I got told by my Onc today that i can start to have these injections, probably start when im next having Herceptin. Can you give me any idea if im going to change into this big fat hairy woman thats going through the change?? I just have bad visions of the menopause and need my mind putting at rest. Ive just lost a load of weight and luckily not put on any weight with Tamoxifen (im sure the onc is trying to make me put on weight with all these treatments!!!) so now im worrying about the side effects of this, sorry but dont mean to offend anyone on the menopause, just getting bad pictures in my head.
any advise or experience of these injections would be really helpful.
I had Zoladex for two years with only minimum weight gain, and have to say that I felt really well during the whole 2 years - mild hot flashes, occasional mood swing but what the heck only replaced PMT!!! I only had problems afterwards, to cut a long story very short 6 months after stopping Zoladex had my ovaries removed and started Arimidex. Best thing I ever did, no regrets whatsoever. Just wished I had this done right at the beginning. Just an added comment, my GP said a lot of women tend to blame their BC medication for their symptoms when in fact a lot of the time its just natural menopause which would have happened anyway.
Like Jan I had Zoladex (for 6 months) and then ovaries out 3 years ago. No side effects whatsover for me - no hot flushes and I think I am a lot less moody than before (my husband may disagree!!!) . My cancer is hormone receptor and I always used to have very irregular periods ranging from 4 to 8 week intervals and also found it very hard to stay pregnant. My theory is that my hormones were always all over the show and since having Zoladex and then ovaries removed have felt like a different person.My skin looks so much better, no bloated stomach at period times, also excellent for when you go on holiday something else not too worry about - will my period come?.
So I would say go for it - I did put on some weight after all my first lot of treatment finished but not sure if that was also due to comfort eating/drinking? Went to Weight Watchers and lost it though.My husband has also got off very lightly - no vasectomy for him!
My Gp was great and gave me a local anasthetic injection first so that I didn’t feel the Zoladex going inat all. Once you get used to it you can also have it every 3 months which is much more convenient. Also gives you more options of which drugs you can have e.g. Arimadex, Exemastane etc.
For me benefits def outweight any side effects and no I don’t have a beard yet!!
Thanks ladies for putting my mind at rest. I wouldnt mind having my overies out but i will give this a go first. Im hoping the nurses will give me some of that magic cream that i can put on before i have it, im so sick of needles especially as im having Herceptin every three weeks.
My mum has told me that she got hairy during her menopause so i really hope i dont go that way but the onc said it was reversible so i could stop if i didnt get one with it.
Did none of your injection-ers offer you freeze-spray at the time of the injection? My practice nurse, who also happens to think the needle is monumentally HUGE and scary, plastered the anaesthetic spray on my tummy, and it didn’t hurt a bit. We went to the desk to make my next appointment and were told she was off that day and would we see someone else? Nooooooooooooooooo! Changed the appointment to the day before, when she IS there, because in my experience, once you find someone who is good with needles, you’d better hold on to them!
I too am on tamoxifen and Zoladex injections and I can honestly say with very little side effects, no weight gain although I do try and keep fit by doing kick boxing, and no extra hair growth, just very mild hot flushes which I can easily cope with and no moods swings either that I’m aware of.
I’m well impressed with some of your GPs giving you freeze spray and anathestic injections prior to having the Zoladex I have never been offered anything and just have to grit my teeth when faced with the needle - kinda got used to it now been having them since Sept 06.
Hope all continues to go well for you all
Take care
Karen
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I was told to ask for the anestetic cream and im determined to not have it unless the area is numb. I also try to keep fit and eat healthily so hoping that as nothing happened when i started on Tamoxifen then nothing will happen with these injections, just a bit anxious about it though.