Hi
First time as a registered user. Have just finished 21 months of treatment for aggressive bc - chemo, rads, herceptin and done one year out of five on Tam. Am 43. Could anybody please tell me if it’s important to have gynaecological checks while on Tam? Also, any views on whether removal of ovaries is a real benefit? I’ve just had a blood test which I think will confirm I’m premenstrual, and given the time I could have before the menopause - up to 10years - I don’t know whether Tam. is enough. Thank you for any info/experience you can give.
Jenty
Hi Jenty
I was 42 when I was dx and like you I had WLE, chemo and rads but no herceptin as not HER+. I was just put on tamoxifen and was worried it wasn’t enough. My periods stopped on my 2nd chemo ( Feb06) so I was pushed into a menopause by the chemo - is this not the same for you?
I went to see my onc and said shouldnt I be having my ovaries removed, going on zoladex etc as although no periods blood tests showed I was not completely menopausal. He said No - at my age there was no need tamoxifen was fine and then after 2 years on them which will be June 2008 he is going to swap me to Femara as he said I should be post menopausal then but again he will check. I have not had any gynae checks whilst on tamoxifen and I am being treated at Christies in Manchester which is a Centre of Excellence.
From what I gathered from my onc there are many drawbacks to ovary removal at our age - accelerated bone density loss etc so they only do it as far as I could make out if they consider you high risk OR you push for it.
Hope this helps
Love Alise
Hello Alise
Thank you so much for such an informed reply. I feel reassured about not being checked and can understand the drawback of overy removal now.
I don’t know whether I’m menopausal, though, and I would have thought it’s something you’d know about! Like you, my periods stopped during chemo and it’s nearly 18 months since I had one but I have no other symptoms beyond very mild flushes at the start of Tam which have become less as time goes on. I have also had some spotting and suspect a cycle is trying to be reestablished. I think we’re at such an inbetween age as not quite old enough to be definitely pushed into the menopause. I suppose what I really want to know is what to do if periods do start again as it obviously means lots of hormones are around.
Hope you’re feeling weel.
Jenty
Hi Jenty
I am like you and Alise periods stopped second chemo and they havent returend for me its now 2 yrs this month.
I know i had cmf and reading the leaflet it mentioned if you were pre-meno whilst having it and over 40 it could mean periods never return.
I am on tamoxifen too and have awful hot flushes. Seems odd some days they are okish then others they are awful.
I have never had tests to determine my menopausal status as they are not reliable whilst you are on tamoxifen.
I was fortunate in one way as i worried about my ovaries and womb and whilst attending a hopsital which is a womens hosp here in Liverpool for genetic tests i mentioned about having my ovaries and womb removed… I know that on the leaflet with long term use of tamoxifen one of the possible side affects is uterine cancer something which worried me.
Once my brca 1 and 2 were 95% negative i decided not to have my ovaries removed. However i got an appt with the hosp and had a scan on my ovaries and uterus. Everything was ok infact the readiographer said my ovaries looked shrivelled which i think is a clear sign i am post menopausal. The thickening of the lining of my womb was acceptable just. I go again in April so will see what they advice.
I know they wont scan as a matter of routine though so as i said i was fortunate getting this done.
If you have any unusual bleeding or pain you need to go to the GP or tell your oncologist.
I used to worry my periods would return but dont now. One of my friends have she is under 40 and is now on zoladex and tamoxifen. She doesnt have many flushes with the zoladex but its stopped her periods.
Its a mine field all this isnt it but i know there is alot of information out there for us and alot of people on here who are very knowledgable.
I am trying to relax and accept i am on tamoxifen for however long the onc wants and although i dont like the side affects if it keeps the cancer from returning will take it.
I thnk tamoxifn is the one thats less harsh on our bones and joints and with us being younger and hopefully surviving longer its nice to think we wont suffer from osteoarthritis.
Rx
Rx
Hi Jenty,
I am 39 and like you have done the chemo, rads, herceptin, now just the tamoxifen which I started Aug 06.
Like Alise my Onc is not too keen on ovary removal unless all else has failed, infact she calls it chemical castration and gave a me a huge list of problems it can cause when I asked about it.
Tamoxifen does list loads of side effects and again my Onc told me even on the few woman she has had to refer to Gynea, nothing sinister has been found, she said it saves far more lives and I would only be referred if presenting with niggles or symptons.
Debbie
Hi
I have just read your post, I was dx with grade 2 bc, size 2.2cm and had 5 nodes removed and thankfully cancer free, ER+, I was originally told by my consultant that due to my age grade and size I would need to have chemo, radiotherapy and 5 yrs on tamoxifen, however when I went to see my oncologist he offered me the option of chemo or having my ovaries removed both had the same outcome with life expectancy for 10 years survival the same 90%, I have opted to have my ovaries removed have always had a fear of ovarian cancer as my aunt is terminal with this and having them removed reduces my chances by 80%.
I am aware that there are risks with this but one I think worth taking and I will still be on tamoxifen for 5 yrs as well.
Debra