Questions about menopause and hormone treatments

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tangandchris
tangandchris Member Posts: 1,855
edited January 2015 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After

So, when I was dx I was age 39 and still having periods. I had my last period 2/2013 right after my first chemo....haven't had one since. I had extreme night sweats and hot flashes during chemo. I would wake in the middle of the night drenched with sweat and then get cold from being wet. I'm wondering if I had some sort of chemo induced menopause? How would I know this...is there a test that can be run?

Also, if I was put on Tamoxifen and am now in menopause, will I need to switch to appropriate meds?

I'm seeing my gyno in a couple of weeks and I was going to discuss this with her. I just thought I'd get some feedback. Thanks :)

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  • SelenaWolf
    SelenaWolf Member Posts: 1,724
    edited January 2015

    It is, certainly, possible that you are experiencing menopause-like symptoms due to chemotherapy. The question becomes, will it be permanent once treatment ends? The older you are during treatment, i.e., in your late forties, early fifties, the more likely it is that chemotherapy will put you permanently into menopause. With younger women, it's not always a given and many return to their usual cycles when treatment ends.

    Tamoxifen can be used by both pre- and post menopausal women, so - if it is prescribed for you by your oncologist - your menopausal status is moot. It's only when you are definitely menopausal (this can be determined by a blood test if you haven't had a complete hysterectomy including ovary removal) can you take an AI. Some oncologists will keep you on tamoxifen until you are menopausal, then switch you to an AI; others will keep you on tamoxifen if you are tolerating it well because tamoxifen won't deplete your bones as much as an AI does.

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  • mdg
    mdg Member Posts: 3,571
    edited January 2015


    I was dx at 45 and had my last period during my first chemo.  After a year....no period returned. My gyno did an estrogen test and I was in menopause.  My doctors kept me on tamoxifen but then I needed to have ovaries out for some cysts and they wanted to change me to an AI after that. Unfortunately they did a baseline dexa bone density test only to find out I have severe osteopenia so they could not change me to an AI.  I am still on tamoxifen. 

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