4 3/4 years post chemo, period returns

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calamtykel
calamtykel Member Posts: 1,187
edited October 2018 in Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After

I'm 46. Was diagnosed when I was 41 and had surgery and chemo. My period stopped sometime during chemo and did not return for many months after it was done. Once it started, it was kind of erratic and at one point, I had a 15 day period from hell. I had an endometrial biopsy at that time and they said there was no problem, everything was normal and that I was probably just having hormone fluctuations. Well, after that, I stopped having periods.

Well that was fine with me. I had the hot flashes and what I thought was menopausal symptoms and then nothing. I was having occasional pain in one or both ovaries during the time I should ovulate- I went to the gyn and she did the exam, normal pap smear and that chemo basically stomps on the ovaries so it was normal to have menopause and even twinges in the ovaries after chemo.

Well, that was three years ago, give or take.

So rewind to almost three weeks ago. I suddenly had a clear thin discharge after having lots of vaginal dryness all this time. I thought "Hm, that's odd..but chalked it up to an herbal supplement my naturopath had me on for lyme disease (of which I have fully recovered) since it contained polygala which can stimulate female stuff. And thought "Huh -it's almost like ovulating." But I ignored it. Well, Wednesday night I found some blood when I wiped. I totally flipped out. For a couple of weeks I have felt a heaviness down there. So now I convinced myself something as terribly wrong.

As things turned out, I now have a period. A full blown, cramping, bleeding, super-pad-wearing, clotting period from hell. It's been two days and today has been the heaviest - like three years built up! And a uterus that is not accustomed to having to "cramp" is now back to work. Oh my gosh. And I'm a hormonal mess of all those old PMS symptoms.

Has this happened to anyone else?? I can't believe I have to go through menopause again. Does it never quit?? I started when I was only 9 and my periods have been so awful - even when I had my4 children, after 8 weeks my period always returned -even if I was breast feeding full time. Every single time. And it was always every 26 days like clockwork.

Has anyone else have their biological clock reversed??? Should I be worried??

I'm making an appointment with the midwife for an exam and a pap smear, but I don't have insurance anymore, so I can't just go get a bunch of tests easily. ( I am part of a medical cost sharing where we pay out of pocket and then get reimbursed...but I really don't want to utilize it unless absolutely necessary.)


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  • Vanden
    Vanden Member Posts: 4
    edited January 2016

    Hi Calam... I'm interested to see if someone with this experience responds. My chemo put me in menopause as well. I'm older than you - now 49. I am dealing with the hot flashes but that's about it. I'm pretty convinced it's gone forever but would be interested to hear the experiences of others. It's been a few months - I hope you got the answers you need.

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  • Normal-ish
    Normal-ish Member Posts: 1
    edited February 2016

    Hi, I had my mastectomy in November 2009, followed by chemo and radiotherapy. I have been period free since then. Today I have had vaginal bleeding. I think that i'll monitor it to see how it goes on but if it's a return of my periods I'll be well pi...d. Anyone else had this? I'm 59

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  • Loral
    Loral Member Posts: 932
    edited February 2016

    FYI:http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/breast_center/treatments_services/survivor_care/endocrine_therapy/postmenopausal_women.html

    NOTE: Many women stop menstruating after receiving chemotherapy, often for several months or even a few years. This does not necessarily mean they are postmenopausal. It is possible that these women could still have functioning ovaries and premenopausal hormonal levels despite the absence of their menstrual periods. Also, ovarian function could still return unexpectedly. That said, women who are premenopausal, regardless of whether they experience temporary menopause because of treatments, should not be prescribed aromatase inhibitors (unless they are participating in specific clinical research studies). Aromatase inhibitors are typically reserved for postmenopausal women with breast cancer.

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