TNs - bad if periods return after chemo?

minxie

I am 44 years old and my periods stopped in February 2009 after my second chemo treatment. I've been done with chemo for about a year and a half now. Much to my surprise, my period returned today. I'd been having the symptoms all week - lower back pain, soreness in ovary area, all the lovely issues I used to get. And lo and behold,  I am no longer in chemical menopause.

I left a call with the oncologist and they said it was normal, that it sometimes does return this late after the end of chemo, even though I'm in my 40s. They did suggest I move my scheduled April appointment up to February though, just to "check things out". Hmmm. Does this mean something?

I know triple neg is not estrogen dependent, but is it at all affected by estrogen or other female hormones? I'm fairly convinced my cancer came from years of fertitlity treatments in my 30s which did result in my 2 wonderful sons, but which pumped loads and loads of fertility drugs and crazy levels of estrogen and progesterone into my body.

So, to sum up, periods returning - for TNs is this a bad sign, a good sign, or neutral?

jax65

Minxie I was 43 at time of Dx my periods also stopped after my second treatment. But lo and behold came back 6 months after treatment ended. Onc had told me because of my age chemopause would probably be permanent so I too was worried when it returned. When I told him my periods had returned he was not concerned just surprised. I will warn you that when mine did return they were very heavy and I would cycle every 21 days which got very old. After about 5 months cycle started getting longer and longer in between and now have not had a period since August. I have read this happening to other women and it may just be our hormones having one last hurrah. It will be interesting to hear your Onc's take on it but I would not worry ( I know easier said then done)

Jackie 

minxie

thanks Jax. Finally heard back from my oncologist directly - he says if it's a sporadic thing, he's fine with it, but if it's coming back every month he may want to find a way to stop it - gues he doesn't want all the hormones floating around? We'll see what he says in Feb.

tracie23

minxie, Just curios what your doctor had to say ?

fightinhrd123

I got mine back right after chemo and never thought to ask my onc about it! That was like 2 years ago.  I have noticed that about 3 days before its due i feel terrible, and was going to ask my dr about that next time im in...im not triple neg, but HER2 so i figured it was ok???