Topic: Tamoxifen and menstrual cycle

Sep 24, 2009 02:13 AM woopwoop wrote:

hi everyone, well its a relief to hear im not the only one worried! ive been on tamox since jan 09, following chemo and radio, i was having periods all thru, every 3 weeks during the chemo...( i was 33 when diagnosed) when i started the tamox i stopped completely which was fine by me! then out of the blue 8 months later i had one which was very heavy and painful ive never had any pain before. so heavy that i changed before leaving work and drove home, by the time i got home less than 15 mins... i had made a mess all over the car seat! not nice! the strangest part was it arrived in the afternoon then nothing while asleep or the following morning untill about 3 in the arvo, this happened for 3 days. since this i had another 19 days later which was heavy but less so than the first. im seeing my oncologist on fri so will be asking him! 

Oct 29, 2009 04:46 PM Rockycat wrote:

For all those ladies who have been on tamoxifen for close to 5 years and are still getting their period, is your oncologist recommending removal of ovaries and arimidex?  Are there any other options after the 5 year run of tamoxifen (doctor tells me I can't stay on it for more than 5 years).

Nov 2, 2009 05:04 PM KattyC wrote:

Hey all, I met with my Onc. this afternoon and her and cancer team unanimously recommend removal of my ovaries.  They cited that 1) I had early menstruation, 2) no kids, 3) early dx, 4)recurring fibroids (which use estrogen as a fuel), 5) chemo, tamoxifen and zoladex did not put me in menopause, 6) I'm still having periods and FSH levels are not in menopause range.  The idea is to cut off what I consider the major fuel to my tumor.  Unfortunately the only way we're going to know the effectiveness of this is to either leave my tumor intact and monitor any shrinkage by MRI/CT or just monitor regularly for recurrence after surgery.  I'm opting for the latter. 

So, I'm scheduled for liver resection and ovary removal on the 16th.  We'll be sending live tissue off to oncotech for chemo resistance study.  Has anyone had experience with this assay test and if so, was the chemo recommendation accurate?

Nov 2, 2009 05:21 PM KattyC wrote:

Hmmm, I love cake..  Cake is great! 

My period was mostly regular throughout tamoxifen and zoladex (which suppresses ovary function), and afterwards as strong as ever.  We did the BRCA and check2 tests, which both came back negative.  So the decision was to not remove ovaries at the time, only to monitor. 

 It's so hard to say if and when the time is right to remove ovaries if you don't have the BRCA or check 2 genes, or little else points you to it.  In my case a further clue was uterine fibroids.  I'm not going to beat myself up over a non-decision as it was the right one at the time.  BUT, I am looking forward to having them removed now.   Take care, follow your instincts... and thanks for the hugs and prayers.

Feb 10, 2010 12:38 PM degored wrote:

I am too very glad that it is not just me!  I have been on tamoxifen since Feb 07 and up till june 09 I had a period about every other month.  It was different, but somewhat of a stable cycle, then it stopped.  I saw my onocologist in January 2010.  I told him that I had not had a period since June 09 and he did not seem worried,but gave me instructions to get a dexa scan and blood work (fsh, estrogen levels) when I see my surgeon in March for the annual mammogram.  That was fine, but then last week, a period came out of nowhere.  So I freaked out and called the oncologist and informed him of this developement.  He suggested that I not wait til I see the surgeon for follow-up, but to go and see my GYN.  I made the appointment today and I asked the doctor that I work for about all of the tests that I should have done when I go and see the GYN.  He said for me to get an ultrasound, pelvic exam, and blood work-FSH, estrogen, progesterone, tsh.  I am getting every test that I can at this visit, or at least every one that my insurance will cover.  In my heart I do not think that it is anything, but I want to be sure.  I had good blood work in January and a good pap test in June last year. 

After reading some of the responses, I am thinking that I am more normal than I had thought.  I am so glad that all of you are out there.  I am not alone in this. Thanks to all who have shared and I will let you know what happens at my appointment.  It is on 2/24/10.

Nov 4, 2010 09:15 AM amyalex wrote:

I am 50.  I have been taking tamoxifen since April of 2010.  Like a light switch, my periods stopped.  I was perimenopausal before, but always regular.  Out of the blue, I got a period this month (I should have known it was coming when I found myself standing in the pantry eating chocolate chips straight from the bag) and it has been more hemorrhage-like than period-like.  Is it just making up for 6 months without one?

Nov 14, 2010 09:14 AM vitalvoice wrote:

Hi all! Tamox can screw up your period, but does not cause actual menopause like chemo can. If you are in menopause from chemo, tamox will improve those symptoms because it acts like estrogen in the body. I recommend all women get their hormone levels checked regularly including a reading on their ovarian reserve so you know what is a side effect of tamoxifen (there are so very many) or what is menopause from chemo. Chemo reduces our ovarian reserve (the number of eggs we have left) and impacts the quality of the eggs that are left. In some cases, we stop ovulating completely - total menopause - because chemo has destroyed all the eggs we had left when we started chemo. Tamox causes SEs that are similar to SEs of being in menopause, but important to know it's not menopause, just SEs of the drug. I've been on it for two years and get a period every 28 days but it may only last one day. My ovaries are super cystic and I was on lupron for 2 years so will go in on monday to see the OBGYN about the ovary issues. Since tamox acts like estrogen in the body, it may be causing the cysts.

 Hope that helps! I run a fertility org for bc patients so feel free to email me privately if you all have more questions! XO 

Feb 2, 2011 04:20 PM Lolly65 wrote:

I had a right mastectomy in October 2010. I did not have chemo or radiation.  I started Tamoxifen the week before Thanksgiving.  I was three weeks late for my period.  Got scared and took preg. test. Then had two periods in the month of December (5 days long each).  My January period came right on time but only lasted 2 1/2 days.  It was so awesome. I hope that continues.  My oncologist told me today that he didn't expect my periods to stop and fully expected me to still be having them in 5 years.  I am currently 45 years old.

Oct 24, 2011 03:00 PM labrat wrote:

I was diagnosed in Feb. 2005 at age 39. My last period was probably early Feb. or late Jan. of that year (hard to remember back that far) but they had been pretty spotty anyway. I did 4 AC and 4 T and then radiation. Tried Arimidex in Jan. of 2006 but ended up on Tamoxifen. Just finished the Tamoxifen in Jan. 2011.  I never had my period since before diagnosis. Since my mom had hit menopause around age 45, I figured that was it for me.

Well it seems like I just started again! I have calls in to the doctors because the timing has me a bit weirded out. I was in the hospital this last August (2011) after having brain aneurysms. I have one more left that they still have to clip. I really don't know what's going on at the moment or if I should be worried. Of course, it started on a Friday and by the time I realized the possibilities, it was too late to call the doctor. 

May 2, 2012 02:10 AM marleygirl wrote:

CarlaF- I just saw your post in April '09.  I have had a diagnosis of ADH x 2 and I'm on my third month of Tamoxifen.  I felt like I was alone on an island when my oncologist advised me to go on Tamoxifen.  I am 45 and pre-menopausal.  I struggled so much with whether Tamoxifen was right for me and my situation.  After much discussion with my oncologist, seeking a second opinion with another oncologist and talking with my ob/gyn, I decided to take it.  So far I have had SE of night sweats and hot flashes but thankfully not much else I can pin on Tamoxifen yet. My periods were typically very regular on a 28-32 day cycle.  Once on Tamoxifen, I had two regular monthly periods that were a little lighter but then I started a having a period again just 2 weeks later.  That really freaked me out! I saw my ob/gyn who assured me this was part of the Tamoxifen SE.  After reading other posts...it has reassured me it's typical to be experiencing this.  CarlaF- just wondering how you are doing now. Thanks ladies for sharing your thoughts and experiences.  I don't feel like I'm on an island by myself anymore.         

Oct 12, 2012 01:50 AM ali68 wrote:

Bump