Hello all,
I have been on tamoxifen for 5 years to shut down my ovaries, I had ER+ breast cancer and periods stopped after first chemo treatment Sept 2006 5 and half years ago, doc's said I was in menopause and if I had spotting to come in and get checked. This week 4 months after stopping tomaxifen I have been spotting, at first brown then a pink to red, cramps, mood swings, low back pain, it lasted a day then stopped, and started again a day after stopping (cramps never stopped, this has gone on for a week now and I was hoping someone might know whats going on. I am a little nervous and need advice. I will be 49 in a couple months and I feel like I'm 11 years old again
I do have 3 doctor appointments next week Onc, Gyn and Primary.
Thanks for helping me,
Emmy
Last edited by emmy001; 03-10-2012 at 07:48 PM.
Reason: MISSPELLING
hi emmy001. not sure if the tamoxifen had something to do with stopping your periods. you're still kind of young to be in full blown menopause. my periods didn't stop until i was 52. they had stopped the previous year for for almost a year and then started again for a few months. after 2 1/2 years i had another period. they did testing on me but could not do a biopsy because of previous scarring from either a previous biopsy or my sjogrens. doc's aren't sure. that was in november and now i'm spotting but haven't actually started a period. i think when our bodies are altered in some way....by disease, that they may react weirdly. i wouldn't worry...just make sure that you get it checked out. my gyna said if i had another period to call him and make an appt. not sure if i'm helping....but hang in there and wait until you see your doc. i have to call mine on monday. good luck.
Thanks BooBoo, It's the chemotherapy that was supposed to have put me into menopause, (fried the ovaries) so the doc's are worried my estrogen may start feeding the cancer again, So looks like they will put me on another Aromatase inhibitor to shut down the ovaries They thought I was done with all that menopause stuff and would have no worries, (under 40 function of ovaries likley to return, 40 and over most likley not to) I guess I'm gonna be one of the unlucky ones)
you don't know if that's what's going on. just wait until you see your doc emmy. no sense in worrying now. i don't know how to do a hug on here....so i'm giving you one. let me know after you see your doc, okay.
Thank you BooBoo, I'll have some answers tomorrow hopefully.
I try not to worry but it's hard when out of 6 brothers and sisters 5 have had cancer and my last brother is fighting lung and larynx cancer now(it's not looking good)
ohhhh....i'm going through a lot of different changes that i still don't quite understand, but i'm trying to cope with it. i'm getting so sick of seeing specialists all the time. i get more answers from doing my own research than i do from them. i joined this site because i find that trying to help others, keeps me from focusing on my own problems. in the past 5 years, i helped looked after my dying uncle, then my mom and my stepfather just passed away in august of last year. i was working full time and doing all of that and now i work part time and wonder where the heck the energy went that i had then. but...that's what these autoimmune things do to us i guess. thanks for asking emmy. that's sweet of you.
Hi BooBoo sorry for what you have been through, I've lost 2 brothes, dad, grandparent, uncles, aunts, cousins and a sister in law plus a few others to cancer.
Like you I'm sick of the specialists but gratefull.
Doc said today spotting of anykind is not normal for me so I know this week and next is gonna be long and painful but I'll hang in there and do as I'm told.
Hope your feeling better and my thoughts are with you.
Emmy
thanks for the kind words emmy. i don't always believe everything that doctor's say and i'm praying that this is just a fluke. i know you're strong and you just need to draw from your inner energy and you will be fine. my thoughts are there with you too. let me know how things are going okay.
wendi
The following user gives a hug of support to boobootwo: emmy001 (03-16-2012)
The Following User Says Thank You to boobootwo For This Useful Post: emmy001 (03-16-2012)
Well back from the Gyn and Endometrial lining was 19 mm thick ( should be 5 mm for post menopause), and uterus was the size of a large grapefruit, he said it looked like an 8 week pregnancy, So the dreaded surgeries began. Wed. I go for diagnostic D&C with hystoscopy + eta (what is eta) needs to be looked at ( Doc wouldn't tell me if he thought it was cancer)
Doc said I was definitely post menopause and should not be spotting.
Thanks I will keep you updated
i still have faith that this is going to be okay emmy. stay positive, no matter what. cancer is a difficult disease. my mother started with a blood disorder called myelodysplasia. the white blood cells rise and the red drop. in 40% of the elderly it can develop into leukemia...which it did with my mother. the whole thing was that my mother was a jehovah's witness and the only treatment for this disorder is blood transfusions or stem cell transplant, which of course...she refused. my mom was getting very weak and started getting a lot of panic attacks. i just said to her....just live. surprisingly....the day she went into the hospital....she went out in the service with her friends from her religion. she came home exhausted and had a nap and when she woke, she started vomiting. she died 2 weeks to the day after that. i understand what you're going through and that's why i say....stay positive. the mind has amazing ways of dealing with ailments in the body. not sure if you might be interested in this, but there's a new form of healing the body, called...qigong. dvd's are available online and i have friends that are into it and think it's wonderful. once you get everything taken care of....you might want to look into this. hang in there emmy....you can do it. keep in touch and let me know how things are going okay.
Hi BooBoo, wanted to let you know I had the surgery and had quite a few large polyps removed plus entire Endometrial lining, all came back cancer free but if bleeding dosen't stop may have to have hysterectomy.
Thanks for your support and I hope all is well with you.
Emmy
Hi there, been following your case on HealthBoards. I am having the same procedure as you next week. Been in menopause for 3 years and have been having cramps. Did a transvaginal ultrasound and came back with the lining at 6cm. My doc wans to do the D&C plus the cameral look around. I have had surgery in the past, but for some reason, terrified. Says it is in and out. But we need to go under. I do not inabate real well and get sick after surgery. How did you feel. I also understand, everyone is different, but any feedback would help....by the way, so happy all is clear with you!!! janie
Hi BooBoo, wanted to let you know I had the surgery and had quite a few large polyps removed plus entire Endometrial lining, all came back cancer free but if bleeding dosen't stop may have to have hysterectomy.
Thanks for your support and I hope all is well with you.
Emmy
emmy...no cancer....that's great! so glad to hear that. i realize you still have some steps to go through, but i'm sure you're feeling a lot of relief now. if they've removed your lining and the polyps....you should stop bleeding. i'm not sure how long you would bleed after that type of procedure, but i would think once you start healing that it will decrease until it stops. just so glad to hear everything is negative. you hang in there. you're one tough cookie! keep me updated okay?
Hello all,
I have been on tamoxifen for 5 years to shut down my ovaries, I had ER+ breast cancer and periods stopped after first chemo treatment Sept 2006 5 and half years ago, doc's said I was in menopause and if I had spotting to come in and get checked. This week 4 months after stopping tomaxifen I have been spotting, at first brown then a pink to red, cramps, mood swings, low back pain, it lasted a day then stopped, and started again a day after stopping (cramps never stopped, this has gone on for a week now and I was hoping someone might know whats going on. I am a little nervous and need advice. I will be 49 in a couple months and I feel like I'm 11 years old again
I do have 3 doctor appointments next week Onc, Gyn and Primary.
Thanks for helping me,
Emmy
Janie & Booboo the bleeding has stopped for now, surgery went fine it was like a very good nap with little pain was home in a few hours and slept the rest of the day, had a few days of cramping but did as the doc said ( rest for about 10 days) and believe me I did.
Janie I hope all went well with you. Let us know.
Booboo how's it going with you?
Thank you all
Emmy
emmy, that is wonderful news for you!!!! So happy all is going well. I have mine this Tuesday afternoon. Doc tried to schedule for morning but will not get into surgery till 3:00 in the afternoon. So more than likely out of hospital by 7 or 8 and home to sleep I am sure. Took next day off. But then the last two days I have two classes I need to teach each day. So I am really hoping that there will not be a lot of bleeding. No more than a usual period, (if I remember what that was like) lol!! She told me I could go back to work the next day if I felt like it, but decided to take it off since the procedure is not till later afternoon. Again, thanks so much for the response and I'll let you know how it goes when I get home.....keep your fingers crossed and sneak in a little prayer too Thanks everyone.
Janie bleeding was very light on and off but lasted a good 3 weeks and seemed to get worse if I did to much so take it easy and no heavy lifting. Try not to worry to much and keep us updated.
Sending a prayer your way.
Spotting after 5 1/2 years 
They thought I was done with all that menopause stuff and would have no worries, (under 40 function of ovaries likley to return, 40 and over most likley not to) I guess I'm gonna be one of the unlucky ones) 
Thanks everyone.
