I’m 49 had breast cancer at 47 and had all the treatment. Bascially I switched from Tamoxifen to Anastrazole 7 weeks ago as the oncologist said as I was postmenopausal (had blood test done prior to starting Tamoxifen) 2 years earlier, which showed I was defintly post) and so it was better for me to now be on Anastrazol.
Had a few teething problems with sore tummy since then but not too bad and just put it down to the Ibandronic Acid. Last week had the symptoms of bad urinary tract infection so popped to GP yesterday and was reassured that that was probably all it was. However this morning I discovered that I was bleeding and went straight to see nurse practioner who examined me and I am now waiting for an urgent fast track scan. Very very scared. Only recently had reconstruction done and was starting to feel positive again.
Has this happened to anyone else? I have been reading that Tamoxifen can cause bleeding but after 7 weeks and after switching on to Anastrazole? Tummy feels like period pain and now have headaches too!
Hi MM,I think that the change from Tamoxifen to Anastrozole could very possibly cause issues initially as they work in very different ways .Try not to panic it is very probably something related to medication and not sinister in any way .May be worth posting this in the ask the nurses section see if they can reassure you too .Jill.
Hi, I had something similar some time ago. I now know that it can appear that you have had the menopuse on Tamoxifen when actually you haven’t. I took Tamoxifen for five years and was told that I coud stop as I had had the menopause; I got a second opinion from the Christie in Manchester and their advice was to stay on it for another year; which I did. I was then swopped to letrozole which I didn’t agree with me at all and I stopped it after a few months after speaking to my consultant. A copuple of months later I had a horrific bleed out of the blue and obviously thought that there was somthing very seriously wrong. After many tests it turned out that, at age 54, I had experienced ‘ovarian recovery’ even after being on hormone therapy for so long. Apparently it is not that uncommon. So essentially it appears that being on Tamoxifen gives you some kind of false menopause but that the body can get going again once you’re off the hormones. Hope this helps. I was absolutely panic stricken when I got my bleed but it all turned out absolutely fine.
Hope all goes well for you all i went through the menopause at 48 and had breast cancer last March and finished treatment last October so didn’t need any meds
Hi
Interestingly I have had something sort of similar. B.C in 2013 aged 48. Started on tamoxifen may 2013. I was on progesterone pill at diagnosis but had stopped having periods on it. No bleeding whilst on tamoxifen apart from spotting late 2013 which was a polyp which was removed . I had several blood tests done 2015 -2016 & in February 2016 changed to anastrazole. About 10 weeks later ( may 2016) I had a light bleed for about 4 days and that was repeated in December. After the 2nd bleed I was referred back to gynaecology. Scan /biopsy of womb lining showed simple hyperplasia. Normal treatment would be progesterone which I can’t have because of the b.c. Saw gynaecologist again last week. She rescanned me and said womb lining looks thin but she has put me on list for hysterectomy ( although I have been told it could be a year wait ! ). They will biopsy womb lining again in 4 months to check hyperplasia.her view was to stay on anastrazole & she thinks I am probaby post menopausal despite the bleeds ! I am flummoxed by it all and it does worry me that the anastrazole will not be working.I have my mammogram at the end of March ! To be honest the impression I have is that it is very difficult for them to be certain. I would go back to tamoxifen but that probably isn’t advisable because of the hyperplasia. So i am very much fingers crossed …
