How long does "chemopause" menopause last?

JodiRocksthePink

I'm looking for advice and experience from my fellow BC survivors who are further along than me. I am 6 months out of chemotherapy. I'm going crazy with menopause SE. I'm womdering how long will it last until my body adjusts? I know regular menopause lasts a couple years but shouldn't it be faster with chemo induced menopause? Looking forward to feeling better soon.

sbaaronson

Jodi,

The intensity does wane but I am 2 1/2 years post-chemo/chemopause and I still get the occasional hot flash. I will tell you, my estrogen was in the single digits for 2 years but in the last 6 months it has risen, still menopause levels, but up. My FSH is also on the upswing. I am on Tamoxifen, I am certain that this doesn't help the chemopause symptoms...

My personal opinion is that it is quite the opposite. Regular menopause is gradual, symptoms are less like crashing into the chemopause brick wall!

Take care,

Stacey

BikerLee

I had a rough time with chemopause - I am now on hormone replacement therapy - the consensus of my health care providers was that hrt was a good choice for me.  And what a difference.  Are you really PR+? and Her2+? Part of the equation in the HRT decision was the fact that my tumor was triple negative.

Also, you might consider asking about some antidepressants - there apparently are some that dramatically improve chemopause.... 

Good luck.

warriorprincess517

I am 33. It has been 7 months since I have completed chemo. I had the awful hot flashes since the last three months of chemo.The hot flashes are at least not as bad as they use to be. I have also not seen the return of my menstual cycle.Any one else experiencing delayed return of menses?

kad22

I was 37 when diagnosed with triple Negative bc. I went menopause right away after chemo and have not had s menstrual cycle for 3 yrs. I have had hot flashes since the beginning I am on a depressent not sure if it is helping or not.

sere

My period stopped after my first couple of chemo cycles. I finished chemo mid-January this year, and my period came back in end of May with a vengence. I asked my onc about it before it came back and she said for some people it takes a couple of months, but the longest it took a patient was about 10 years! What a surprise that must've been.

Desiplz

HEY THERE !! I AM 2mths post chemo & I am praying my Reprod system kicks back in for a least another 3yrs...not ready for chemopause!!! :-)) I'm 35...

Desiplz

SERE ...did your chemopause symptoms go away immediately ??

yorana

I was 47 when I had chemo for breast cancer. I had a couple of very heavy periods, then started getting hot flashes right around the time I would have had my next period, around 2 months after starting chemo. They were severe, frequent, and very disturbing. I tried several SSRIs, including Effexor, which made me feel too weird. Neurontin also, and herbal stuff. Over these 18 years they have gotten better. They are not so bothersome during the day -- just some hotness and sweat. They used to begin with an ugly sense of depression and anxiety before I'd actually start to get hot. That's mostly gone but sometimes I still suddenly notice a feeling of depression. I remember to tell myself it's just that a hot flash is coming. I do tend to get a mental change when one's coming on during meditation also. They have a worse effect at night when I wake up hot and sweaty and feel disturbed and upset. I take trazodone for sleep and would like to get off it but the night sweats and the insomnia they cause are making me fail at that. There doesn't seem to be anything I can do about it. 18 years and no end in sight. I may well have refused chemo if I'd known. I did get breast cancer again 12 years after the first time. 6 years with negative mammos since then.