FEC and no periods

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Hi,

I used to favour the Depo Provera contraceptive injection but my Oncologist recommended I stop using it til my treatment is done due to the risk of deep vein thrombosis. I had my first FEC on 17th March and my next Depo injection would have been due early April but obviously I did not have it done. I have not had a period, and on previous occasions where I have been giving my body a break from hormonal contraception I have bled about a week after I should have normally have had another course of the depo/pill. I am SURE I am not pregnant as we have been careful. Is it normal for periods to stop altogether this soon? (I have had 2 FECs and my third is due on Monday) my Oncologist explained that chemo can make a woman infertile, but that I should keep a record in my diary if I had any bleeding during treatment. I will obviously mention this to my Oncologist when I speak to him before my next FEC but I wondered what happened to other peoples’ menstrual cycles during FEC, especially if they had been using Depo.

Ta

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Hi Clara,

my periods stopped immediately I started FEC (Apr 2006) and have not come back - no hardship there. I did have a bleed in Feb but it wasn’t a period, so Onc has asked for a biopsy of my womb which will happen next month when I get my ovaries out.

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thanks for your reply Angie

Having been on the depo for the best part of 10 years (and only taken a couple of small breaks from it during that time) I have hardly had any bleeding so I didn’t know what to expect. I seem to have to explain a lot of the time that I have never had regular periods like people who use no hormonal contraception or those who are on the Pill. So I never know what to expect! My particular cancer was not estrogen-receptive so the only reason I’m off the depo is to negate the risk of dvt but I am going to look into being sterilised after my treatment if it doesn’t pose any risk to my health but that’s a separate discussion…

And good luck for the biopsy next month I hope it will be nothing further to worry about.