first period 9 months post-chemo

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chemo072
chemo072 Member Posts: 682
edited June 2014 in Young With Breast Cancer
first period 9 months post-chemo
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  • chemo072
    chemo072 Member Posts: 682
    edited June 2008

    ...and I'm 40 and I haven't had kids yet.  Have no idea if I'll have regular cycles or not, or if I'll be fertile, but in Feb I was told I was post-menopausal, in March they said -oops!  your estradiol went sky high, switch from femara to tamoxifen, and now...a real honest-to-the-forces-that-be period.  Cramps, bleeding the whole bit.

    So, since I thought the door was closed to fertility I had given up on the concept, mourned, moved on, but now - all those old feelings of wanting a child have come flooding back.  And I wonder - do I even have a chance?  One period does not fertility make.  Pretty sure my emotions are running way ahead of the facts.  But, to get the facts, I talk to my ob gyn?  But she's a gyn. onc. and both she and my regular onc. want to do ovarian suppression, which is the opposite of fertility.  So there must be a fertility doc to go talk to, right?  How does one go about finding one?

    Any advice? I feel so naive about this all...... 

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  • nash
    nash Member Posts: 2,600
    edited May 2008

    Hi, Amy. I don't know much about fertility issues or how to find a fertility doc, but I didn't want your post to go unanswered. One thing I do know is that one is not supposed to get pregnant while on tamoxifen, so that's an issue to consider. And like you said, the gyn onc and reg onc are going to focused on ovarian suppression. So it's a tough issue--on one hand it would be great to be able to get pregnant, but on the other hand it might not be medically feasible or advisable. I don't know. It's worth a frank discussion with your oncs first, I think, then a discussion with either a high risk ob/gyn or a fertility specialist. 

    It's interesting that you got your period back--I'm turning 40 next month, and haven't had a period since middle of chemo in October. My estradiol was 12 in January, but the onc put me on tamoxifen anyhow. I'll be interested if my cycle comes roaring back as well.

    Good luck to you! 

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  • LorenaB
    LorenaB Member Posts: 937
    edited May 2008

    Amya, my oncologist referred me to a fertility specialist early on, just so I could find out about my options.  I was told that I didn't have any -- that Tamoxifen would put me into an early menopause (I'm 41) and that would be it.  Then my oncologist told me that wasn't the case necessarily ... so I'm not sure what is going to happen, or who to believe.  In anyy case, I have a 7 year old son and I'm in the midst of a divorce, so I've come to terms with the fact that I won't have any more children biologically (I may adopt down the road and/or end up with stepkids).  But that's just me... in your case I'd say you should check out some of the good hospitals in your area and find out if they have a fertility clinic.  Or ask your oncologist for a recommendation.  Gather all the information you can before you close that door!     

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  • chemo072
    chemo072 Member Posts: 682
    edited June 2008

    Thanks for the replies!  Hadn't checked this thread until now....my plan with my onc. is to say - hey, remember the fertility counseling that never happened?  Well, now's the time. and go from there...

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