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

Hi Kerry

My name is Sandy and Daina, the online forum supervisor messaged me to ask if I could contact you with my exeriences with Zoladex. Probably a good thing as I dont check BCNA all the time!

I had a one sided masectomy back in Feb this year. I commenced Tamoxifen but developed an ankle to thigh DVT so had to cease the Tamoxifen and start Zoladex in cojunction with Letrazole. Because I still have the DVT 8 months later they won't refer me for reconstruction for awhile and I am naturally impatient.

Yep, those flushes, especially at night  sure get me hot and bothered too. And I have now also got depression which sounds similar to you?????????? Lack of sex drive, overly emotional, and I don't 'feel' as I am the same person I was before all this. I am also absolutely terrified of a reoccurance.

Medication has helped the depression enormously although I have been close to tears all the time in the last few weeks. Funnily enough, I coped with all the surgeries, chemo and radiation but have lost my bundle now I am supposed to get back to normal life. I feel like I am just waiting for the dreaded C to return!

The Drs put me on Efexor (antidepressent) initially because it is said to help the hot flushes but now the dose is doubled and the flushes are a bit better. I find sweet, surgary or fatty foods REALLY set them off so if I eat lollies it serves me right. Also, Gabepentin or Clonidine may be effective, ask your Dr.

My biggest complaint is that one of the drugs, Dr thinks it is the Zoladex gives me terrible achy pains all over my body, particularly the arms, feet, legs and hands. I feel like I have the flu all the time. And that really gets me down. I seem to take an enormous amount of pain killlers just to cope with daily activities and work commitments. And often heavy duty ones, but it is sometimes the only way I can cope! Sleep is another thing that eludes me these days! I feel exhausted but just cant either go to sleep or stay there!

I returned to work after 12 months sick leave and have really found it difficult, mentally and physically.

Don't forget that even if you had "no boobs" the Zoladex blocks the oestogen which in many cases is what 'feeds' the cancer cells, so by stopping it you may be putting yourself at risk. I do understand how you feel because I was so so so tempted to stop taking it myself a few weeks ago because of the constant pain, it hurts to walk, sit, lie, wake up, climb stairs, .......... so I do understand. Just focus on the bigger picture of blocking the re-entry of cancer into your body!

I am more than willing to talk on the phone if you would like, email me for a phone number if you like.

rosssandy@bigpond.com

I live rural SA, what about you??

Hang in there Kerry, if I can do it, so can you!

Regards

Sandy