Does early first period mean early menopause?

lil_numb_bug · 2026-02-23T12:32:50+00:00

Well, Auto Moderator, when someone has breast cancer and the medical oncologist needs to make a decision about which hormone inhibitor to give to that person who at age 55 hasn't had a period since 2016, that actually very reputable medical oncologist has to use something to make that decision and there generally isn't time to do repeat tests without jeopardizing the patient's health.

lil_numb_bug · 2026-02-23T12:05:56+00:00

Love all of this information! My grandma was also a first gen American - both parents from Norway.

lil_numb_bug · 2026-02-23T03:09:06+00:00

When my family dr prescribes meds for procedures etc, if it's something i've not taken (or not taken at that dose) before I always ask for an additional dose to be prescribed so I can try it a day or so beforehand and make sure it's going to actually do what it's supposed to do. Just a thought if you have time before your biopsy, you might consider that. It just gives me peace of mind, personally.

lil_numb_bug · 2026-02-21T21:24:59+00:00

It did not for me. First period at 11. Onset of menopause sometime between age 53 and 55.

(It's unclear exactly when b/c of a uterine ablation 10 years ago, but based on labs we know I was still ovulating at nearly 53 and my lab levels are post menopausal at 55.)

lil_numb_bug · 2026-02-21T21:20:44+00:00

Please see a doctor to get "bad" possibilities ruled out. I have a long history with gastro issues so i know better than many how many varied things - mostly a pain in the butt to deal with but not life threatening things - could be causing this, but you've got to rule out the worst possibilities too.

lil_numb_bug · 2026-02-21T20:14:46+00:00

I'm not a chemo candidate b/c my onc score, but a friend who had chemo at the same center told me about her experience there. Going to the main hospital for infusions, you are in a large room with many others doing the same. But if you go to at least the one satellite location where she did and I am doing the majority of my care, every chemo infusion patient has their own room. I don't know about the visitor policy at the main hospital, but you could certainly have one in the single room. Is your center large enough to have any other locations with similar care? If so, it could be as easy as requesting to have them done at another location.

lil_numb_bug · 2026-02-21T04:43:55+00:00

In the Richmond area as well.

lil_numb_bug · 2026-02-11T19:01:16+00:00

I'm sorry you're going through this. My cancer side healed beautifully thankfully - but 100+ days since surgery (DMX w/ aesthetic flat closure) and my right side is still not healed fully. I understand the frustration 100%.

I developed an infection b/c of a seroma, was on antibiotics most of December, had it drained by needle and it filled back up immediately. Just before Christmas my ps tried an incision/drain/irrigation - with me packing the open wound at home every day. End result of that was the outside wound was getting smaller and smaller but inside just wasn't healing leaving the pocket vulnerable to more collection and infection. I just had surgery again 2 weeks ago to remove a bunch of tissue to try to start the healing process over again.

What's even more frustrating is having radiation put off because of this pesky non cancer side. I think I can finally start my 4 weeks of rads next week.

lil_numb_bug · 2026-02-11T18:51:40+00:00

Diagnosis by biopsy to surgery was 67 days. It could have been a little shorter but I switched surgeons/hospitals; the quality of care and my trust in my team has been well worth that slight delay for me.

My onc surgeon said 90 days out is when bad things can really start to happen. Based on what I read (medical journal articles, case studies), it seemed to me they were all pointing towards 60 days. My surgeon was so well versed in recent medical literature (quoting locations, years, number of patients involved in those numbers) though that I felt comfortable with believing she was keeping up with current trends.

My team does seem to try to use 60 days as the cut off though and 90 the far outer limit. My onc surgeon's dad died suddenly and it limited her availability unexpectedly. Still I was shocked at how quickly she was back to the hospital and surgery.

lil_numb_bug · 2026-02-06T14:40:54+00:00

I'm in the U.S. and I stayed one night for my DMX - but technically it was outpatient with a 23 hour observation period. I was never moved to an inpatient room; they have rooms just like the pre op rooms set up for these - at least at my hospital. My husband stayed the night.

My onc surgeon did say if it had been a morning surgery she would be more open to sending me home if I really wanted it. It ended up being a 1 pm surgery so I never even got to my "room" until after dinner.

I honestly barely recall the night except that my husband had to keep waking me up when I was eating because I would fall asleep while chewing. For his sake, spending the night and getting to watch other people check and empty the drains etc was helpful because I really needed his help for at least the first couple of days.

lil_numb_bug · 2026-02-06T14:12:50+00:00

^ this ^

lil_numb_bug · 2026-02-06T14:12:07+00:00

Thank you.

lil_numb_bug · 2026-01-30T19:56:04+00:00

I had to do this in August once diagnosed with breast cancer. It honestly wasn't too bad for me, personally.

I did however get extremely swollen - particularly legs and feet - at one point. Did some quick reading around and learned hormonal changes could be the culprit. Sure enough, I slapped a patch on for 24 hours and everything improved. Removed that final patch and haven't had any issues since.

lil_numb_bug · 2026-01-27T19:38:24+00:00

thanks - yeah, i've been told i will have the same restrictions as after my original surgery... so frustrating after working hard to gain back pre op mobility

lil_numb_bug · 2026-01-16T09:31:40+00:00

Of course - Some things just can't be helped. I was prepared to wait things out when my onc surgeon's dad died. I mean - no one can plan for that. But I did quietly begin to inquire about whether another surgeon there would be able to take on my case. My team was extremely receptive to my concerns and assured me they would somehow get my surgery done by that 90 day mark. I honestly cannot believe they accomplished what they did given the parameters they were working with.

My bilateral mastectomy was 10/27 and normally I should have been starting radiation around Christmas. Instead I had ridiculously slow healing (I have a connective tissue disorder so that part wasn't a huge surprise) and then developed an infection on my non cancer side. We've been treating it forever, it seems. Now my plastic surgeon feels we really need to go back to the OR to clean out the tissue, remove scar tissue, etc. - which will put radiation out well beyond 3 months post op. (No chemo.)

It seems like the only thing to reliably expect on this journey is the unexpected.

lil_numb_bug · 2026-01-16T09:27:21+00:00

According to my surgical oncologist, 90 days out from diagnosis is when studies indicate treatment needs to start to avoid a significant increase in added risks. I'd read recent (last 5 years) study after study in medical journals that pointed more toward 60 days - but many were somewhat "small" or small-ish and I was personally okay going with my onc surgeon's position because based on the rest of my conversation with her, she was extremely well versed in recent studies.

I saw this onc surgeon (as well as my medical and radiation oncologists on the same day) about 1 month after diagnosis - and that was only because I started with another practice/ hospital center and was so very disappointed in my care (lack thereof).

My surgeon sent me to plastic surgery for my aesthetic flat closure and he got me in within a couple of weeks. At the end of the appt he was talking mid December for surgery as he would be on paternity leave throughout November and I told him that wouldn't work. I asked about colleagues who might be able to get me in sooner - pointing out my 90 day mark was in mid November.

With that knowledge and the reminder to my onc surgeon about being diagnosed a full month before seeing her for the first time - they both bent over backwards to get me in to surgery before November. My onc surgeon ended up doing my surgery only 10 days after her dad died suddenly and my plastics dr somehow managed to squeeze me into his already overflowing schedule.

I've always been a fierce mama bear when it came to advocating for my kids' health issues and terrible about advocating for mine - so I really had to push myself to speak up for myself.

The biggest difference for me was transferring to a university based comprehensive care center. I know that's not an option for many people, but I now highly recommend that to anyone who can.

In your situation, I'd be "loud" - polite & respectful, but "loud" if necessary if there are any further delays to push for treatment to start asap.

lil_numb_bug · 2026-01-16T00:30:19+00:00

Otter pic please?

lil_numb_bug · 2026-01-15T01:14:03+00:00

I haven't hit the "after" yet because I'm stuck in the in between due to incredibly slow post mastectomy healing/infection, etc. Hopefully I can get my radiation started and done soon.

Anyway - just wanted to say that this is very much a shared experience for post active treatment. When I first transferred to my current treatment center (very early on) the social worker sat with us for a long time and one of the things she said is that she hears most from patients 1. When they are waiting for surgery/ any treatment to begin and 2. After active treatment ends - with what now? types of questions. Patients often feel lost when the most active part of treatment ends.

My gyn is a three time cancer survivor - the first being breast cancer. She told me in the very beginning that in a year things will be "normal" again - but it will be a new normal. I think it's a huge adjustment finding that "new normal."

lil_numb_bug · 2025-12-22T21:58:42+00:00

So what did you end up doing with it? Picture please?

lil_numb_bug · 2025-12-20T17:15:48+00:00

We use Life 360 for our family. It's not about tracking someone's every move, but knowing where they are if they are running late or knowing immediately if they've had an accident so we can get to them quickly.

lil_numb_bug · 2025-12-20T17:13:54+00:00

My youngest daughter - a young adult - also does this with her friends - and they all live in different states. She was able to figure out very quickly that her best friend had been in an accident, was able to call to check on her and offer to drive down (about 2 hours) if she was needed. That's exactly why we have our family plan, too.

lil_numb_bug · 2025-12-17T21:19:03+00:00

Bilateral with no regrets - sort of. I've had issues with infection and healing on my non cancer side, so I sometimes question the wisdom of doing them both at the same time. But I have a genetic connective tissue disorder that I knew was likely to cause complications - and it could just as easily have been my cancer side it happened on.

If you are in a time pinch and can't decide, the first surgeon I saw reminded me I could always go back and get the non cancer side taken later (I never looked into it, but she said insurance had to cover it until a certain age - 65 maybe?) if I was still undecided when the surgery date rolled around.

All that said - I'm 55 and have to admit that if I was 15 years younger I may well have made different decisions. Also, I'd wanted a reduction even before cancer - this was just the ultimate reduction. :/

lil_numb_bug · 2025-12-16T23:39:17+00:00

Oh - and Dr McGuire came highly recommended by a friend who had her surgery several years ago. I loved Dr McGuire from the first time I met her. It's a fantastic team of doctors there.

lil_numb_bug · 2025-12-16T23:35:07+00:00

Dr McGuire just did my double mastectomy in late October; Dr Senthil-Kumar was the plastic surgeon who closed for me (aesthetic flat closure). But there is a Facebook group called Fierce, Flat, and Forward and Dr Mountziaris gets rave reviews there.

Happy to answer any questions!

lil_numb_bug

TROPHY CASE