Just Curious...

kari · 02-01-2007, 08:10 PM

when does "chemopause" become "menopause"?
I was 46 and peri-menopausal when I started chemo last March--AC for 14 weeks, then Taxol for 12 weeks. Rads followed, and now I'm on Tamoxifen (2-3 years) and Herceptin. My last period was early April last year. I have been having hot flashes pretty much since the start of treatments. My onc says that "menopause" is when you haven't had a period for a year, and she will re-assess my status at that point.
Has anyone experienced a return of menstrual cycles after a year without?
I'm not complaining about no periods, but am I doomed to have these hot flashes for the duration??!!
And when would switching to an AI from Tamoxifen occur? Since Tamoxifen isn't effective for post-menopausal women, I would think they would switch you as soon as possible.

Blessings,
Karen

Becky · 02-01-2007, 08:16 PM

Dear Karen,

Tamoxifen is effective for both pre and post menopausal women. AIs are only effective in postmenopausal women so, staying on Tamoxifen if you are truly postmenopausal is fine. However, studies show that AIs perform better than tamoxifen if you are postmenopausal.

Make sure your doc runs a full panel of hormones (LH, FSH and estradiol) to ensure you are postmenopausal. I got my period back 7 months after my last Taxol (I was 46). I had my ovaries removed for a variety of reasons (that ovarian cancer also runs in the family and I wanted to take an AI instead of tamoxifen. There were other reasons as well).

After the oophorectomy, I was postmenopausal for sure. The hot flashes subside over time but I still get one a night. I had more than that in the beginning.

Debra · 02-01-2007, 09:12 PM

Karen -

I am 41. I started tamoxifen in July of 06. I had a total hysterectomy in December therefore, now postmenopausal. Both my oncologists want me to stay on tamoxifen for another year, if not two, and then switch to the AI. This was very confusing to me because I went to my appts. with a load of literature in hand stating that is appears that one should switch to an AI if they are postmenopausal. They both agreed that yes it is beneficial but after one has been on the tamoxifen for on average two years. I have found info on breastcancer.org that states you can be on it if post menopausal but that after being on it for an avg. of 2 years the studies have shown that switching is more beneficial. I still hope that both my oncologists are making the right decision. The studies don't take into account those like me, that were on tamoxifen for only 5 months, then had their ovaries removed!----then what? Regardless, we do know tamoxifen is still beneficial if you are post menopausal.