Vaginal Discharge?

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Anonymous
Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
edited September 2015 in Stage III Breast Cancer

Anyone had issue with a vaginal discharge after being shot into menopause by chemotherapy? This has been somewhat blood-tingy but not a heavy discharge such as a "period" --and only a couple of times has happened in 6 years since chemo. Am at the age where the gyno will do a pap test only every 3 years if the pelvic exam is normal. Have had normal exams ever since and still have ovaries. Wonder if it could be just from being on Femara? What if anything has your onc/primary doctor advised?

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  • Luvmydobies
    Luvmydobies Member Posts: 766
    edited September 2015

    Hi, I am having similar issues. My cancer was Trile Negative so I'm not on any kind of added treatment after chemo. I finished chemo just over two years ago. I was thrown into chemopause. I was dry for awhile then had off and on discharge. Mentioned it to Onc and he said it could mean my ovaries are "waking up". I had some light bleeding and discharge stuff for a few months off and on from last Sept to Dec., then nothing. Started having discharge again about 5-6 weeks ago but was mostly coming out when I used the bathroom. Last Thursday it looked brownish pink like at the beginning or end of a period. Yesterday and today I've had nothing. They tell me that since my BRCA test was negative and I'm Triple Neg that it wouldn't spread to the female parts. So I'm guessing the discharge/blood is just a wonky period or like perimenopause stuff. I'm hoping anyway. I'll keep an eye on this thread.

    Edit: I hope it's ok that I posted here even though I wasn't Stage III! I'm so sorry if I shouldn't have done so! Mods, if I wasn't supposed to do this, feel free to delete it. My apologies in advance

  • sbelizabeth
    sbelizabeth Member Posts: 2,889
    edited September 2015

    Luvmydobies, anyone is welcome to post here. I believe the only "closed" threads are the Stage IV. Thanks for chiming in.

    Anyone who was premenopausal before breast cancer treatments, and still has their ovaries, can emerge from "chemopause" and begin cycling again. It may be weird, irregular, light, heavy, whatever. It may settle down again into monthly cycles, and you can definitely be fertile, so if you don't want any surprises...birth control.

    That begin said, abnormal bleeding should be thoroughly checked out by a doctor who knows your BC and genetic history. Breast cancer rarely spreads to the uterus, but it can, and there can also be primary uterine or ovarian cancer completely unrelated to breast cancer. Most of the time, unexpected, light bleeding in these circumstances are related to hormonal changes and medication, not cancer.

  • Luvmydobies
    Luvmydobies Member Posts: 766
    edited September 2015

    Whew. Thanks for clarifying and letting me post! In March I had an abdominal and vaginal ultrasound as well as a CT Scan with and without contrast and all was normal except for a small simple cyst and small fibroid. I think this is why my doctor's don't seem concerned, but the worry is still there. I was 36 at diagnosis and my periods were very regular. So this is all such a whirlwind for me. They did tell me to expect the unexpected if my cycle started up again. I hate the roller coaster ride though!

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited September 2015

    Ok glad to know I'm not the only one this is happening to after chemopause! I have a two year old grandson and no wish to be a "grand-mommy". lol. Really think this is a possibe SE of Femara, and maybe a hormonal change.


  • sbelizabeth
    sbelizabeth Member Posts: 2,889
    edited September 2015

    Shelly, I have a two-year-old granddaughter, and her other grandma and I are good friends. Frequently Aubrey's mom and both her grandmas are together with her, and she calls us all "grandmommy."

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited September 2015

    Sbelizabeth, that 's so cute she calls you 'grandmommy'.  Landon calls me "MeeMaw" and sometimes he just calls me "mom".  He calls his grandpa "Pop Pop".  Isn't it delightful to have grandkids?  Enjoy   :)

    Shelly

  • Outfield
    Outfield Member Posts: 1,109
    edited September 2015

    Yes, I had that and in my case it wasn't my ovaries waking up OR anything scary in my pelvis, it was atrophic vaginitis. But since the other two things are possible, I'd call my oncologist (who in my case would check my hormone levels and make me get in to see my gynecologist).

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