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CatM's avatar
CatM
Member
10 years ago

periods after chemo??

Hi,

I did 18 weeks of paclitaxel last July to November and my periods just pretty much stopped altogether. I had all the symptoms of chemopause/menopause - terrible night sweats, hot flushes, etc., and thought I was probably in menopause. I had been told that given I started chemo at age 40, that my ovaries probably wouldn't recover and to expect to be pushed into early menopause. Then a couple of months after chemo, the hot flushes stopped and I thought maybe it was more the taxol than the hormones. Then in Feb, after not having had a period for 7 months, there it was. I was really happy (no idea why, but I was weirdly pleased even though I'm not planning on more children or anything). Except now it won't stop and I seem to be on a really short cycle. I have had 3 periods in 7 weeks, so the novelty has totally worn off. Has anyone else had this happen? How long do you think it will take to settle down? I was totally regular before and never had anything less than a 28 day cycle (except whern pregnant of course). I am not on any hormone drugs. I am stage 4 HER2+ so just on Herceptin and Perjeta now.

 

CatM

hot-flushes
side-effects

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  • Nadi's avatar
    Nadi
    Member
    10 years ago

    Just talked to my new oncologist today about this as I am 47 have just finished chemo, my periods have stopped and I am going through those wonderful hot flushes and night sweats and am not getting much sleep.  He said given my age I had a 90% chance of the chemopause/menopause I am experiencing being permanent but there is still a chance my periods could come back anytime in the next 2 years and  be very short cycle (like you describe) and/or irregular. This is because the chemo actually damages the ovarian tissue and oestrogen production so everything gets mucked up. They can tell from a blood test whether someone is in menopause or peri menopause (such prior to menopause) but the test won't tell you how long it will last symptoms or periods will last. Maybe gynaecologist can manage symptoms better? Ablation may be an option???

    Hope you get relief soon

  • CatM's avatar
    CatM
    Member
    10 years ago

    Oh thanks Kath - clearly I know nothing about menopause! I had no idea that could happen. I will ask my doctor at my next visit. Can they tell from a hormone test (that's a blood test, yes?) if you're starting (or in) menopause? Can they tell how long it will last? Not keen on the idea of a heavy period every 3 weeks for the next year or two! My goodness. Cat

  • primek's avatar
    primek
    Member
    10 years ago

    During peri- menopause that is what my periods did for about 28 months then they spaced out to months in between. You may well be going through normal menopsuse now, albeit at an earlier age. Perhaps a hormone test or gynecology referral might be warranted. Kath. X

  • Brenda5's avatar
    Brenda5
    Member
    10 years ago

    They are a mystery those periods. I am 53 and upon diagnosis I stopped taking the contraceptive pill (which kept my periods as regular as clock work) on doctors advise. He said the cancer would have been feeding on it. From that day I never had another period for 4 months and then out of the blue on my second chemo dose I had the mother of all periods. My oncology doctor said chemo can do weird things and said it wasn't likely I would get another period while still on chemo. I have just had my final dose so we will have to wait and see. Oncology is not convinced I am totally done with menopause yet so I will be starting my hormone treatment with Tamoxifen for up to two years he said, just to make sure I am post menopause before we try other hormone treatments.