Hi All
I love this site, it is just so helpful, thanks to all you wonderful people out there, you really help me to think I am not on my own.
My question is this, I have had 5 chemos, and am now experiencing hot flushes at night, which I know could be the menopause kicking in, however I am still having periods. Is it possible that the hot flushes will stop once the chemo has stopped? or is this it now - the menopause?
Any experiences you have would be appreciated.
thanks
CrystalT
Hi CrystalT,
I am sure you will get varying experiences from the ladies on this site as the treatments vary from body to body so much but I would say on balance for myself that things have got better over the months since chemo finished. (I am on Tamoxifen /Herceptin now so not sure what I would have been like if I hadn’t started these). The night sweats have decreased in intensity and the regularity. I have them in the day too. Hot food/drinks and too many layers of clothes also set them off. I had a glass of wine and a vodka&tonic a couple of weeks ago and this really flared them up.
There is light at the end of the tunnel but everyone’s is a different length!!!
As for your question about the menopause…the jury is still out on that one ( i’m 45 now) and you seem to get differing opinions from health care professionals,
cheers,
V.
Hi Crystal,I was pushed into the menopause whilst on chemo,I was 45 at the time,and as my cancer was er+ I now take tamoxifen.I started to get flushes half way through chemo and my periods stopped. Eight months on the flushes are not so frequent but I get really bad sweats mostly in the evening and through the night.As V said we are all different and have different reactions to treatment.I found coffee and chocolate set off my flushes,(two of the things I like the most lol)and I have more or less stopped having both.
love and best wishes Mellx
Hi CrystalT
As Violetta says, I think we’re all different. Also it will depend on how near you are to your normal menopause, but if you’re still having periods it may just be down to the effects of the chemo. I had 6 x FEC which finished in September. My post chemo blood test showed I was peri-menopausal/menopausal but as I’d been having periods up until I started chemo I wasn’t classed as truly menopausal ( you need to be 1-2 yrs without a period to be post-men). I needed to know as I was due to go onto A I’s after, which are only effective if you are post-men. Maybe when your chemo is over you can ask for a blood test which is OK as long as you’ve not started any hormone therapy as this can skew the results.
Hope you’re coping OK and looking forward to the end of chemo.
Nicky x
Hi CrystalT,
My experience was similar to Nicky’s - was peri-menopausal (aged 45) the day before I was put on Tamoxifen 6 weeks pre-surgery - then chemo and the joys of sleeping on a towel!
I found it gradually tailed off through the year of treatment I had. I still had less bad flushes ongoing (prob the Tamoxifen) and was taught to relax into them as then they are not so bad either physically or mentally, and to recognise what would trigger them (yes, red wine, but it’s worth it!! Don’t drink coffee any more and don’t find the hot teas I do drink give flushes, only coffee & black tea) - including stresss situations & thoughts. Can’t remember at what stage we did a blood test to confirm that I was post menopausal, prob at end of five years I think.
I had some pretty strange sensations when I had the really big flushes, in the chest area and … elsewhere lower down!! Have often wondered if other people get this!!
Good luck 
I haven’t had a period since chemo.I started having sweats towards the end and they continued for about 9mths afterwards.I didnt have any other symptoms apart from the usual post chemo aches and pains.I suppose I can say I sailed through the menopause at 45!
Hi crystal T
I had 6 X fec which ended in may 08, i had one period at the beginning of this the had hot flushes which have now stopped. when my oncologist asked if i still had hot flushes in oct when i saw her , she said it might be a sign that periods may re start!!
I am now 42 so still waiting, thinking of asking gp for a blood test
Best wishes
Sarah66
Hi CrystalT,
I had hot flushes when I was on Taxotere.I was having them about every half hour which was awful!
I finished the chemo in May and my flushes stopped in August,and I haven’t had one since.
My periods also stopped,and I thought that would be it(I’m 41)but they came back in September and have been regular ever since.
Best wishes,
Alli x
Thanks everyone for your very interesting posts. It does seem indeed that we are all very different.
I am hoping now that the hot flushes will stop, I am still having periods, so hopefully the menopause is a way off yet.
Thanks