I was diagnosed at age 36 and pre-menopausal. I will be 38 in July and am 1.5 years out from diagnosis. I am ER pos, so I take Tamoxifen. My last period was 1/07. I have been having hot flashes daily since around the middle of my chemo treatments. I usually have 3-4 a day and they are worse at night. For a while, they decreased in number to about 2 per day. Now, in the last month or so, I am having at least 5-6 per day, sometimes 10! Could this mean that I am now in "full blown" menopause? I have my next check up next month and will of course bring it up to my onc, but I was wondering what you all might think about this??
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amberyba Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 174 |
Apr 29, 2008 10:02 pm
amberyba wrote:
from what I've read if you have hot flashes with tamoxifen it means that it is working... 10 seems like alot...you could call you med. onco. nurse to ask about this...they usually are more than willing to help or reassure. Amber Almond
Dx 2/2008, IDC, 1cm, Stage I, Grade 2, 0/3 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2- |
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prettyinpin… Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 504 |
Apr 30, 2008 03:50 pm
prettyinpink100 wrote:
I am also on tamoxifen and have as many as 10 flashes a day. It has been 7 mths and I think they are less severe than at the beginning. I have not had a period since Aug/07 but had it throughout most of my chemo. Blood tests show that I am in menopause but the numbers are not 'post' menopausal. I will have a hysterectomy this summer so that I will definitely be post meno and can be put on an arobitose inhibitor.
PIP
Dx 2/1/2007, IDC, , Stage IIIb, Grade 2, 9/16 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2- |
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KP1970 Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 108 |
May 1, 2008 12:15 am
KP1970 wrote:
Thanks everyone. :) I wonder why they seem to be worse at night for so many of us?? Kim
Dx 10/31/2006, IDC, 2cm, Stage IIb, Grade 3, 1/20 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2- |
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JaniceWA Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 7 |
May 1, 2008 12:44 pm
JaniceWA wrote:
I have one more cycle of chemo and the hot flashes have just started for me. My last period was the week before I started chemo and haven't had one since. I will be taking Tamoxafen I'm assuming when I'm done with chemo/radiation?? When does that usually begin, and will my periods start back when chemo ends? Dx 1/21/2008, IDC, 2cm, Stage Ib, Grade 1, 0/7 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2- |
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prettyinpin… Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 504 |
May 1, 2008 01:48 pm
prettyinpink100 wrote:
I started tamoxifen 3 weeks after my last chemo. My understanding is that you may still get your period after your chemo which is why it is helpful to get a hormonal blood test. Sometimes it is just the chemo that temporarily shuts down the ovaries. That is why they keep us on tamoxifen for a least one year in stead of putting us directly on an arobitose inhibitor like femera or aromatose. PIP
Dx 2/1/2007, IDC, , Stage IIIb, Grade 2, 9/16 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2- |
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otter Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 1733 |
May 1, 2008 02:30 pm, edited May 1, 2008 02:31 PM
by otter
otter wrote:
Kim, you asked why the hot flashes seem to be worse at night. I don't know. They just are. For many of us, that has been true for the hot flashes experienced with "natural" menopause, too. And, although a dozen hot flashes per day seems intolerable, I've heard of menopausal women having them that frequently. This is a shock for someone your age, who should not have to be dealing with symptoms of menopause for another 10 or 15 years. In some respects I feel lucky that I have already gone through the "natural" form of that misery, so chemo hasn't produced those additional SE's for me. Ask your docs if they can give you something to relieve your discomfort. In the meantime, dress in lightweight layers, keep the room cool, use cotton sheets and blankets that you can throw off when necessary (and pull back up when you cool down), be careful of stressors and alcohol (which can serve as triggers), etc., etc., etc. otter Dx 1/14/2008, IDC, 1cm, Stage I, Grade 2, 0/3 nodes, ER+/PR-, HER2- |
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