Hi All
Have not posted in ages but need some advice. Finished chemo Feb 2007
my periods stopped half way throught. They then did start again on and off. I think I had a very light one day bleed June this year but can’t really remember. No more hot flushes or anything like that since the chemo stopped. So I sort of assumed that I was going into the menopause althought I have not really suffered from vaginal dryness as such. Anyway to get to the point. Last monday evening when I went to the loo, there was a plug of blood streaked mucus when I wiped myself. Since then I have noted a little pinkness when I have had a wee, it is coming from the vagina. I have been surfing the net this evening and needleless to say have now got myself worked up and think I have uterine cancer. Has anyone else had this experience, I know there will be lots of women who have experienced the menopause out there. Thanks for reading this.
I was on continuous HRT/contraception, so didn’t have periods, but I would occasionally experience the same as you. It was almost as if it was the tail end of a period. It’s probably nothing to worry about, but worth checking with the doctor, as you realise.
Are you on tamoxifen? Bleeding can be a side effect. I started a thread in the younger women category, called ‘returning periods - advice please’ where you will see that quite a few of us have had similar problems.
I experienced the same thing recently and have a gynae appointment this week. I’ve had a smear done which is clear, but they think it’s probably as a result of using Vagifem low dose oestrogen pessaries for the past year. My GP referred me a few weeks ago as a matter of urgency as it’s the protocol for post meno bleeding. However, both Consultants from the clinic I am going to have seen the GP’s notes and have said they don’t think it is serious, hence the wait of 6 weeks for an appointment. It is in the notes you get with Vagifem that this can be a side effect. In the meantime I have stopped using them and have had no further problems. I’m 48 and have not had a period now for nearly 3 years.
Hi All
Thanks for responsing and being so reassuring. Saw the GP this morning and she did a smear. I started to bleed straight away and she thinks she saw a small poyp ?spelling. She has referred me for a scan and also to the gynae team. But she was very reassuring so hopefully it can be sorted.
Pre my BC dx in July I too had some pinky wee in April. Went for ultrasound and GP told me I had polyps (which are benign) - I had appt for gynae on 29 July but have delayed it as now caught up in BC treatment - but will address it later as prob need a D&C to clear the lining - dont worry love all will be ok - mine was caused by HRT we think. Lynb x
I had my appointment today and saw two female gynaecologists, one a Registrar the other a Consultant. They gave me the works - I had a general consultation, then an internal ultrasound and examination. They also tried to take a sample of my womb lining for biopsy, but couldn’t get one as I have scarring to my cervix from where I had laser treatment 20 years back. My ovaries were checked and all ok, plus they said there was no thickening to the neck of the womb, but they found two fibroids which they said were nothing to worry about as they are tiny. I’ve also had some bloods done and should get results next week as they think whilst I was confirmed as post menopausal 2 years ago, there is a possibility my periods may be trying to start again. “Oh no” I thought…
I’ve also been advised not to go back on the Vagifem and when I told them it sorted out my concentration and libido their attitude was a bit “well it’s natural to have no libido when you are like this”. Must admit I wasn’t too happy with that as I felt I’m not going to be helped in that department (I may not need to go back to this clinic), so I’ll see what happens and if I’m not happy about that aspect I might consider going back to the menopause clinic I was referred to last year as I’m in their system for 5 years. It’s like some Dr’s forget a relationship involves two people; I mean it’s ok having no libido if you’re on your own, but not great when you have an OH.Last year my oncologists were adamant that my total lack of libido should not be allowed to persist. I really feel for my husband in all of this, he has the patience of a saint in respect of the fact there is no sex again now.
Hope you don’t mind me joining this thread . I am 61 and post menopausal by at least 12 years …not that I can really remember , it is all so long ago now…
I have just been through the first anniversary of my BC dx and op . I finished chemo in April 09 , and rads in June 09 and now just when I was hoping things were going well… I have developed " spotting " after being on Arimidex for about 5 months .
I rang my BCN and they arranged for my next check up to be brought forward to next week…the check up was for my chemo trial , but I will be seen by a breast surgeon. They have told me he may arrange for me to be seen by a gynaecologist…or may just change my meds. In the info about Arimidex it does say it can cause bleeding…but usually in the first few weeks.
Has anyone else had these problems ?
Cherub…good to hear that you had such a thorough exam. Libido? I wonder what that is ? LOL My poor OH has also shown the patience of a saint through a very bad year …and it doesn’t look like it is going to improve in the near future.
I just hate the assumption Dr’s seem to have with regard to libido. Some of them seem to think if you are either menopausal or post menopausal you should never bother thinking about sex ever again. The attitude of the oncologists and the menopause specialist I saw last year was totally different in that they were all agreed the non existent libido situation should be treated as part of the whole BC picture. I suppose I kind of feel I’ve gone back a year on that front now.
When I discussed all this with my OH yesterday he said “different doctors and different opinions eh, what can you say?” I really felt more sorry for him than me tbh.
It makes me so angry the lack of interest you get from Drs when you mention your lost libido.
My treatment finshed in October 07, yet my libido has never returned. I am now on Aromasin which i know doesn’t help. You need to have oestrogen to produce a libido, and as hormonal treatments are devised to stop this production there is nothing we can do.
I have been referred to a sex therapist via my Gp. She talks of myself and my husband going to classes to learn how to have sex. No thank you. I have tried Ovestin cream, no use. So i end up with a frustrated husband who still has needs.
If they spend all the money working so hard to give us our lives back, thank god, why can’t they research the loss of libido and do something about it. Surely that is as important a part of our recovery as getting over the treatment is concerned.
I’ve had it confirmed yesterday that I am not quite post menopausal, so I guess everything was trying to kick start again recently. When I go my results back I was advised to make an appointment with the GP who referred me to discuss things. I have to wait 10 days as she comes back off holiday on Monday and is booked up next week.
Last time I spoke to her I asked if there was anything I could take for any hot flushes on account of not being able to use Vagifem. Everything she recommended was for PMT etc., she is supposed to specialise in menopause issues but doesn’t seem to know jack sh*t about any of it.
We’ve spent the past week off work redecorating the bedroom, putting together new furniture and shopping for new linen and curtains in the hope that a change of scenery and a soft cosy look might help us get cosy again so to speak. Not holding my breath though, it all looks lovely but I am more interested in just sleeping in it lol.
Since I posted this I’ve discovered the info on results given to me by my surgery was wrong. I received a letter from the Consultant this morning confirming I am past the menopause. The letter also says she doesn’t think there is anything to worry about so no real need for a biopsy, but to get referred again quickly if I experience another bleed. Pity my GP surgery couldn’t have relayed that info correctly as I’ve spent the last week wondering where I go from here!
Need to update on where I am and what do you think. I am still spotting four weeks later. Had chemo, finished Feb 2007. Have had periods on and off. I have had a couple of light bleeds this year.
The spotting is pink, bleedy and mucusy at times. Very light, some days only when I go to wipe myself and others slight mark on liner. I have had discomfort over the right ovary and feel at times like a period is starting.
Anyway had a scan today. The abdominal scan show a normal lining in the uterus, normal size ovaries. I have a 3cm cyst in left ovary and a small 1.5 cm fibrod in the centre of my womb. The radiogaphier then said given my history and the fact that I was still bleeding she would do an internal scan. I did say that the GP thought she had seen a small polyp on the cervix. She said she could not see one and then said and this is where I loss the plot, that the report would be sent to the GP in a week. I said so you have not seen anything on the scan and she said but you are still bleeding so maybe there is some thing small on your cervix that I cannot see and then repeated that the scan would be reported on and the results sent to GP.
What could she have seen on the scan on the cervix or am I just reading too much into what she said. I know she is not a doctor and cannot say everything is OK until it has been looked at but do you think she is hiding something from me.
Sorry to ramble but getting myself into a bit of a state.
Have had a smear test and waiting for results, have always had normal smears. Also not on any meds as Her2 receptive.
If it helps at all, I had laser treatment for a precancerous change to my cervix in 1988; at the time I was told my the Consultant Gynaecologist who treated me that they could firmly say in my case it would probably have become cancerous within the next 4 months if it hadn’t been dealt with. When I was diagnosed with BC in 2006 I had a chat to the Consultant Breast Surgeon about this and he said there was no connection between the two.
I also told the Consultant Gynaecologist and her Registrar about this history at the post meno clinic I attended recently. They both said I had little or no risk of getting any of the other female cancers relating to gynae, so not to worry about it. I had a smear test with a clear result the week before I attended this appointment (I’m lucky to live in an area where results come back within 10 days). Things seems to have settled down for me now, but I still get a slight ache on my right side from time to time. However, as they said my ovaries were really healthy I’m not concerned about it; they explained you still experience things like this after menopause.
Thanks for your post. It was very reassuring. The good news is when I got home, my smear results had arrived and it was normal. Then yesterday when I got in from work there was a message from the GP to say results of scan had been faxed over (less than 24 hours after having scan) and were normal. Still have gynae appt in Nov but guess it must just be my hormones. What a relief the rollercoster ride continues.
Love
Geraldine45
Dear Geraldine … my name is Geraldene too! I’m 62, obviously post menopausal, and had a mastectomy 2 years ago with reconstruction 4 months ago. But this morning I had some light spotting, which scares me. I just read all the posts and it seems that this _can_ occur when taking Arimidex, which I didn’t realise. But as this is the first time it’s happened, and I’ve been on Arimidex for 2 years, I’ll be seeing my GP tomorrow.
After seeing my Breast Surgeon in Oct for a checkup, he referred me on to a "one stop " Gynaecology clinic , where I had an internal and external scan . This showed a thickening of the womb lining , so they tried to do a hysteroscopy there and then…but as I am well post menopausal and also have had no children…they could not manage it under a local anaesthetic. So on the 24th Nov I am off to have it done under a general…I was told it would probably only be polyps…but needless to say am rather worried.
Been for my pre-op assessment this week…so just waiting until the 24 th now.
Went in on the 24th , and had the Hysteroscopy , plus a D&C . No one would tell me about what they found…which was a tad worrying…although I did overhear the doc tell another patient that they had found nothing untoward in her Hysteroscopy…so am presuming that they did find something in mine !!
Have to wait for another two weeks for biopsy results now…so playing the worrying and waiting game again !!