Hello
As I suddenly had a period after 2yrs without, I recently had a hysteroscopy and curetage which found normal tamoxifen growths in my womb. Am ER/PR pos and now aged 41. Had first zoladex last month and carried on taking tamoxifen but today have had 2nd injection, and have been advised to change to letrozol. Is this usual?
I’m having zoladex as a trial to see how I cope without oestrogen as preparation for oophorectomy - has anyone had a bad reaction to ooph, to not having any oestrogen? I’ve had no more hot flushes than on tamoxifen alone yet.
Thanks
Kinden
x
Hi Kinden
I’ve been on zoladex since last October and Tamoxifen since April, and just find I get hot flushes and itchy legs at night. I was a little dry in my lady regions initially, but that seems to have righted itself now.
I’m not planning an ooph as I am still hopeful I might have children, but don’t find the drugs too much trouble at all. Lots of people report weight gain with tamoxifen but I haven’t found this: put on a stone during chemo, but it’s all back to normal now.
Can’t comment on the letrozole switch.
xxx
Hi Kinden
With my primary dx I was on Zoladex and Tamoxifen at age 41. I had terrible hot flushes, menopausal symptoms etc for the 1st 12 months at least then they eased off for the next 12 months. I then stopped having Zoladex as the ‘recommended’ 2 years post dx treatment time was up but stayed on Tam for the next 3 years. I felt alot better when I had finished Zoladex, no where near as achey and definitely no noticeable hot flushes however my periods had returned so that wasn’t surprising. I have since developed secondaries and after chemo I definitely wanted to get rid of all this oestrogen and also Tam had stopped working for me. I was initially on Zoladex for a few months whilst taking Femara and then had ovary ablation as an operation/General Anaesthetic wasn’t recommended for me at the time. Since then I have changed to a different AI but, again, only down to some complication with Femara SE’s rather than anything else. I certainly feel fine on Arimidex, no worse than when on Tamoxifen and have not had any of the awful SE’s I had during my ‘1st’ menopause however I am now 48 so rather nearer my natural menopausal age than 1st time around. I feel a bit creaky, as can be expected losing oestrogen production, but take starflower oil and glucosamine which help.
Nicky
HI Nicky and Flora
Many thanks for your messages. I must say it was a surprise to be invited to swap to letrozole but I guess with my ovaries switched off by zoladex I am effectively post menopausal so need an AI rather than tamoxifen.
I had a new form of zoladex this time, it was small pellets in a syringe that had to be joined to another one containing fluid then the 2 mixed before going in. Much smaller needle than that required for the pellet that is zoladex, just hope it’s as effective.
Hope you’re having good days today.
Kinden
xx