I’d be interested to know if anyone in their 40s has had their periods return after chemo and if they did how long after chemo finished?
I’ve had a hysterectomy but ovaries were left. My surgeon thinks it’s unlikely that my ovaries will start functioning again while my gynaecologist wants me to have blood tests for the next 3 - 5 years as he thinks it’s a possibility.
thanks, Elinda
Im 44 my periods stopped after my first chemo which was march im not sure if they will return cant say ive missed them either just be my luck though
Elinda,
I had my last chemo about 9 weeks ago and period returned this week, only lasted a day so will wait to see if anything happens next month.
Marguerite
I was talking to my onc. about this yesterday - my tumour was highly oestregen positive, and I was asking about ovarian ablation if chemo/tamoxifen didn’t knock me into menopause… fingers crossed it won’t come to that, but if my periods did return, it’s something I’d look at having done.
I really really don’t want to go through the menopause twice, so I do feel for any of you guys who have had to cope with it! I do know that it is much less likely that periods return if you’re over 40 at start of treatment, but there’s always going to be exceptions to that rule. I’ll watch this thread with interest!
Sophie
Hi had my chemo last year from april 09-july 09 age 45, my periods stopped in the june then when i finished the chemo they returned end of august 09, since then they have been regular ie. every 21 days just like i was before having chemo. I did ask my oncologist about them before they came back and he said it can take up to a year for them to return so i was surprised when they started a few weeks after speaking to him. julie
i was dx sept 09, had wle, chemo, rads, finished treatment may. not on tomaxifen as im trip negative. my periods stopped after 1st chemo and have not returned, i am 46 and this side effect is the one that i don’t mind about lol
I was dx with strongly hormone ++ bc middle of 2009 at 44. my periods didn’t come back after my 2nd chemo, so I’ve been period free for about 16 or 17 months now.
I finished my chemo (fec) in Feb, and havent had a period for a whole year! Had one the week before the chemo, and nothing since. Im 43.
eva
DX aged 45 in Jan/Feb this year, last period in June halfway through chemo, nothing since. Onc said 50-50 chance they come back.
Mine finished with my first chemo in Nov 2006, I was 45. Since then I’ve had 2 very slight bleeds, but a Consultant gynaecologist said it was really just my ovaries trying to have a bit of a surge which can happen from time to time. I was told I was post menopausal in 2007 and had the blood tests done again after the 2 bleeds last year, when it was confirmed again.
My periods stayed until my last cycle of e-cmf and then returned just a few months later until hysterectomy/ooph in September. I was 45 when I had my chemo. I still can’t believe I’m not going to have another period ever - it’s wonderful.
Nicky
It’s interesting what doctors think about this. My breast surgeon said he’d even put a bet on that they wouldn’t come back and yet other doctors are saying 50/50.
I haven’t had periods for a long time as I had hormone treatment to suppress them before having a hysterectomy due to severe endometriosis.
The thing is that I can sense a lot of hormonal changes going on but don’t know if that’s menopause or the tamoxifen. I suppose another blood test might tell. elinda x
My breast surgeon said the treatment would make my periods stop and that would probably be it. However, the oncologist said they like to wait 6 months post treatment before they do any tests to see what’s going on (i.e. whether you are post meno or not) because periods sometimes start again even in your mid 40s.
I was dx with secondaries in May/June 2008 aged 42. My periods never stopped during chemo for primary dx in 2003 and I was even able to conceive a baby in 2006. Then just after secondary dx my periods just stopped, I think in anticipation of second round of chemo LOL. That was summer 2008 and I haven’t had a period since. I’m now 45. I don’t miss them either!!
I haven’t ever had it confirmed to me that I’m now post menopausal. The blood tests that a few others have mentioned - are they routine tests, or can you ask for them to be done? I’m pretty sure I’m now post menopausal, but have never discussed it with either my onc or my GP. Perhaps I should?
Alison x
Alison there is a blood test that your GP can do. It checks things like circulating oestrogen levels (which drop very low in menopause and post menopause) and follicle stimulating hormone(which rises during menopause). It is just a single blood test though. Have a word with your GP and that way you’ll have a better idea.
Elinda
Hi,
i’m 42 and have had chemo (fec t), a WLE and radiotherapy in the last 8 months. The doctors thought it was likely I’d get pushed into the menopause and warned me about this from the start. My periods stopped after the second chemo and was one of the better side effects! I had hot flushes and all the normal menopausal symptoms and assumed that was that until this weekend when I started bleeding again. Am slightly annoyed to be honest, was looking forward to getting it out of the way!
i guess everyone is different and as we have all learnt going through this that even when the doctors say it’s likely or normal for something to happen it doesn’t mean it will, everyone reacts differently…
good luck!
I’m 44 now had BC in 2011 at 38 started chemo in June and started my period right before my first treatment and have not had one since. I was on tamoxifen for only a short time as it did not agree with me hurt joints so bad I couldn’t walk so they put me on anastrozole 1 mg much better stuff for me. But no periods yet Sept 2016 
but all the treatments killed my thyroid and it took them a while to figure it out thought something was wrong with my heart… all good now on 100mg of levothyroxine…best of luck to ALL
I was 47 when diagnosed sept 14, was on the pill and not had a period for about 7 years. Came off the pill whilst waiting for surgery and period returned in October, just the one then started chemo and they went again.
My onc reckons 2 years clear and you’re post menopausal. Went on tamoxifen still no periods. Stopped tam for six weeks March 16 snd period arrived in April. Went onto zoladex and anastrazole as tam SEs were awful. Gave new regime 3 months then came off that too. Last zoladex end June 16, and return of periods this week.
Looks like all the treatment failed to put me in permanent menopause. Now don’t know what to do? Feeling so much better, still getting a few flushes. So now the old oestrogen must be coursing it’s merry way around my body. My tumours (8cm and 2cm) were 8/8 er+ and 26 lymph nodes affected. So onc had wanted me on something for 10 years and I just scraped through 2. Guess I need to speak with him.
I haven’t had a period since I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 2006. This morning 12/29/2016 I woke up to having my first period since 2006. Would like to know if anyone else has experienced this. After the surgery, chemo, and radiation, I was never put on anything else like estrogen etc. Thank you for ANY responses! God Bless, Shannon F
I am 43 and have had BC ER and PR positive, had surgery in April and had one shot chemo and stopped, saw my period 2 times and it stopped. Now I have itching breast and inbrtween pain. And I have a dark line on my left toe nail some days that I took the chemo… Cyclophamide and . Epirubin and been having pains in my joints hands fingers and knee.
Has anyone experienced the same , I need more …explanation pls. Will my period come back? I will still like to have a baby if I can