Is this menopause?

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2curvy
2curvy Member Posts: 183
edited June 2014 in Life After Breast Cancer
Hi ladies: How do you know if you are in menopause? When does it start after chemotherpy?

I finished chemo about 6 weeks ago. I'm 48 and was definitely perimenopausal before treatment. I haven't had a period since February, and am having lots of hot flashes. Unfortunately triple neg, so no tamoxifen, etc.

Anyway, I'm just curious, because other than hot flashes, I seem to have no other symptoms. . ..
Thanks!
Colleen
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  • iodine
    iodine Member Posts: 4,289
    edited August 2007

    That sounds like a good start for it! You can get your gyn to do a blood test to ck it out if you want, I think.

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  • nosurrender
    nosurrender Member Posts: 2,019
    edited August 2007
    I wasn't in Meno but ever since my third adriamycin I have been getting hot flashes. I also am a tad cranky- ok- a bit impatient- er- total maniac?

    They say once chemo is over Flo will come back. Just in time for my ooph and then I guess I might get a tad cranky again!

    Ask your doc for a hormone level test- that will let you know for sure!
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  • juanita63
    juanita63 Member Posts: 171
    edited August 2007

    I was having hot flashes before chemo, well warm flashes really compared to what i had after chemo. I've been in chemopause for 2 1/2 years. Hot flashes are getting fewer, which is fine with me with the heat we're having.

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  • Stack
    Stack Member Posts: 157
    edited August 2007

    my doc said chemo could keep the monthly visit away for quite along time. she just ran a hormone level test on me (im 42 and finished chemo in mar 06) i was on tamox but my levels show chemo pushed me into full meno so now i have been switched to arimidex. my hot flashes are mild and very few.

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  • marshakb
    marshakb Member Posts: 1,664
    edited August 2007
    Colleen,

    I started chemo in feb and haven't had a period since. I was peri also at dx time. Had a gyn visit last week and the doc ordered hormone levels for me as well as a pelvic ultrasound. I am on tamoxifen but guess that could change. The hot flashes/night sweats are horrbile and I have to change pjs sometimes in the middle of the night.

    As if BC isn't enough............... Hang in there sweetie you are not alone. Hugs, Marsha
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  • SheriH
    SheriH Member Posts: 785
    edited August 2007

    Now here's something to really mess you up. My onc did hormone levels about 6 months after chemo to see if I really was in meno, and it came back that I was so I went on Arimidex for 6 months, then "flo" came back. They tested my hormone levels 2 more times to see if it was really my period and they still came back post menopausal. I had the ovaries and uterus removed and the path said I was fully functional again. My body doesn't know what it's doing.

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  • Shirlann
    Shirlann Member Posts: 3,302
    edited August 2007
    Some of the gals have very good luck with Effexor for hot flashes. It is an anti-depressant, but they found by accident that it helps with hot flashes.

    Hugs, Shirlann
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  • 2curvy
    2curvy Member Posts: 183
    edited August 2007
    Thank you to all of you. I guess my onc will test me at my next check-up. My hot flashes are frequent, but not too strong. I certainly can handle them now, and am hoping that they don't get worse!

    Colleen
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  • SharonInMO
    SharonInMO Member Posts: 26
    edited August 2007
    Hi,

    I had a similar type question. I'm 42, engaged to marry for the first time this fall, no prior kids. My future husband is 27, and we both want to have kids after I'm in remission. We were desperate to do some embryo freezing prior to chemo, but could not afford it and he was also away in the Navy and unable to reach a fertility clinic.

    From what I've read, anywhere from 25-75% of women over 40 hit permanent menopause after doing chemo. This is a huge range!

    I just had 4 cycles of AC and started my first of 12 Taxols on Friday. I had two normal periods during the AC, but my latest period should have started 10 days ago (after the 4th cycle) and didn't.

    However, I haven't had any signs whatsoever of hot flashes. In fact, I'm regularly taking 1-hour walks in our 98 degree weather without any signs of a hot flash. Also no problems with hot flashes at night.

    So what is going on? Does this mean my periods are likely to resume at the end of chemo? Or does it mean that menopause is mere weeks away... I have only to wait a bit for those hot flashes to start?

    If anybody else here was near my age when they went through chemo, I'd love to know what your experiences have been as far as fertility after chemo...

    Thanks!

    Sharon in Missouri
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