is anybody else suffering from hormonal type upset during chemotherapy? I just feel a bit mad sometimes and as if its only me, as although i have had physical side effects, the emotional ones are knocking me for six. Its not like the horror/panic emotion when i was first diagnosed, and i dont know if this weepiness etc is just the next part of the process. It is like a cascade of overwhelming upset and being tearful, but it really feels like it is linked to my hormones as it is like a surge, and similar to how i felt when i had just had my babies, or with bad pmt. I have considered if it is depression, and my bcn is referring me to a psychologist, but i have wanted that so i can talk to someone independent about how i feel, rather than a family member as i feel enough is enough for them and they are coping with enough.
Surely there is a difference with your response to chemo when you are pre menopausal? Up til 3 months ago, i had a period every 28 days, and my body ebbed and flowed with it. On my fist chemo, i had already had my period that month but felt emotionally knocked over for a week or two. The second chemo cycle, i was having my period as i had my treatment, and my period was different and a few days late. i was not as knocked emotionally and thought that my body must have got used to it. This time, my chemo was last thrusday, whichwas before i was due on, but my period hasn’t started this week when it should, but over the last few days, when i should have come one, i have been hit by another emotional hormonal feeling time.
Sorry this all sounds very vague, but none of the side effects or info ever seem to be about the hormone side of it, more either the pyschological or physical. I am 36 by the way.
Just hoping it is not just me who has experienced this as am feeling a bit like i may be mad.
thanks for reading everyone,
Vickie
ps and when did i become the kind of person who would post their menstrual cycle on the world wide web, maybe i am mad.
too blo*dy right I had just what you are describing. My periods disappeared on cycle three of chemo and I have only had one again after 8 months, just waiting to see if they start again now. And I felt very tearful at certain times during chemo. I don’t (or rather, didn’t) suffer from pmt or similar but during chemo would have days when I couldn’t stop crying. Not due to the idea of cancer either, pretty sure it was hormonal - particularly as the hot flushes kicked in at the same time.
Now, nine months on I feel a lot better, don’t have the mood swings although still have hot flushes due to tamoxifen. A gynae friend of mine said my hormone levels would be all over the place, either due to damage to ovaries from chemo or from being dumped into the menopause.
Only advice I can give is that it does get better - I feel really good 9 months on.
It is a totally diffferent type of being upset than the terror of thinking i am going to die, its why i know its something else. I have spent just the whole day crying or on the verge of it quite often and feel like a right self indulgent wuss for it. Glad you are feeling a lot better now, i was terrified that this may be how i feel for the rest of my life.
The physical and emotional ups and downs just seem never ending, don’t they?
Had a terrible period after the 2nd FEC. First had some terrible menopause symptoms, so convinced myself that my period would stop! Then had 4 days of really bad depression - was later told it was due to coming off to quickly of the high dosed steroids for anti-sickness. I do use that word “depression” with great respect! Then the period came!!! How could I be getting menopause symptoms and period one after the other, that just doesn’t make sense! My onc suggested that it might because the chemo is messing up with my hormones - ya, messing up with my emotions, too! Was told that the period should stop after the 3rd FEC. But now, had my 3rd FEC, and it came again!
Funny thing, though, before I started all the BC rubbish, used to have my period usually every 5-6 weeks (must be the lucky ones!). During my last chemo, paclitaxel, last year, it stopped after the 2nd course. Now, with FEC, my period has been coming every 3 weeks and on the 3rd week - just the week I feel good and have to deal with that! Doh!
Hi
Absolutely! I felt just like that throughout chemotherapy, very hormonal, like someone else was in control sometimes- I was like a demon at times, others very weepy-and like you say, not the same sort of weepy as being terrified about the cancer. I was also 36.
It did settle down afterwards, and felt much more in control since, and much less mad.
(Have just had first period in 2 years which has been interesting! Hoping that will settle too…)
I hope it improves, all the best for the rest, at a really tough time.
C x
Hi Ladies,
Well being an ‘older’ lady (63) l am sure l cannot put my tears down to hormonal.
I started my chemo on the 11th, so 5 days ago, and whatever happened yesterday happened! for no reason, the tears just wouldn’t go away.
I have had what l consider to be an easy time since my chemo, so it is not as though l have been having a rough time.
I can only put it down to still trying to accept this bc, some days l feel as though yes l can cope with this. and then the tears!! surely fear/shock/terror/devastation, it all rears it’s ugly head and in a split second it takes over our mind.
So you ladies having to cope with pmt with or without children! must be so very difficult. Hope someone comes up with some solutions as to how to work round this, or at least work your way through it!
thanks everyone, feel less mad now! You’d think this would be down as a proper side effect to be aware of wouldn’t you? Sorry you have had a tearful day too sandra, will get better…
hello teary ones i am one of you too!!
i have spoken to the doc for some anti depressants as i feel so tearful all the time i dont understand why they are not prescribed automatically!
Hi everyone
I’m another 1 who seems to be constantly in tears, had this conversation with my oh last night. We have been married 14 years in august and he has seen me cry more in the last month, since starting chemo, than he ever has since we been married. Like everyone else it is a different type of emotion to the 1 from diagnosis.
Glad i know that i’m not the only 1 to feel like this to.
Chris xx
I am 49 but was still having regular 28 day periods. Mine stopped after 2nd FEC. I have had little problem with physical side effects or accepting that I have BC (much easier with older kids and a retired hubby), but do get incredibly tearful for no apparent reason. I don’t feel in any way depressed or unhappy, just cry at the drop of a hat.
I am bumping this thread as there seem lots of ladies at the start if Chemo suffering these same problems. Why don’t they warn you of this hormonal upset?!! Hope it helps
A good thread to bump as this was me yesterday! I thought it was because I havn’t been sleeping, but maybe it is hormonal?! Who knows?! There are so many drugs in my body at the moment I’m surprised hormones still know what to do!!!
Thank you so much for bumping this thread. It is so helpful to hear other people are experiencing the same.
I have just been sobbing whilst trying to fit my tesco order into the fridge. Seems so stupid now…
And I so relate to it feeling different from the ‘fear’ cry. Although last night I was almost hysterically after reading how my daughter is TWICE as likely to get breast cancer now I have it.
But that was real despair, not just a sense of frustration and uselessness like today.
I’ve gone back to bed now, it’s safer here, but I cant stay here for 5months…
I remember those feelings well. To me it felt like the 12months before your periods very first started. Chronic mood swings, tears at the drop of a hat. I’d find myself crying at the strangest of things, usually if I couldnt do anything…and chemo brain didnt help. I tried to make a ham sandwich for my kids one lunchtime…went out to the pantry bit where the fridge was…dogs followed as they knew they might be on to a good thing…hubby found me 10mins later bawling my eyes out…on asking what was up…i was upset because cassie (the dog) wouldnt carry the ham into the kitchen for me to make a sandwich, that she was standing there just looking at me - lots of hilarity for the family, but I couldnt get it…it was the end of the world…looking back on it now im thinking omg was a really that daft!!! After finishing chemo and rads…the tears calmed down, as well as the daftness lol…but there are some huge gaping holes in my memory for the time, which is weird
So glad this thread has been bumped up - I cry every day and my husband thinks I am abnormal. Not sure what I am crying about. My period started the second week after my first chemo treatment and that really knocked me for six. Just wish I could get back to feeling normal again. Only 5 more treatments to go …
just want to add that my hormonal swings and tears definietly reduced through chemo rather than built up, I’'m not saying i still dont get them but nowhere near or like those first few cycles when it was really dreadful. I had my last of the 3fec 3 tax cycles last week. xxxx
Hormones -total nightmare aren’t they. Hormones firstly are the cause of my breast cancer - thanks!. I have always had a terrible time with ovulation and breast pain in the past. I was put on the pill to stop all the pain - which it did. Since diagnosis obviously I am now not allowed to be on the pill - which I am quite glad of cuz it gave me horrendous mood swings! I have now had 3rd of FEC and after 2nd one had the weirdest period ever - very painful and odd for me. Now after 3rd FEC my horrible gynae pain and breast pain has returned. Cosmic. So it seems that the hormonal related pain I have previously suffered with is not getting attacked by the chemo!! Damn it. Just want to know if anyone else is suffering with that hormonal breast pain ect… or am I alone? I doubt it.
Anyway I have a good supply of pain killers and to be honest this pain is really insignificant compared to the cancer and chemo.
