Break through bleeding on Tamoxifen

hi, I'm a little late to this thread. I have been on tamoxifen for nearly eight months. Still having periods but with longer intervals in between. I started seeing a new Gyno at the recommendation of my oncologists (I had not seen a Gyno for probably ten years since my pelvic exams were done by my regular primary doc). Anyway, my new Gyno told me that I need to notify her right away if I ever experience breakthrough bleeding or spotting while I'm on tamoxifen, just to err on the side of caution.

Please keep us posted, and I hope everything works out uneventfully. :-)

I was 46 at the time of my BMX surgery two years ago, and my periods stopped almost right after surgery.  I took tamoxifen for about a year and a half tolerating it pretty well.  After a hormone level blood test indicated that I was menopausal, my oncologist switched me to letrozole (femara).  I also tolerated it pretty well. 

After 2 months on letrozole, I had a couple days worth of spotting.  Went to my OB/GYN who did a saline infusion sonohysterography to take a look at my uterus.Found two new polyps: one on my cervix, another on in the uterus, and it's off to a D&C for me for further investigation.  He said he has seen lots of polyps with tamoxifen, majority benign, but wants to be careful.

Hate the thought of another procedure under the general anesthesia.  I was sick as a dog after the BMX.  Also am nervous -- I hope they will use not use the arm where lymph nodes were removed to monitor blood pressure, don't know if there is anything to be worried about wrt letrozole and surgery.

my oncologist explained  while on tamoxifen 25% continue with regular periods, 50% have irregular periods, and 25% stop periods altogether.  Mine became very light and very irregular, ranging anywhere from 20-60 days inbetween. He said the spotting is very common and nothing to worry about, to only be concerned if the bleeding was very heavy. (they actually refused me a transvaginal US due to lack of heavy bleeding).

anne

Thanks a lot for your advice, ladies.   

Just had a call with the nurse, she promised they would get the records from the hospital where I previously had anesthesia to figure out what to do. So hopefully that is sorted.

Thank you gemini4 for the wristband advice.  I'll check on that too. 

Now .. a new development.  I thought I was just getting a polyp remove, but the surgery nurse just told me that my OB/GYN plans to do also do "morcellation".  No idea why my doctor planned to do morcellation during D&C. I have
one fibroid. Had it for a while (before BC diagnosis), it has not
grown and has not bothered me.  I wonder if he is thinking that maybe while he is in there, he'll get rid of the fibroid as well... Arrgh... there was just an article in the WSJ about the risk of fibroid
morcellation spreading cancer (if the fibroid happens to be malignant).  I'll have to investigate further.

Thanks again.