View Single Post
Old 04-15-2011, 02:43 PM   #2
Becky
Senior Member
 
Becky's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Stockton, NJ
Posts: 4,179
Re: Did chemo put you into menopause?

I was 45 when diagnosed. I had my period the same day I had my first chemo (AC) that night (I was due to have it). I had my second period about a week late or so and, like you, it lasted 3 weeks and was so heavy I almost considered a diaper. After that, I did not have a period again.... I thought I was done.... but NO, six months after my last chemo, I started up again. The first one was like the last one, very heavy but not as long (10 days or so) and I started menstrating as usual. I did get my ovaries removed to stop for good about 2 months after that because Tamoxifen and I did not get along well and I am ER+ but PR- so I thought an AI would work better.

My onc also told me that I was "done" but I wasn't and was closer to the menopause age because by the time I was done with chemo, I had turned 46 (and my mom was late with menopause - 54) so I probably wasn't that close to it. I felt a bit bad to complain because I got "late" herceptin starting 4 months after my last chemo (wasn't available prior to that for me) and I had a "late" Herceptin buddy who was in my boat. She was 33 and desperately wanted to have a baby but she never got her period back ever so I didn't complain that I did. It didn't seem right.

You can get a test for LH and FSH but do not let them do just that. Have them test your estradiol level too. That is very important.
__________________
Kind regards

Becky

Found lump via BSE
Diagnosed 8/04 at age 45
1.9cm tumor, ER+PR-, Her2 3+(rt side)
2 micromets to sentinel node
Stage 2A
left 3mm DCIS - low grade ER+PR+Her2 neg
lumpectomies 9/7/04
4DD AC followed by 4 DD taxol
Used Leukine instead of Neulasta
35 rads on right side only
4/05 started Tamoxifen
Started Herceptin 4 months after last Taxol due to
trial results and 2005 ASCO meeting & recommendations
Oophorectomy 8/05
Started Arimidex 9/05
Finished Herceptin (16 months) 9/06
Arimidex Only
Prolia every 6 months for osteopenia

NED 18 years!

Said Christopher Robin to Pooh: "You must remember this: You're braver than you believe and stronger than you seem and smarter than you think"
Becky is offline   Reply With Quote