Did your period come back after chemo?

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  • Marion
    Marion Member Posts: 207
    edited May 2010

    Helllo everyone!

    I was 33 when I got diagnosed in July 2009 and my periods stopped after the first chemo. My last chemo was in Nov. 2009, it is now May 2010 (6 months PFC) and they still  haven't come back. I want my periods back because I want to feel like a "young woman" again but mostly because I may want a kid.

    Recently I have had huge lower abdominal pains and cramps but still no periods. I am hoping these pains mean it is starting to work again!

    Did you have any symptoms that your periods were coming back? Like pain and cramps?

  • SummerY
    SummerY Member Posts: 2
    edited May 2010

    I had my first chemo late July 09 and my 8th (and last!) chemo 11/5/09. I think my periods stopped early Oct (or late Sept). They came back Apr 2010. I did have some cramping beforehand that clued me in that my period was coming back.

  • Marion
    Marion Member Posts: 207
    edited May 2010

    My periods came back today, yeah!!! I had not had them in 7 months. I guess the huge lower abdominal pains I had had 3 weeks ago were a sign.

    This means I'm not menopaused and I'm very relieved and happy!

  • chasinghope
    chasinghope Member Posts: 126
    edited July 2010

    Hi everyone,

    My Onc said that chemopause if your estrogen postive is a good thing.  It means the ovaries are not producing estrogen,,,,,estrogen is what fuels tumors that are ER+. I'm thinking of having a Oopherectomy due to the fact tha the tumor was grade 3. I think no matter that living one day is important, hope goes a long way, you gotta have hope. Sucks that cancer doesn't come with a manual so we can do the right thing, everytime. CH

  • Marion
    Marion Member Posts: 207
    edited May 2010

    Hello chasinghope,

    For me an oopherectomy is out of the question. Even if it meant having a better survival rate, I would not do it. I am 33 and have no kids so I want to keep the option of having them if I change my mind. Are you thinking about it because you already have kids ?

    I was very happy to get my periods back; Being chemopaused was a reminder I had had cancer. Getting my periods feels like one step towards getting my old life back.

  • CanItBeTrueNH
    CanItBeTrueNH Member Posts: 86
    edited May 2010

    I was 42 when diagnosed in September of 2008.  My period stopped right after my second chemo treatment and has not returned... don't miss it!  Now I am dealing with the weight gain.   Doctor told me to switch my white foods to green foods!   It's hard Tamoxifen really makes you hungry.

  • chasinghope
    chasinghope Member Posts: 126
    edited July 2010

    Hi Marion,

    My situation is very different I don't want kids, nothing against them, just never wanted them (I think my mom put a cure on me that if I did want a child, she would turn out as naughty as I was)

    It's frustrating to hear things about longer survival rate if we butcher our bodies more and then nothing is guaranteed?

    I did hear about a study that was just put out and it said if your period did stop and you went into chemopause your survival rate is better.

    My naturpath told me that while taking Tamoxifen I should not eat Tumeric or grapefruit, they didn't mesh with Tamoxifen, anyone else hear this?

    CH

  • Sherster26
    Sherster26 Member Posts: 2
    edited June 2010

    This has all been very interesting to read.  I had been feeling down about my experience with chemopause (dx Nov 09 at age 35, surgery Dec 09, chemo Dec 09-April 10, last period Feb 10, rad. currently, tamox coming), not because I don't already have my family (three children), but because I felt that I was in the prime of my life, and it felt wrong to be experiencing both bc and the loss of what I saw as such a strong part of me (associated with youth and fertility and such).  However, I know that I'll be okay if my period doesn't return because it means no estrogen feeding my estrogen+ cancer, but I could really do without these hot flashes.  This has been quite a journey, and anytime I feel bad about what's going on with me, it has been nice to have a place where others post about similar experiences.  Good luck and God bless you ladies.

  • Marion
    Marion Member Posts: 207
    edited August 2010

    Hello everyone,

    My periods stopped in October 09 and returned at the end of May 2010. Then nothing for 3 months .... They returned again today, end of August 2010.

    I think I've heard that it is pretty common to have irregular periods while on Tamoxifen, is this true?

    Have yours returned irregularly too?

  • JLSIM3000
    JLSIM3000 Member Posts: 1
    edited May 2012

    I was 34 when I was diagnosed. I started chemo (ACT) in August 2011 and it seemed to speed up my periods, then they stopped. I finished chemo mid November 2011 and I'm triple negative, so no follow up drugs for me. I was really excited to get my period back (and lose the hot flashes) at the end of February 2012 (now 35 years old), but since then the hot flashes have returned (BOOOO!!!) and no period. I'm worried. And angry at the cancer for doing this to me. Is there anything I can do to try to kick start by body to getting the periods back? Or is that it for me?

  • Emmapeel1
    Emmapeel1 Member Posts: 13
    edited June 2012

    Diagnosed with Invasive Lobular May 2007 at the age of 45. Chemo and Radiation. 5 years of Tamoxifen and no period since chemo........but then, started last year with brown discharge a couple of months and then again this year the same. Suddenly full blown period at the age of 50! Crazy. I had an ultrasound where they did a "look-see" around the area but no problems with ovaries or anything else in the vicinity. Not sure what to make of this. Had to go back out to storage in the garage to get the necessary items. Note my mother did not go through menopause until 56.....that said, the Doctors were telling me that after testing hormone levels I was just about done. Not sure what changed but I don't mind. Makes me feel like things are not over yet!

  • fleaning
    fleaning Member Posts: 1
    edited July 2012

    I was 47 when I had my chemo for six months which ended May 2011 and now on July 13 2012 my period still has not come back. Lucky me.

  • Pitha
    Pitha Member Posts: 1
    edited October 2013


    Hi, how was the period when you got back after 5 years first time, did it take couple of months to get back to normal. Thanks


    Pitha

  • zellayahd
    zellayahd Member Posts: 1
    edited November 2013


    It has been 9 months and I still haven't had a period, I will turn 44 next week, before I found out I had cancer I was going to the doctors because I thought I was going thru menopause, I have been so tied up in chemo and radiation, that I haven't had time to make it back to the doctor's. For those of you that want children I wish you the best, I have one daughter in the service, and one son in the 10th grade.

  • ducky113
    ducky113 Member Posts: 18
    edited December 2013


    Got my period 6 months after finishing chemo (3 after radiation). Put on Tamoxifen and got it once more...and never again. Recently had a hysterectomy, so no worries in that area.

  • Carolehebert
    Carolehebert Member Posts: 14
    edited February 2014

    I just got my period very heavy after over 2 years ! I'm 48 yrs old.

  • Jennie93
    Jennie93 Member Posts: 1,018
    edited February 2014

    Oh my!   I'm a little over a year out and thought I was home free.  It still might come back, huh.  Guess that's good to know.  

  • littlecalico
    littlecalico Member Posts: 28
    edited February 2014

    I got my period back 7 months after the last Taxotere. I was still on Herceptin.

  • Kellymci
    Kellymci Member Posts: 18
    edited July 2014

    I had my last period just after my first chemo. My last chemo was August 28, 2013 and I haven't had a period yet. In fact, I have awful menopausal symptoms that I am managing with various supplements, etc. with my naturopath. I am not on tamoxifen. My oncologist still has hope it will return, given that I am only 35. Here's hoping!!!

  • OCbuttercup
    OCbuttercup Member Posts: 2
    edited July 2014

    I was 38 when diagnosed and I stopped having periods immediately after I started chemo on 1/3/13. As a result, I had horrible hot flashes, which were worse at night.  Then I got a bit of a reprieve when my hot flashes went away a few days before I got one period on 8/29/13, which was a little over 4 months after my last chemo (it was fairly light). However, the hot flashes returned almost immediately (although this time they weren't as bad at night, but worse during the day) and I haven't had a period since. Now about 10 months later, my hot flashes have disappeared for the last two weeks and my complexion looks great, but still no period. Has anyone experienced this??

    I had a bi-lateral salpingectomy, and have had regular pelvic ultrasounds due to my BRCA1+ status. My last ultrasound two weeks ago revealed a 1 inch cyst on my ovary. Not sure if this has anything to do with anything.  Anyway, I'm hoping the disappearing hot flashes is a sign that my period is coming back. I love not having them, but I don't like the price I have to pay. I'd rather have periods than have hot flashes and a bad complexion. 

  • tangandchris
    tangandchris Member Posts: 1,855
    edited July 2014


    Well, I've been wondering about this topic too. I just finished chemo 6/17/14, so it looks like I'm now where close to having one. But, I've been having cramps the last 2 days. I'm wondering what the deal is! Anyway, from reading some of this thread it can take quite awhile for anything to happen.

  • Kellymci
    Kellymci Member Posts: 18
    edited July 2014

    Hi there! I was diagnosed in March 2013 and started chemo in April. I had my period for that first chemo session and then no more periods after that. I'd have been happy about that except it also came with wicked hot flashes that were keeping me up all night and making life very uncomfortable. I finished chemo in August (2013) and had what I THINK might have been a period in early July 2014 (it was just one day so I find it a little odd...). My hot flashes have completely disappeared so I'm feeling confident that my hormones are starting to work again! 

    Oh I should mention I am currently 35 so nowhere near natural menopause. My oncologist said he fully expects that my period will come back, given my age. And I don't take tamoxifen (er/pr neg so no need) so that's not what was keeping my periods away. I think chemo just shocks the system and it takes a while to recover!

  • Kellymci
    Kellymci Member Posts: 18
    edited August 2014

    Hey ladies! Just chiming in with a period update! I got a normal period on July 25th so that means it took a full 11 months after chemo finished for it to come back. And still no hot flashes! Yay!! period party?!!

  • ml1581
    ml1581 Member Posts: 1
    edited September 2014

    This site has been a great support when I was diagnosed and during my treatment. I am 33 yrs old. Thought to share my condition so it could give hope to other ladies. My chemo ended on 03/21/14 and I got my periods 09/13/14. Took less than 6 months. I am so happy as I want to have a 2nd baby and this bring a hope that I still can. Also I am on Tamoxifen (from 3 months) and no hot flashes or any side effects. 

  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited September 2014

    Thank you for sharing this ml1581, and welcome to the Discussion Boards!

    The Mods

  • M0mmyof3
    M0mmyof3 Member Posts: 9,696
    edited September 2014

    While going through chemo I didn't have it. But about a month or so after finishing chemo and then having gone through the surgery it came back and its been really goofy ever since. I might get it one month and then I might not have one for a couple of months! Wish it would make up its mind!

  • clarrn
    clarrn Member Posts: 557
    edited October 2014

    Period stopped the moment I started chemo, and was back 5 weeks after I stopped.  Only 4 days long,  but very heavy.  I am in rads and haven't started tamoxifen yet, but would like another baby, so fingers crossed that I am fertile! 

  • LuckyLiz88
    LuckyLiz88 Member Posts: 1
    edited January 2015

    I was diagnosed with a very aggressive Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (around 3.5 cm tumour, ER/PR negative, HER2 C+, Grade 3) of the left breast, along with 3 axillary lymph nodes that tested positive. in May, 2012. At 42 while already late in age, I had never given up hope of having children. I was still a virgin and always wanted to be married first to have kids. I was told by my oncologist that given my age, the chemotherapy would put me into menopause. I really struggled with the decision to start treatment for I feared of the potential side effects to my organs, but most of all my fertility. I stalled for 5 months, here I was diagnosed with a life threatening disease and I couldn't bring myself to accept treatment to save my life because I knew that it would mean that I could never give life myself. I honestly felt stuck between a hard place and a rock. My oncologists and everyone around me was pleading with me to do chemo, I couldn't bear to accept that I would not be able to have children as a result of the chemo. Five months after being diagnosed, I had follow up imaging, and of course they showed that the tumours had grown, at that point I conceded. Chemo. from Nov. 2012 - March 2013. My periods stopped after my third session (end of Dec. 2012) of chemo. Summer of 2013 I experienced intense hot flashes, would get worst at nights. Most women experience menopause gradually in time when nature intends for them to go through it but with chemo your body is being fast tracked thrust into menopause. I finished Herceptin treatment Jan. 2014. In Feb. 2014 (3 months shy of 44 at that point) to my complete but pleasant surprised i got my period for the first time after 14 months. I was shocked and in utter disbelief. I cried. To me it was a sign that my body was going back to normal. My period lasted about a week, normal flow, mild cramps. Two weeks after I got my period again and it also lasted around a week. Then nothing again for six months until beginning of August 2014 (now 44), which lasted five days. Two weeks after that I got it again, and it lasted eight days. That's been it so far. Now it's end of Jan. 2015 and it's almost five months and nothing :-( Still praying that somehow I start getting regular periods again and hoping for some miracle that somehow/someway it is still not too late for me to be able to get pregnant and deliver a healthy child.

  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited January 2015

    Hello LuckyLiz,

    Sorry you found yourself here but we wanted to send you a warm welcome to the BCO community.

    You'll get lots of support and information from the knowledgeable and compassionate women here.

    Just letting you know that you may not get a response on this thread as it has been inactive since October.

    You may find posting in the IDC Forum helpful for more responses.

    In the meantime, you might like to check out the article on the main site on: Resuming normal periods after Chemo - When?

    Big hugs,

    The moderators


  • L00Sparrow
    L00Sparrow Member Posts: 17
    edited March 2015

    I lost my period to cancer at 22 never came back even though my hormone levels were normal now that I have breast cancer I doubt I can try anything anymore sighs

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