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Jrova's avatar
Jrova
Member
14 years ago

Feeling good!

Well I'm feeling pretty good again and have my old energy levels back, so I was very surprised when my oncologist told me on Thursday that I am now in menopause! I thought I would be feeling worse than this so I was pretty happy. Apart from no periods and very mild hot flushes, everything else is good. On the upside, my anaemia from heavy periods has gone. On the downside, I have a drawer full of super-sized tampons and condoms which will now go unused. My husband said I should sell them on ebay!! Haha. Just to ensure that the menopause is permanent, I'm having my ovaries removed in a couple of weeks then starting on Femara. After that, I'll be seeing my surgeon in March to discuss removing my other breast and having reconstruction. So much to decide on; I'm scared I'll have the reconstruction done then regret it because it will feel weird or look bad. Part of me would like to just get the other boob off and leave it at that. What do those of you who have had recon think of your new boobs? Was it worth it and are you happy? Is there anything you would have done differently? I want to hear the good, the bad and the ugly!! x Jane

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  • Jrova's avatar
    Jrova
    Member
    14 years ago
    The whole thing about having my ovaries removed came up because I have had two eostrogen positive cancers 9 years apart, despite having tamoxifen for five years between the two cancers. My eostrogen has been super high for ages and was giving me heavy periods that made me anaemic and uterine polyps that had to be removed twice. Because my two cancers were at ages 34 and 43, my oncologist wanted to get my eostrogen levels down dramatically and she doesn't know if my chemo induced menopause will be permanent. Hence my ovaries need to go. It never would have been an issue if I hadn't got breast cancer the second time. I think my oncologist thought I needed something drastic to try and prevent a third cancer. I hope my explanation makes sense. All the best xx Jane
  • Jrova's avatar
    Jrova
    Member
    14 years ago
    I didn't get any bad side effects when I had tamoxifen from 2002- 2007. All through my first lot of chemo in 2002 and the tamoxifen I never even missed a period! Thank goodness the chemo pushed me into menopause this time around, because I couldn't take the femara if it hadn't. I never thought I'd be happy to be in menopause at 44, but my priorities are all different nowadays! Like you, I went out today and forgot my hat! It's so damn hot in Perth isn't it? Good luck on the tamoxifen; I hope it all goes smoothly for you. xx Jane
  • Jrova's avatar
    Jrova
    Member
    14 years ago
    Wow, that's just the sort of feedback I was hoping for! I'd like to have the same recon as you; after researching on the internet, the diep one sounds like it would suit me best. You said you've been diagnosed twice; how far apart? My two tumours were 9 years apart. I had a lumpectomy the first time and that cancer never came back. The second one was a new one with different pathology. Being in the same breast I had no choice but to have a mastectomy. I'm only 44, and since I plan to live to 100 (lol) I think I need to get some good new boobs! Thanks again for replying. xx Jane
  • Jrova's avatar
    Jrova
    Member
    14 years ago
    I'm not worried about tamoxifen because I've already had five years of it from 2002 - 2007 when I had my first bout of bc. This time around I'm having femara. My oncologist said I couldn't take tamoxifen for another five years anyway. I remember not wanting to start on the tamoxifen back in '02 for the same reasons as you. I was scared of it. This time around, I'm not so scared anymore. I've been through chemo twice, radiation once, surgeries and tamoxifen. Femara should be ok after all of that! Thanks for the tip about the calcium and vitamin D. I'll definitely get onto those too. xx Jane
  • judymc's avatar
    judymc
    Member
    14 years ago

    I saw the specialist about having the ovaries removed, and all I could gather from her was that there would definitely be no more periods or hormones produced, so permanent menopause was assured, as well as not having to take Tamoxifen for the rest of the 5 years because there would be no hormones to block. But I was concerned about removal of the ovaries because it would be more surgery after the lumpectomy, and I hadn't looked into the pros and cons of the op.( Like, don't we need the ovaries in later life to regulate our bodies in other ways?)I too havent had a period since finishing chemo in July 2011, and the hot flushes from the Tamoxifen effect are manageable but not overly pleasant! But what choice do we have in this situation?

     

     

  • Pennybryn's avatar
    Pennybryn
    Member
    14 years ago

    I know that Arimidex is of course not Tamoxifen (how clever of me), but (as many lovely ladies on here can attest to) I was petrified about starting Arimidex.  I stressed for such a long time and dreaded the day I had to start.  I actually stood at the bench with my tablets in front of me, and I could take every other tablet but left the Arimidex!  It wasn't until about five minutes later that I could actually put the tablet to my mouth, after having abused it loudly.  It is now six weeks since I began taking a tablet that, to me, was going to cause horrendous side effects to my already traumatised mind and body, but I am very fortunate to be one of the lucky ones that has suffered no side effects.  The first couple of days I was a little nauseaus and had a few headaches but they were quickly stopped in their tracks by a couple of Panadol.  Now I don't even get the headaches.  I introduced a calcium tablet and a vitamin D tablet for my bones (just in case) but I feel wonderful, I actually think that since I introduced the calcium I don't have the aches in my legs that I used to have.

    Try not to worry too much about taking Tamoxifen.  I won't say "think positive" as us ladies don't like that terminolody very much, but hopefully you might be lucky like me don't get the side effects, I hope you are, but I do understand your concerns.  A lady I met along the way who started on Tamoxifen just before I started on Arimidex, has also had no side effects.  I guess in the grand scheme of things we really don't have a choice do we, we have to do everything we can to beat this mongrel of a thing and we will!

    I wish you well, let us know how you go.

    Dale

  • Al's avatar
    Al
    Member
    14 years ago

    Sorry can't help either with recon. I too have not had any periods and very few light hot flushes. I'm hoping that I'll go through menopause while I'm on Tamoxifen or have had having just finished chemo. I start Tamoxifen on Thurs and am a little scared of the side effects.  Glad to hear you are feeling good.

    Take care and keep us informed. Thinking of you.

    Love Alison xx

  • Julia44's avatar
    Julia44
    Member
    14 years ago

    Hi Jrova,

    I have just started on Tamoxifen and my oncologist has not mentioned anything about "the dangers of ovaries",I have had no testing to see if I am menapausal but have not had periods since chemo. I know everyone's cancer's are a bit different but wonder what you were told about why you should do this?

    Thanks.

    Julia