Forum Discussion

Sunshine0206's avatar
Sunshine0206
Member
9 years ago

Hormones

Good morning all,

Seeking wisdom and experience.

I am triple positive BC. My surgical management is complete. I’m halfway through taxol after completing AC.

I’m still menstrating and my bloods give no indication that I’m any where near menopause.

To me hormones are fertiliser to hormone positive BC.

Does anyone have any experience with strong hormones and how they were managed ?


xx

10 Replies

  • Sunshine0206's avatar
    Sunshine0206
    Member
    9 years ago
    Afternoon all,

    i had opportunistic encounter with my onc today.

    He agreed my very tough ovaries will need some help to turn off. He said that the remaining doses of taxol may knock them off but doubtful. 

    Options are
    a) monthly injection (Zoladex)
    b) radiation to ovaries to blast them
    c) Oophrectomy 

    I feel better after this convo.

    x
  • primek's avatar
    primek
    Member
    9 years ago
    They don't give the blockers durubg chemo as it worjs better on rapidky dividing cells. As soon as chemo is finished you will be on something to push you into menopause. Either tamoxifen or sonething ekse with an aramatose inhibitor. Don't worry, they will do what is needed when needed for your cancer. Kath x
  • Sunshine0206's avatar
    Sunshine0206
    Member
    9 years ago
    I’ve only just started herceptin. It’s not too bad. 

    Mines not not worried about it either. Perhaps I’m over thinking it... lol!
  • Mrs_H1's avatar
    Mrs_H1
    Member
    9 years ago
    Yep. Triple positive and both sides affected. I finished chemo at the end of September this year and am continuing with Herceptin until July next year. Then we’ll be looking at hormone therapy. Oncologist thinks it’s a good thing about my hormones, lack of menopause systems and period return. Jen. 
  • Mrs_H1's avatar
    Mrs_H1
    Member
    9 years ago
    Hi @Sunshine0206, I had 1 period during my AC chemo but nothing during the remainder of the treatment including on taxol. Having said that I also didn’t have any menopause systems during chemo which did surprise my oncologist. About a month after chemo my period came back and now seems to be here every 3 weeks just as heavy as before this. Oncologist doesn’t seem concerned by it and is still talking hormone therapy once herceptin is completed next year. Cheers, Jen. 
  • Sunshine0206's avatar
    Sunshine0206
    Member
    9 years ago
    Thanks Zoffiel

    yep aware of tamoxifen. Was just curious to know if others continued with periods during chemo :0)

    I’m considering the oophrectomy as something to discuss with my onc.

    much thanks.


  • Zoffiel's avatar
    Zoffiel
    Member
    9 years ago

    Most women with hormone positive cancers end up either taking Tamoxifen or one of the Aromatase Inhibitors such as Femara. They work in different ways--that's a conversation to have with your oncologist.

    You can take Tamoxifen while you are still menstruating. In the past there wasn't much attention paid to how well that was working at suppressing hormones (its supposed to work) and some women, me included, ended up having their periods return while they were on it.

    Femara requires you to be menopausal. If you are not, you generally will have monthly Zolodex to shut your hormone production down. The other option s to have your ovaries removed. I did that--it absolutely crashed me into menopause but I was worried about ovarian cancer and didn't want to have to see a doctor once a month for the injections. It was a bit drastic, but I'm comfortable with the decision.