Hi ladies
I am 31 and starting my chemo soon - i am triple negative. To protect my ovary my oncoligist is going to give me Zoladox for 2 years.
Anyone here under the same treatment? please note that the Zoladox is not for my cancer treatment but to elimate the side effect of chemo… may i ask do you have the same treatment?
thanks
Lea
heya,
i was er- pr- (her-2 3+) and i was also given zoladex. they give it to young woman at the same time as chemo regardless of the histology of the tumor to try and protect your fertility - it works by essentially shutting down your ovaries and putting you through early menopause - it will (hopefully!) reverse once you come off it.
i dont kno why she wants you on it for 2years tho - i finished chemo in july and stopped having the shots then, had my first mini period a few weeks ago - big cause for celebration
my advice - beware the hot flushes, i thought i had a temperature the first time i had one and rushed home from work! oh, and dont look at the needle… its large…
good luck xxx
Hi avonlea
I was on Zoladex during my sessions of chemotherapy which was 4 months. I then came off it and my periods returned in April this year. How come you are going to be on it for 2 years? THat seems a long time. The chemotherapy I had was 3 FEC and 3 Taxotere plus 18 lots of Herceptin.
By the way, a little tip when you go for the Zoladex injections try and get some numbing cream to put on your stomach before you have it - I never saw the needle but heard it was large and it wasn’t exactly nice!
Best wishes
Ruby x
Thanks ladies and congratulationd for your period ( this is wired but indeed i know how happy you must be!!)
I think my doctor said I need 2 years and this give me best pretection - while she also mentioned that if i insist to come off it i could have one year as minimun…
my concerns are the side effects as i donot like to feel early manupause for 2 years…
I never thought i 'd miss my period that much!! anyway i will check with my dr again about the length ect…
wonder if you were ever suffering from any manupause syptoms?
thanks
xxx
I suffered from hot flushes a lot whilst on chemo and Zoladex but once I’d finished the treatment, the symptoms of that went and when my periods came back my temperature went completely back to normal - it was bliss to get a good night’s sleep with no night sweats!
Ruby xx
Hi Avonlea
Just had Zoladex implant Number 6 of 24 (like you I will be on it for two years)!
I read on here someone’s advice to cough just as the needle goes in and I have to say it really helps. The nurse just warns me and I cough and then its over.
I agree about not looking at the needle. I have deliberately not looked and today I was talking to the nurse afterwards and realised it was on the desk in front of me - Yep its huge! I am creating a nice join the dot picture on my stomach now.
The night sweats are the worst part as the other ladies have said. I am er+ and have been given Arimidex and Zoladex together so all the menapausal symptoms are in full swing. I get hot flushes in the day as well although not as bad as the night ones.
I recommend cotton PJ’s and an understanding partner - our quilt is on and off more times than I can count as I tend to be roasting then freezing and back again!
Some of the other ladies have said that all this calms down after a while so I am hoping but in the meantime I am a quarter of the way through so that’s a milestone!
Totty X
Hi Lea
I am also tripple neg and Im getting Xoladex to protect my ovaries (Im 34 with no kids) I havent had any noticable side effects, that my be because Im concentrating on the ones I get from the Chemo. I wasnt told how long I was to get the injections for but I just keep asking for another presctiption each month. The needle is larger than usual, but just look away, its really not that bad and I hate needles. It goes into your stomach so having a bit of your stomach that can be pinched helps.
Take care
Angela
Hi, I just wanted to say that the cream is called Emla and I got mine on prescription from my practise nurse. I would recomend it highly - didnt feel a thing. (didnt know about it for the first injection, and it was very unpleasant) You have to apply 1 hour before your injection tho.
x