Bloody Zoladex!!!!

Hi Kezzababe,

Sounds like you are having a really rough time with the Zoladex.  I was told that it affects the hormones that regulate ovarian function- so the zoladex shuts down the ovaries, so hence the body is starved of oestrogen.  Enter early menopause.  The natural remedy would be to have your ovaries removed.

I have a brochure "Breast cancer and early meonpause"  from The National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre - (I think they are now part of Cancer Australia) . I found  it quite helpful.  There is a whole section on managing menopausal symptoms-eg coping with stress and emotional worries,hot flushes and night sweats, libido, vaginal dryness, insomnia and disrupted sleep and so on.

I have recently finished a two year course of Zoledex.  

It is OK to seek help from your GP or Oncologist.  My GP made a "Mental health plan" which enabled me to see a psychologist, who worked out of an Oncology unit.  She was helpful in relieving some of the anxieties and fears that I had.   She gave me coping stragies. She also had great stragies to help me sleep.  I wasn't depressed but she felt I had a post traumatic stress reaction.

Like Sandy I found certain foods and drinks made the sweats worse.  Hot drinks, hot-spicey foods, caffeine and wine were the worst.

I also stopped all foods with caffeine- coffee, tea, chocolate, soft drinks etc- this aided my sleeping.

I have a very light doona in winter and an even lighter one in summer (which lies at the end of the bed).  At one stage I went to bed with a glass full of ice.  If I woke with a flush I would use the ice/cold water to cool me down quickly.  But the thing that helped me the most was acupuncture.  The flushes didnt go away completely but it made them bearable.  My oncologist has since referred patients to him with good success.  If you are in Melbourne I can pass on his details.

12 months into the treatment I was still suffering dreadfully from fatigue.  I went to a naturapath- that had been recommended to me, and she felt I was Vitamin B deficient- she mixed up a potion- which really helped too.

I have tried to use natural therapies- but  i have also been cautious as to who I go to as I need to make sure they are not going to undo the work of the Zoladex/tamoxifen.

I hope this helps.  38 degree days and warm nights are not helpful and not controlable.  Control what you can-food, clothing, bedding etc.

There is a Zoladex group on BCNA- if you do a search-there may be some more hints for you.

Thinking of you

Carolyn