Zolodex menopause

[Toomanyquestions]

Hi all, I’ve had a crazy day today emotionally, I know I’m fairly new to this dx so that obviously doesn’t help. Has anyone else had a forced menopause? How long did it last and did you suffer from mental illness? Thank you x

[Hidden]

Hi again Ellie!

Zoladex and Letrozole put me through a chemical menopause too. I started Zoladex on 16th May last year and Letrozole a fortnight later. My last period was on 30th May and that was it. I had a hot flush on 5th June, followed by a couple of night sweats after that, and that was it.

I have found that my moods are really good. It is nice to not have to worry about PMS every month. I don't have that "hormonal" feeling where my poor husband has to run and hide (OK, it wasn't that bad!) and I am not stuffing my face with chocolate anymore! When I had my last period, I was suddenly saddled with sanitary towels and tampons that I didn't know what to do with. I put them in a bag labelled "free to a good home" hoping some friends might want them, but there were no takers! So if anyone has any ideas on how to repurpose sanitary products, please let me know! (Sorry, I had to inject some humour into my comment!)

As you say, you are still new to your diagnosis, so hopefully things will settle down for you. But if you find that you are having difficulty coping, please let your oncologist, oncology nurses or GP know. They can help you.

Sophie x

[Moon-and-Stars in reply to Hidden]

You’re hilarious Sophie 😂

[Hidden in reply to Moon-and-Stars]

Thank you! I find that humour helps! x

[Toomanyquestions in reply to Hidden]

Please send me some humour vibes. Haven’t laughed in weeks X

[Hidden in reply to Toomanyquestions]

I try to find something to laugh about every day if I can. Just having a laugh with my husband, watching something funny on TV or something like that. You will feel so much better if you can find something humorous to laugh about! x

[Toomanyquestions in reply to Hidden]

Ok will try tomorrow. Thank you Xxx

[Hidden in reply to Toomanyquestions]

It will really help! x

[Rotagirl in reply to Hidden]

I love your posts Sophie, they make me smile.....the best medicine. Fay

[Hidden in reply to Rotagirl]

That's really kind of you to say so, Fay. Thank you!

Sophie ❤

[Have-faith in reply to Rotagirl]

Ditto. Sophie does create smiles here as do many others! Humor is important.

[Moon-and-Stars]

For me, menopausal symptoms began as soon as I started Zoladex (11 months ago approx). My oestrogen production wasn’t sufficiently suppressed so I had both ovaries removed late last year.

I do get lots of hot flushes and night sweats, but it’s fine and have done for 11 months now. They don’t bother me to be honest. My oestrogen levels are now under control and that’s all I care about.

I have never suffered with mental illness or depression and I have never experienced PMS prior to the menopause.

It might not be as bad as you think Ellie. Good luck 🤞🏻

[Toomanyquestions in reply to Moon-and-Stars]

We’re the symptoms of having your ovaries removed better than the Zolodex? Thank you for your reply x

[Moon-and-Stars in reply to Toomanyquestions]

No, they have stayed the same. There hasn’t been any change. But again, it’s all very manageable. I’m sure they will subside . . . eventually 😅

[Toomanyquestions in reply to Moon-and-Stars]

I’m thinking of having mine removed then there is one less drug to give me a side effect. Such a cruel thing to put us through on top of the diagnosis and other medication. I was such a wreck earlier today!

[Moon-and-Stars in reply to Toomanyquestions]

The recovery was relatively quick from the oophorectomy. It’s only a day case so you’re home that evening.

It is cruel, absolutely. This time 14 months ago I was awaiting the arrival of my first child. Then everything went to s**t!! But time is a great healer and I’m really looking forward to the future 😀

[Toomanyquestions in reply to Moon-and-Stars]

Did yours start in pregnancy? I believe mine did. My daughter was 3 by the time they’d figured out what was wrong with me. Such a twist of the knife. Im really struggling right now so I’m glad to hear you are so positive. May I ask where your mets are and if you are on Ibrance? X

[Barbteeth in reply to Toomanyquestions]

My daughter was 2 when I was diagnosed..having babies later in life increases risk of breast cancer..I was 38 when Miranda was born

Barb xx

[Hidden in reply to Barbteeth]

Sorry to butt in, but you should not blame yourselves for having children later on. My mum was 41 when I was born. I tried to pin-point what could have caused my cancer, but my GP said it was a lightning bolt. Sometimes there is no way of knowing exactly how it all started.

[Barbteeth in reply to Hidden]

Hi Sophie

Yes bloody statistics again!!!

Barb xx

[Hidden in reply to Barbteeth]

Hi Barb,

It makes me think of the statistics that say you are more likely to have a disabled child in your 40s. That wasn't the case in my family. Both my older brothers were born with learning disabilities and autism when my parents were in their 30s, but my mum was 41 when I was born and my dad was 36, yet I was not born with any disabilities. So I don't trust statistics!

Sophie ❤

[Moon-and-Stars in reply to Hidden]

I think cancer can be a case of “eeny meeny miny moe”. We are just the unlucky ones.

But look, treatments are improving all the time. In the next few years Ibrance will probably be redundant and there will be even better and more effective medications out there.

[Hidden in reply to Moon-and-Stars]

I agree that treatments keep improving, and so do lifespans. We mustn't give up hope!

Sophie ❤

[Toomanyquestions in reply to Barbteeth]

Wish I had known at the time. I would have gone to doctor sooner X

[Barbteeth in reply to Toomanyquestions]

Hi

I think looking back...most of us think that..no use beating yourself up about it..what’s happened is in the past now and the drugs will sort us out

Barb xx

[Moon-and-Stars in reply to Barbteeth]

Absolutely! Hindsight is a wonderful thing!!

[Hidden in reply to Toomanyquestions]

I used to feel like that too, but going down that road won't change things. We must look ahead and try to do so with confidence.

Sophie ❤

[Moon-and-Stars in reply to Barbteeth]

I was on the pill for 20 years Barb. There is an increased risk of breast cancer with the contraceptive pill too. I’m not saying that was the cause, but it probably didn’t help either.

That must have been so tough Barb. Miranda was only a baby. All kinds of terrible and terrifying things go through your head, I know they did through mine. It’s just so unfair.

[Hidden in reply to Moon-and-Stars]

I was on the pill too, which I don't think helped! But coming off the pill, stopping the vitamin D pills I was taking (which contained soya!) and making other lifestyle changes has made a difference. I now take Adcal D3, but in tablet form and the brand without soya.

Sophie ❤

[Moon-and-Stars in reply to Toomanyquestions]

I’d say it was there a while if I’m honest. It was found accidentally after my appendix burst when the baby was 13 days old.

My mets are in one rib and the liver. The largest tumour in the liver was 9cms when first diagnosed but as of yesterday is now measuring 3cms. I had many many smaller tumours in the liver too but they are now (thankfully) too small to measure.

I’m on my 5th cycle of Ibrance and Letrozole now. I was on Tamoxifen and Zoladex before that. I started Ribociclib during the summer but my oestrogen was too high so I had to stop.

[SoCalLady in reply to Moon-and-Stars]

So, the Ribociclib was not knocking out the estrogen and Onc replaced it with Ibrance/Letrozole? Was Faslodex ever suggested? I am on Ribocliclib/Letrozole 24 cycles and markers have gone up for past 6 months, so Onc wants to switch me to Riboclicib/Faslodex, except it's going to cost me $3,200/mo co-pay. I'm on Medicare and have bone mets. Is there any difference between Ribocliclib and Ibrance?

[Ppppopp in reply to Toomanyquestions]

I completely understand what you are going through.

I was 4 years clear now stage 4.

Have you thought of antidepressants?

They really help me a lot.

[Francesca10 in reply to Ppppopp]

Yes same here. Clean for seven years then stage4. Suspect was there a while.

Antidepressants really do help😘Fran

[Home18 in reply to Toomanyquestions]

I have to say having my ovaries out was a great decision for me, not having a period any longer has been a bright spot atleast.

[Wintervt]

Hi Ellie,

I started on Lupron, which forced me into chemical menopause last year and it was brutal, I was having hot flashes 5 to 6 times a day. Also, I was super emotional, which is not like me at all. It has since tapered off to only one hot flash a day and I feel like my emotions are in check.

xo Jade

[Toomanyquestions in reply to Wintervt]

How long did it take for the worst of it to pass? X

[Wintervt in reply to Toomanyquestions]

A couple of months. I am thinking of getting my ovaries taken out, so that I have one less injection each month.

[Toomanyquestions in reply to Wintervt]

Me too but I’m worried it might make the symptoms worse x

[Barbteeth in reply to Toomanyquestions]

I have acupuncture for hot sweats and so far it’s working

I’m older than you and post menopausal but whatever age it’s the suppression of oestrogen that causes the symptoms of menopause..I’ve slread been through it once fgs

What a life

Barb xx

[Wintervt in reply to Barbteeth]

Barb,

I would like to look into acupuncture for hot flash symptoms.

xo Jade

[Barbteeth in reply to Wintervt]

Hi jade

My oncologist actually suggested it mainly for my pain

However it seems to have sorted the hot flushes/night sweating it not the pain!!.. however it’s earky days and just may take longer

Good luck

Barb xx

[Moon-and-Stars in reply to Barbteeth]

I didn’t know acupuncture would help. I might look into that myself.

[Barbteeth in reply to Moon-and-Stars]

She also puts little poppy seeds on plasters at various points on my body to help other symptoms I.e in my ears to help with stress wrists for nausea and under tummy button for constipation..I just press them when needed..have spares in case they come off in shower etc

Sounds mad but the nausea ones really helped when I started the antidepressants which made me feel sick

Worth trying..nothing ventured etc

Barb xx

[SpongebobMom]

Started letrozole & Zoladex in January of this year. The hot flashes began about 4 weeks in. They are brutal at times. My onc nurse said that it gets better, but will be tough before it gets better. I feel like I hit the proverbial wall the beginning of this month. I catch myself being witchy to people that don't deserve it. Counting to ten *sometimes* helps.

My worst symptoms at the moment is heachades. I don't know if it's from the medicines or my pillow/bed.

[Toomanyquestions in reply to SpongebobMom]

Mines been since November. I keep getting hysterical about the diagnosis. Which I know is bad but my reactions are quite extreme. Then I calm down and feel frightened that I could loose it so badly. It’s quite out of character so I’m thinking it’s menopause. I mainly get hot in the night which is affecting my sleeping badly X

[Jnprsn]

Lupron finally forced me into menopause. The hot flashes felt like someone was lighting my face and neck on fire. Fast forward to now (approximately two years later, age 50) and my hot flashes are still with me though not quite as bad. I cover my pillow with a breathable cover (sometimes even a towel) for night hot flashes. Its easier to throw a towel in the wash than to change my pillow cases daily. When driving, I wear my coat backwards so I can easily remove it if a hot flash strikes. I wear mostly workout wicking clothing because I can't stand to sweat in "regular clothes". My hair is short so the back of my neck doesn't drench my hair. Fans throughout the house so I can turn one on and stand in front of it when a flash hits. In the summer, I have ice packs in the freezer that I can grab and place on my lower back. Lastly, I take Effexor 75 and 37.5.

It seems that I am an extreme case as my hot flashes are usually met with humor or a "duh, I don't know" response from doctors. I hope that yours goes away in time.

[Toomanyquestions in reply to Jnprsn]

Thank you for your reply. Do you find anything helps? Diet? Exercise? Supplements? X

[Jnprsn in reply to Toomanyquestions]

Rick Simpson Oil at night helps tremendously. If you can make it yourself from marijuana, it will ease your anxiety, help you sleep, and keep the major hot flashes away while you sleep.

[Toomanyquestions in reply to Jnprsn]

Do you use the high THC? I’m ER+ so I’m supposed to use a higher CBD ratio. Do you know much about it? I’d love to be brave enough to actually try treating my mets with just RSO. Do you think it hAs made a difference to your condition? Do you take Ibrance with it? X

[Jnprsn]

Yes, I use the high THC found in the Indica strain. I'd love to be brave enough too! One gram a day for two months is hard with 3 teenagers, a husband, and 4 pets. But I do see myself doing the full dose therapy in the future.

I don't know if it has slowed my mets or not. I've been taking the size of 2 rice kernels before bed since I was diagnosed metastatic in 2015.

Ibrance stopped working so I am now on Xeloda, Faslodex, and Xgeva. After mets attacked my pelvis, hip (had a total replacement), and spine, I currently have one small met in my spine.

Pet scan next week.

[Toomanyquestions in reply to Jnprsn]

So you’ve not heard anything about high THC fuelling ER+ then? I was thinking if I did it I’d do a 1:1 CBD:THC X

[Jnprsn in reply to Toomanyquestions]

I have heard that high THC fuels ER+ . On the other hand, Rick Simpson has seen high THC cure. I wish there was an absolute answer on this one.

[Toomanyquestions in reply to Jnprsn]

I know! I’ve done a lot of research and I’m still confused X

[Red71]

I was having horrible hot flashes and night sweats. Changing my nightgown twice a night and sweating through my clothes in the daytime. Since I’m 70, this is my third time through menopause! Once when I actually went through it normally, 8 years ago when I went on Letrozole with my original breast cancer, and this time with my stage 4 diagnosis. This time is the worst of all three and they put me on Effexor to help control the symptoms. I can’t deal with the 75 mg dose that would erase the symptoms completely...it makes me totally spacey. But the 37.5 mg dosage does away with most of the symptoms. It’s an antidepressant but suppressing hot flashes is an off label use. It has made life much more tolerable! Going through it 3 times is 3 times too many in my opinion, but my body didn’t consult with me...obviously!😏

[Toomanyquestions in reply to Red71]

Oh I’m sorry to hear that, I wonder why you’d go through it again when it’s happened already?

[Francesca10]

We still produce estrogen not just from ovaries. I know each situation is different but when I got the mbc diagnosis I asked about oophorectomy. I am 65 now and went through a bad menopause at 50–have been on antidepressants since, just dose increased with mbc. The mbc was found 2+

Years ago. I asked about it because my cancer feeds on estrogen like others er+. Doc said and I looked it up we make estrogen even after menopause. Needless to say I was not thrilled with that answer. When I started faslodex the menopause symptoms came back. I was nuts from it—twice? So the Lexapro was increased and the symptoms are abated. If I get anxious I still get hot flashes so ice, cool cloths,etc. crazy shit this estrogen.

Love

Frances

[Nananewf54]

Went tru menpause for about 15yrs ..now going tru it worst then ever .. Taking Letrozole every day and I sweat so much ..day and nite . Will be 65 this coming Dec.. If God spares me But this forced menpause is terrible. Wish it would go away. Restless sleeps ..nervous stomach and off course nite sweats are crazy But every time I ask my onoligist. They just want give me another pill but I am not taking anything else ..Ibrance and Lertrozile every day p.us my daily meds are enough . ..

[Libra48]

Hi... I’m newly dx as well. I’ve had 2 Lupron shots to put me through chemical menopause and will continue it monthly. I’m on my second week of Ibrance and letrozle. Doctor told me I should not see my period this month. I’ve been moody but I think it’s because I’m mentally exhausted. Still have not accepted my dx fully. Im going to be honest reading so many posts from so many wonderful ladies on this site is helping me stay positive. Thank you!

[Nmartinez15]

Me!!!!! I am 42 and they removed my ovaries in January bc my cancer return this year with metastatic in my spine. My side effects are hot flashes, dryness, tired, moody, pain in my bones and joints but I think letrozole make all this worse. I have memory fog sometimes and talk no sense but my husband said that I always been like that! Lol I am mentally okay with up and down but nothing serious. When I lost hope I read the bible or pray to keep my sanity. I also try to take my daughter out and play with her. Also, for the first time I did a garden with vegetables and herbs. I got a few tomate already. I dont work anymore so I need to do something to keep my mind busy. I actually enjoy see my plants growing every day.