 38 when diagnosed. Had lupron before and during chemo in the belief that that would prevent early menopause. It has been 6 months since last chemo. No sign of periods yet.

unklezwifeonty

Hi all, amazingly my first period PFC started yesterday.....

MrsBee

I was just past 50 at diagnosis and peri-menopausal.  I had my last "monster period" when I went in for lumpectomies (talk about fun - NOT!) and was just spotting when I went a month later for mastectomies.  That was the last period.  I never got it back and had a hysterectomy and oophorectomy in April after finishing chemo in December.  Still having the darned hot flashes!!  Not all that choked up about Aunt Flo being gone though.

Drim

unklezwifeonty - that's really crazy! congratulations. sounds like this is a good thing for you! Haven't got mine yet but it's only been a couple of months.

unklezwifeonty

Good or bad I don't know but I just did not want to be in menopause at 38.

nash

I was 38 at diagnosis, period stopped around the end of chemo, then came back nine months later. I think the Tamoxifen stimulated my ovaries to start functioning again. It's been slightly irregular some months, but overall it's pretty normal.

3ofus

I was pre-men and diagnosed at 44.  Halfway through chemo, my period stopped coming and almost 4 years later---lots of hot flashes!  I am hoping and praying that the hot flashes...stops soon?

Marion

My periods stopped after the first chemo.

I have only had two periods since my treatment ended: the first was 6 months after the last chemo, and then 3 months later. I'm on Tamoxifen so hopefully it is what makes them irregular. I am not ready to be menopaused, I'm only 34!

msphil

Hello all, I was diagnosed in 1993 and went to received chemo and my period stopped into the treatment,and stayed off, thank God, it stayed off for years and years then it came on for a few days and then never again. Yahoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, now 16 yrs cancer free (Praise God). idc,0/3 nodes,stage 2, L mast with reconstruction that didn,t take, expander hardned and was taken out, use a prothesis.God Bless.  I was 42 and still having a regular period.  God Bless.  msphil

Drim

msphil!!! 16 year survivor!!! Thanks so much for coming here to let us know. Bless you!!

vegasbaby

Wow, how funny that I found this thread!  I was dx'd in May 2006 and had 4 AC and 4 Taxol, then 37 rads, then monthly Lupron shots for about 2 years along with Tamoxifen.  Periods stopped as soon as first chemo started.  Three and a half years after dx (and last period), oncologist checked my blood work and it showed I was menopausal so she switched me to Femara. This was in the summer of 2009.  Still no periods.  Serious hot flashes for years and every symptom of menopause...Fast forward to July 2010 - BAMM!!  Periods are back!!  Can you believe it?  More than four years later!!!!  I should add, I was 35 at time of dx, just now turned 40.  What a birthday present!