I am 44 and was having normal periods when I started chemo in July 13. I had 2 periods after my first chemo but none since. I completed chemo in oct so it’s been just over 3.5 months. I have had a number of ‘period pains’ over the last week or so and wondered what others had experienced with restarting periods after chemo? My onc 's advice was they could restart within 8 months but if they didn’t then I would have started the menopause.
I have been taking tamoxifen for about 10 days so the pains could be that.
Julie x
You’re a few years younger than me. I was 49 when I started chemo. I had one very heavy period then nothing. I am a year on and have had no periods. I am also on Tamoxifen. At my age it’s unlikely my periods will restart. (I was having regular periods before chemo so def pre menopausal).
I think there’s a chance your periods will restart but only time will tell.
Hi Julie
I was nearly 42 when diagnosed, I never saw another period after my first chemo and I am fast approaching my 5 anniversary (from diagnosis) my periods have never returned.
It is said that a medically induced menopause is more intense but shorter lived… I can definitely vouch for the intense part…
Big hugs
Stella
I was 41 when diagnosed, had my chemo before surgery starting March 2012 . Had one normal period after first chemo, followed almost immediately by another which was like serious flood gates!!! Then nothing since. Onc always said they should return, but so far haven’t, gynae said he thought they would return after I stop tamoxifen but because there was a long gap between finishing chemo and starting tamoxifen, due to me having chemo first, and they never came back, I don’t think they will. In any case onc told me last week that the latest research is pointing to taking tamoxifen for more than 5 years so I probably won’t see mine again. Re the period pain, I feel like I am about to have a period pretty much permanently. I get that heavy bloaty, dragging pelvic feeling all the time with intermittent cramps and pains. X
Thanks for all your replies xxx
Update on the periods! I seem to be bleeding as of this afternoon but it’s weird cos there is nothing on the pad but loads of Clots when I wee. Sorry for the graphic description but I am not Sure whether this is normal or not? I was also having the most horrendous return of the hot flushes up until about 3 weeks ago then they just stopped. I thought it was because I had cut out caffeine by swapping from black tea to Green tea, but I just found out Green tea gas as much caffeine in it as black tea, so it’s not that! So I am now worried that a sudden cessation of flushes together with return of bleeding could mean tamox is not working? Unless the bleeding is coming from somewhere else? X