I’ve recently been diagnosed with breast cancer and am waiting to hear if it’s hormone receptor positive, alongside some other results.
I have been on the contraceptive pill for 16 years because my periods have always been awful (very painful and extremely heavy), but I’m aware that, should the cancer be hormone receptor positive, and potentially anyway, I will be told to stop taking the pill.
Is anyone aware of anything else I can take that would lessen the impact of terrible periods? I’m really concerned that I’ll have the benefit of lessening the risk of future cancer, but will make my life much more miserable as a result, which doesn’t seem much gain.
I understand your problem, most of my adult life has been shadowed by PCOS, heavy and irregular periods. The mirena coil was magic. But that had to go straight away when diagnosed.
If you’re hormone positive, they will most likely suggest one of the hormone therapies to drive down the hormones. For some people Tamoxifen stops periods, but this is not guaranteed. It made no difference while I was on it for a short time. My onco suggested and transferred me to Zoladex which shuts down the ovaries forcing a menopause. They then prefer to use an AI such as letrozole or in my case exemestane, to control any hormones produced elsewhere. On a permanent front, and if you are of suitable age and don’t intend to extend your family, there may be an option to remove the ovaries.
Perhaps do a little research, and make a note of any questions to ask when you next see them x
I had a thermal ablation. I was a game changer and I have not had a period since, it was day surgery. I wish had done it years earlier. It is only for those who have completed their family, but worth a bit of reading about when you get a chance.
I also really struggled with terrible periods from endometriosis and fibroids. My cancer was also hormone receptive (ER 7/8 PR 7/8). However, I have found that tamoxifen has meant that my periods have improved! I still have a period every month but they are very light in comparison to before and only last 4/5 days compared to 7/8 days. I also don’t get the debilitating cramps I used to get.
Although I get some mild side effects from tamoxifen the change to my periods has been a real silver lining.
Fingers crossed for you that you also find an improvement.
xx