periods

Please feel free to read, share your thoughts, your stories and connect with others!
jennyjojjr

periods

Postby jennyjojjr » Thu Nov 10, 2011 11:58 am

I would like to know how many of you had menopause from Folfox. My periods stopped after surgery, then came back 4 months later in the middle of my treatments. Onc. said due to my age 48-I would have permanant menopause.

ckmr233
Posts: 1
Joined: Thu Nov 10, 2011 2:21 pm

Re: periods

Postby ckmr233 » Thu Nov 10, 2011 2:25 pm

I had periods all through treatment and I'm 47.

User avatar
BrownBagger
Posts: 7954
Joined: Fri Jul 24, 2009 2:56 pm
Location: Central NYS

Re: periods

Postby BrownBagger » Thu Nov 10, 2011 2:59 pm

Just as a side note, my testosterone levels plummeted during/after 4 rounds of Xelox. I never had it tested, but all indications pointed to that. So, yes, chemo can mess with your hormones and reproductive metabolism.

It took more than a year for it to come back, too.
Eric, 58
Dx: 3/09, Stage 4 RC
Recurrences: (ongoing, lung, bronchial cavity, ribs)
Major Ops: 6/ RFA: 3 /bronchoscopies: 8
Pelvic radiation: 5 wks. Bronchial radiation—brachytheray: 3 treatments
Chemo Rounds (career):136
Current Chemo Cocktail: Xeloda & Erbitux & Irinotecan biweekly
Current Cocktail; On the Wagon (mostly)
Bicycle miles post-dx 10,477
Motto: Live your life like it's going to be a long one, because it just might, and then you'll be glad you did.

Mona
Posts: 910
Joined: Wed Jan 19, 2011 10:27 am
Facebook Username: maria kucharek
Location: NY

Re: periods

Postby Mona » Thu Nov 10, 2011 3:09 pm

My periods stop because of Folfox. And yes my status is “Early Menopause” at 47. So you are not alone.
At age 46 DX 7/21/10 Stage 4 colon cancer with mets to the liver.
8/10 Folfox 6 tx
11/10 Colon/liver resection 1/29 nodes
12/10 Folfox 6 tx, NED
3/11 chemo done
11/11 recurance liver
12/11 liver resection/Hai pump
01/12-07/12 Fudor/Folfiri

User avatar
thostie
Posts: 149
Joined: Fri Jan 21, 2011 3:06 pm
Location: california

Re: periods

Postby thostie » Thu Nov 10, 2011 3:41 pm

i am 28 and my periods have completely stopped. my oncologist told me it could be permanent or they could come back if i ever get off chemo


Do you all get hot flashes? they are so uncomfortable!!!
Erin 28 year old mom of two
Stage IV diagnosed 11/2/10
Started chemo (folfiri + avastin) 12/2010
lung mets resolved switched to Xeloda + Avastin 10/2011
6/2012 largest liver tumor started growing again more folfiri + avastin

User avatar
Phuong
Posts: 1508
Joined: Mon Jun 14, 2010 10:43 pm
Facebook Username: Phuong Ly Gallagher

Re: periods

Postby Phuong » Thu Nov 10, 2011 4:31 pm

I'm not sure if mine came from chemo or radiation, but it did send me into menopause. I dont' know if it would be permanent or not, but I would think it likely.
Phuong
http://sonofamotherlessgoat.net/
dx'd Stage III Rectal (T3 N1 M0)
Now Stage IV mCRC

Georgie
Posts: 421
Joined: Tue Sep 27, 2011 6:39 pm
Facebook Username: Georgie Adams

Re: periods

Postby Georgie » Thu Nov 10, 2011 4:47 pm

I had ovarian tissue harvested from my right ovary before I started treatment. It is still new technology but the theory is it can be put back in later and I should return to pre-menopausal and 'should' be able to get pregnant one day. Whether or not I can carry a pregnancy is another matter, with 50Gy of RT to my pelvis!

I started RT and chemo in Feb and the last period I had was the week before it all started. Onc thinks its permanent for me, until I have the ovarian tissue put back in.
Nuclear Medicine/PET Tech
Stage 3 T4N1M0 Rectal Ca diag 1/11 at age 29
Clinical trial (chemoradiation) 12 wks incl FOLFOX
Surgery 14 June '11
Post op infection
Iliostomy reversal 12 Sept '11
NED 6 years!
2017 Stage II Breast cancer triple positive
BRCA2 mutation
Bilateral mastectomy, chemo, herceptin

terrimc333
Posts: 38
Joined: Sat Jul 30, 2011 9:08 am
Location: Minneapolis

Re: periods

Postby terrimc333 » Thu Nov 10, 2011 5:17 pm

I was a year into menopause when diagnosed, so no personal info. However a friend of mine that had lung cancer prior to menopause experienced early onset due to chemo.
Terri
Age 58
Stave IV colon cancer with multiple liver mets
Diagnosed July 21, 2011
Avastin and Xeloda since 8-10-11
Oxaliplatin added 11-21-11
L5 Spinal met 1-27-12 - will have radiation for 3 weeks

NWgirl
Posts: 6659
Joined: Sat Feb 02, 2008 3:24 am
Facebook Username: Belle Piazza
Location: Battle Ground, Washington

Re: periods

Postby NWgirl » Thu Nov 10, 2011 5:31 pm

My periods stopped once I had my first surgery (I had surgery BEFORE chemo/radiation). I was 43, almost 44 at the time. I haven't had a period since and it has been 4 years. I was off chemo for about 2 years before starting chemo again this year.

I've never had any real symptoms of menopause other than occasionally I feel a little warm. It's definitely not what I would consider hot flashes.
Belle - "Don't Retreat - Reload"DX 10/07 Stage III Rectal
Surgery 11/07; 27 of 38 nodes
Perm Colostomy 8/11
12/10 recurrence lungs & LN's
VATS Jan 2011
Radiation Oct 2013
Chemo for Life
2012 Colondar Model

User avatar
fritts44
Posts: 534
Joined: Thu Dec 30, 2010 3:04 pm
Facebook Username: Lee Fritts

Re: periods

Postby fritts44 » Thu Nov 10, 2011 7:39 pm

Georgie wrote:I had ovarian tissue harvested from my right ovary before I started treatment. It is still new technology but the theory is it can be put back in later and I should return to pre-menopausal and 'should' be able to get pregnant one day.


That's the coolest thing I've ever heard!! I didn't even realize they could do that!

I became menopausal, but I thought it was due to the radiation rather than the chemo. The radiation oncologist said that if his work didn't do it, the chemo would have. I have an appt next Tues with my Ob/Gyn, who is a holistic guy. He does bio-identical hormones, and the results of all my blood tests will be back before my visit. I'm expecting he'll put me on some type of hormone.

And, yes, Thostsie -- the hot flashes are horrible!! I no longer have my Lorezepam Rx, so I take Tylenol PM. Doesn't help -- the hot flashes still wake me up, then I can never get back to sleep. I'm pretty sure I was addicted to Lorezepam, though, so I don't want to get back on it. (yes I do!!! no, I shouldn't! -- oh crap!)

Lee F.
Lee F
RC dx 12/16/10
resection & perm colo 12/17/10
8 rounds chemo, 28 rounds radiation
finished 8/26/2011
clean scope 9/20/2011
clean CT scan 12/26/2011
NED

jennyjojjr

Re: periods

Postby jennyjojjr » Thu Nov 10, 2011 8:07 pm

Well, evidently this effect is unpredictable. Mine stopped the day of surgery, and returned 2 months ago, even though I'm still on chemo. I never had any hot flashes though. The reason I was concerned is due to osteopenia which of course worsens with menopause.

User avatar
Ashlee H.
Posts: 2435
Joined: Fri Oct 09, 2009 11:50 pm
Location: Southern California

Re: periods

Postby Ashlee H. » Thu Nov 10, 2011 8:23 pm

With my first round of FOLFOX I went into immediate menopause. That was one good thing out of all of this. I didn't have to go through what my friends did with the natural menopause.
Stage IV w/liver met dx 7-1-09
KRAS Mutant
Member of the HIPECKERS (2011) and OLYMPHIANS (2012)
2/14 - standard chemo has stopped working
3/14 - Stivarga
LIVE LIFE!

keepcalmcarryon
Posts: 71
Joined: Tue Aug 24, 2010 11:34 am
Facebook Username: me
Location: philadelphia

Re: periods

Postby keepcalmcarryon » Thu Nov 10, 2011 9:10 pm

I stopped having my period in 2007, when I was 44 and first diagnosed. No symptoms other than the end of periods.
Ok, fast forward to today. My horrible pelvic lymph node decided that squashing my left sciatic nerve, paralyzing my foot and causing all sorts of fun pain, wasn't enough.

Now its crawling along my bladder and uterus, and maybe a node behind my urethra.

The weird and relevant thing is that I now get a fairly heavy period every few weeks that lasts a half day. I'm back on xelox again, no idea if that's a factor.
9/07 t3 n2
exc. biop, Xelox, Rad
06/08 NED
03/09 PET-pelvic LN
06/09 rad tx
10/09 exp.lap; can't find LN
05/10 Stage IV, lung nodes
04/10 Xeliri, Avastin
06/10 PET-lung ok
11/ 10 failed surg ln
02/11 Proton tx
7/11 failed clin. Trial
10/11- xelox

User avatar
thostie
Posts: 149
Joined: Fri Jan 21, 2011 3:06 pm
Location: california

Re: periods

Postby thostie » Thu Nov 10, 2011 11:44 pm

jennyjojjr wrote:Well, evidently this effect is unpredictable. Mine stopped the day of surgery, and returned 2 months ago, even though I'm still on chemo. I never had any hot flashes though. The reason I was concerned is due to osteopenia which of course worsens with menopause.


i also have osteopenia but my onc gave me boniva. are you on a bone builder?
Erin 28 year old mom of two
Stage IV diagnosed 11/2/10
Started chemo (folfiri + avastin) 12/2010
lung mets resolved switched to Xeloda + Avastin 10/2011
6/2012 largest liver tumor started growing again more folfiri + avastin

User avatar
Jen
Posts: 481
Joined: Thu May 22, 2008 10:22 pm

Re: periods

Postby Jen » Fri Nov 11, 2011 12:45 am

I went thru menopause hot flashes and all the symptoms after chemo and radiation...then after 3.5 I began to have a regular period again. Now I get to go through menopause again someday :roll: All the docs told me it would never come back after a year. My theory is I gained enough weight back, wasn't getting hit with chemo anymore...the body is amazing how it tries to heal itself.

edited...oh and I had had my ovaries moved and attached near my kidneys to avoid radiation damage..for three years I thought they died either from the surgery (the blood supply of the stalks are very sensitive) or chemo. So I guess they are operating in their new location...it really throws of radiologists when they see 2 bubbly masses in the wrong spot near metal clips.
2008 March 37th Bday DX :( T3N2M0
3C Rectal Cancer, 5cm tumor, 4/33 nodes positive
28 tx IMRT Radiation, 12 tx Folfox, 1 month Xeloda
5 years NED 3/14/2013!


Return to “Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum”



Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot] and 128 guests