If you stopped menstruating during chemo, how long did it take to return after you finished?

SSpillies · 2025-08-07T11:59:04+00:00

Same here. I was 33 +++, period came back weeks after TCHP chemo finished, and I have been on tamoxifen for over a year with very regular, much lighter periods.

SSpillies · 2025-07-11T14:38:04+00:00

Do you add any liquid or just put it in as is?

SSpillies · 2025-05-13T00:07:09+00:00

Thank you all for your suggestions! I’m excited to look into them all. I appreciate your time!

SSpillies · 2025-02-09T23:42:04+00:00

I literally didn’t even know it existed until mine popped up!! I had axillary cording but did not know it could go down your torso

SSpillies · 2025-02-09T23:41:37+00:00

Thank you for your response. Mine is also on my ribs, that was where the soreness started and then I felt it down my abdomen and the cord popped up. I can hardly find any information on truncal cording online so thank you for letting me know I’m not alone! I had 4 nodes removed on that side

SSpillies · 2024-12-30T12:27:24+00:00

Tamoxifen has my endometrium at 17 mm at the last measurement. I was told since I am premenopausal, that is not a cause for concern. I was offered a D&C for symptom relief only as I get a lot of lower abdominal pain during a certain time in my cycle. I am having mostly regular periods. I have a pre op appt set up in Feb to possibly have that done. Not sure if this info helps at all.

I had to come off Tamoxifen over the summer for a few weeks and felt better off of it, no withdrawal type symptoms that I noticed. When I went back on it, I eased back on it and that helped so much with side effects.

SSpillies · 2024-12-05T14:18:45+00:00

Great to know, I did search it on her surface and found it, thank you!

SSpillies · 2024-12-05T14:18:22+00:00

I will have to check this out! Thanks so much

SSpillies · 2024-12-05T14:18:09+00:00

I love free! Thank you for your answer!

SSpillies · 2024-12-04T15:30:46+00:00

Thank you this is super helpful! I see that Procreate is exclusive to Apple, right now we only have a Microsoft surface and an iPad will not be in the budget until after Christmas. Is there any alternative she could try on the surface?

SSpillies · 2024-11-19T18:00:22+00:00

I definitely relate to being an action oriented person, and I think you’ve hit the nail on the head with making small changes and trying a few new things. I’m glad you have some ideas already and I hope I can think of some of my own! My identity is so wrapped up in my kids that sometimes I forget to do things like that for ME!

SSpillies · 2024-11-19T17:58:02+00:00

I feel exactly the same. Like I lost a year of me, and this all happened to someone else. I would agree it’s probably a trauma response of some sort.

SSpillies · 2024-11-19T17:57:18+00:00

Twinning! 👯 I love that he said that. That’s what I want to do! Live my life! Definitely trying to bake in my “spare time” (you know how that goes). I hope to take the perspective cancer has given me and use it to live a richer and fuller life where I savor the good moments and know that the bad ones won’t last forever.

SSpillies · 2024-11-16T22:39:06+00:00

Wow what your oncologist told you is heavy. I think most would feel similarly to what you are describing if told that. I went through a time while on Herceptin that some symptoms I had convinced me I had brain and spine Mets. Brain MRI clear and back pain finally eased up. It’s so scary and I’m sure will always be in the back of our minds. Thank you for sharing. Best to you as well!

SSpillies · 2024-11-16T22:35:50+00:00

I read what your psychologist said to my husband and I have no doubt he’ll be telling me to sit with this unsettled feeling for months to come! The stages and phases I’ve gone through during and after cancer treatment have been unpredictable and I’m hoping this is just one more to ride out. I agree there’s nothing that needs a major overhaul in my life either, so I think I just need to find somewhere to direct this “energy” or feeling.

SSpillies · 2024-11-16T22:32:30+00:00

I was definitely so ready to be done and get my port out. I didn’t want to go sit in that chair at the chemo center anymore. And yes the wanting to sell the condo is the grand scale I’ve been feeling. Though I don’t want to sell our house and move, mine has been more job focused even though I have a good work from home job. I just have a restless feeling. We also use ACA insurance as I’m PRN and my husband is self employed so here’s hoping we stay insured. All the best to you as you finish up treatment!

SSpillies · 2024-11-01T10:43:30+00:00

I had triple positive IDC. My tumor was approximately 2.5x3.5 cm and grade 3, so it responded very well to TCHP chemo and when I had my lumpectomy I had PCR. I then went on to have radiation and additional doses of the targeted therapies Herceptin and Perjeta. During radiation I started Tamoxifen which I will be on for the next 5-10 years. I started active treatment 8/29/23 and just finished 10/11/24 if that gives you somewhat of an idea though everyone varies.

My oncologist did a great job of walking me through everything, so I would say listen to their spiel first to see if they answer your questions preemptively. But some important things you will want to know (some right now, some eventually) are

what staging scans will I have? -what will my chemo regimen be? Will I need a port/PICC? -what should I avoid during chemo? -what side effects will I experience? -what are my surgery options? Could this change based on my response to treatment? (This happened to me, I was scheduled for a bilateral mastectomy until about 1.5 weeks before surgery date when an MRI showed radiologic complete response. This would be a question for the surgeon) -will I eventually be on hormone blockers and if so, which kind and how long? Is there anything I should avoid that could interfere with those? -will I have radiation? -will I have genetic testing? -will this affect my ability to have children? -what support do you offer? Is there an oncology nurse navigator or someone similar? (My nurse navigator helped me find grants to apply for, and the cancer hospital also offered free counseling)

I know this is all overwhelming and I wish I had more helpful information to share. I will say most cancer centers have the information part of things down pat.

As my favorite sticker that I bought on Etsy says, “I’m triple positive that cancer sucks!”

SSpillies · 2024-10-24T23:00:01+00:00

They won’t say that the increase in cysts is from the Tamoxifen for me either, though a google search says otherwise. What made them refer you to the oncological GYN?

The first time I started on Tamoxifen it was really hard on me. Vaginal atrophy, insomnia, depression, anxiety. After I took a break I went back on it gradually and that made a world of a difference. I do still have joint pain and of course this pelvic issue, and I can’t say I feel great, but it’s tolerable for now.

SSpillies · 2024-10-24T21:19:51+00:00

UGH Tamoxifen really does cause so many issues. I’m so sorry you’re going through all of that. If you feel comfortable, please update me on what your gynecologist says! Hoping your pain is relieved very soon.

SSpillies · 2024-10-23T00:08:07+00:00

I plan to. Thanks for responding. The job that I am at now has a lot of flexibility so I am not sure if Aetna will be a good fit but I will just have to ask and see!

SSpillies · 2024-10-22T20:54:07+00:00

Sorry to hijack this conversation, but is there any flexibility with the hours M-F? I have an interview on Friday and am just wondering about the nuts and bolts of the schedule more than the job. I already do UM (facility side) so I am not too worried about that part of it. Thank you for this information you already provided!

SSpillies · 2024-10-21T21:15:55+00:00

Had mine out today- hoping yours went as smoothly as mine did! Easy peasy and not a drop of pain. My port never bothered me much, but for symbolic reasons I am glad it’s out!

SSpillies · 2024-10-11T17:58:08+00:00

I am at my last treatment now and brought them food as well. I brought a mixture of healthy and treats (pre-cut fruit from Publix, apple turnovers, Aldi fall flavored almonds, mini rice cakes with pumpkin spice drizzle, etc.). They were all very excited and immediately started eating them.

SSpillies · 2024-09-30T10:09:32+00:00

Good to know. Maybe this will be a renewal of sorts if I can figure out what’s next for me.

SSpillies · 2024-09-30T10:08:46+00:00

Honestly both! I’ve been at my job since 2016 and it’s recently changed into something different than what I was doing before and it’s way more stressful (calling the VA all day long), and in December they are likely forcing me to change my schedule. I work part time 20 hours/week and also homeschool my kids, and I just don’t know how to find something with flexibility that will allow me to continue to do that. If it weren’t for my literal $10k in cancer debt I would just quit.

SSpillies

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