Periods during chemo

Monarchandthemilkweed · August 2021

I’m 45, 44 when diagnosed. Was having very regular periods. They were starting to change but never skipped one. Started chemo in the end of June. Have had two cycles since. My cycles are short like 25 days. Start my third chemo cycle on Monday. Last month I got my period a couple days before my 2nd chemo. Had my period for about two weeks. Besides being longer, it was also heavier. After about a week break. I just got my period again. At about 20 days. It doesn’t seem as heavy. I did tel my MO about it last time (just that I got it because at the time of the appointment It was still a typical period). He said he might have to give me a shot to stop it.

Any insight on this? I know when I’m done with chemo I’ll start tamoxifen. These periods are wearing me down physically. The heavy one I had during chemo I think made that cycle so much harder. Does tamoxifen stop periods? But I’m worried about the side effects from the shots to shut down my ovaries

Thanks

WC3 · August 2021

Hi Monarch:

My periods stopped halfway through chemotherapy. Hot flashes are my most noticeable side effects.

The shot your doctor is talking about is probably lupron or zoladex. They shut the ovaries down. I'm currently on lupron but was on zoladex. I switched because we thought lupron might be more affordable for me. I felt fine on the zoladex though my patience was a bit short. It seemed to boost my stamina a bit. I haven't been on lupron long enough to discern a difference. There is some evidence to suggest that lupron may have a fertility preserving effect on the ovaries during chemotherapy.

Monarchandthemilkweed · August 2021

thanks. I hope my periods stop. I think all of this bleeding is making me feel extra run down which is frustrating because chemo is on Monday. Summer is moving by quickly and I feel bad for my kids.

msphil · August 2021

hello sweetie my period stopped after my first chemo shot then when finished chemo and rads it came back now and then till it finally stopped all together was the best thing out of all this. I was 43 at diagnosis when I started tamoxifen my period had been completely gone thank God. Dealing with all this as we were planning our 2nd marriages now been married 27yr and Praise God 27 yr Survivor. msphil IDC stage2 3 mo 0/3 nodes 3mo chemo 2 wks on 2 wks off before Lmast then got married then 3mo after then 7wks rads and 5yrs on tamoxifen hang in there.

Periods during chemo

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