mistikal

Route 53: I am 35 and have been on tamoxifen since July 08. My understanding is the Dr doesn't know when - (if at all) I will go into menopause. Statistics show I will go into menopause at an earlier age, say in mid to late forties rather than fifties. Tamoxifen doesn't affect fertility as much as chemo. An indicator of whether your wife's period will return is whether she had her period during chemo. If yes, it is likely it will return within a year. I have not heard of bisphosphonates until reading your post on the discussion board. Anything that helps prevent mets to bones/ osteoperosis is a good thing. I will check with my oncologist when I see him next week. So far I haven't had any unusual side effects with tamoxifen. I plan only to take for 3 years with the hope we can have a child at that time.

I had a lumpectomy, sentinel node biopsy and wide excision in Nov 07 (was 34 at the time). Underwent FAC chemo from Jan-April this year. I had my period all through chemo except for the last cycle no 6. It stopped in April, I had some hot flashes in May-June during radiation. /the hot flashes stopped when I started tamoxifen in early July. My period returned two weeks ago. So it was 4 months when I had no period. The good news is if all remains well (no recurrence) I will be able to conceive naturally in the next 3-5 years.

Hi there Ulla,

Each woman is different. I have heard some women have their period all the way through treatment (including tamoxifen) and others who have had it stop anywhere from 6 months to 2-5 years. If you are concerned about the treatment not having effect, check with your oncologist.

To my knowledge, the Tamoxifen does not effect your period as much as the chemo does. My understanding from the fertility specialist is that each woman's ovary production is determined at the time of birth, so by the peri (early) stage of menopause in mid to late forties less eggs are produced. Chemo, disrupts fast growing cells, like the hair, nails and bones aswell as ovary production. So the side effects are an individual thing. What we do need to do is "give our body a break" from all the changes it has gone through during 6-9 months of treatment, so it makes sense, for some women it will take at least the same amount if not, twice as long to bounce back.

Ellen, loss of libido is perfectly normal especially through chemo week and towards the end of radiation. Our body is undergoing constant change for at least 1 year until our hair grows back to a way that is familiar to oneself. Walking or some form of gentle exercise 10-30 mins either daily or three times a week is good. I found that using a lubricant (without glycol) like Sylk helps with the vaginal dryness. Your libido will come back when you feel well and confident again.

I finished six cycles of FAC chemo in April 08. Now I am in week 3 of radiotherapy. I had my periods all the way through chemo, only missed this month (aged 35). I have bought a pregnancy test (just in case) as I'm seeing my oncologist in July. I'm supposed to start tamoxifen after radiotherapy. I'd still like to be able to have children afterwards but it is a bit of a 'grey'/'unknown' area.