1. < Breast Cancer

When you have hormone positive breast cancer, how to manage menopause?

Posted by sue417 @sue417, Apr 10 8:49am

Hi
I just finished breast cancer surgery and radiation I was taken off my HRT last October. I am 65 I have major menopause symptoms and wondered what women do that have had a breast cancer and are not allowed to take estrogen to get through this phase of life. I cannot sleep because of the hot flashes all night and now I have to start tamoxifen 5 mg which I'm hoping does not increase my night sweats I miss my estrogen/Progesterone and I'm at a loss. Is there anything you can take to help I just feel ill all the time. Anyone else have this kind of experience. I was on bioidentical hormones my cancer is estrogen progesterone positive HRT negative. My oncologist did put me on vagifem thank god for my bladder issues

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sue417 | @sue417 | Jun 10 12:05pm
In reply to @windyshores "@sue417 I had osteoporosis, pretty severe, and 3 spinal fractures when I went on letrozole. Most..." + (show)
@windyshores

@sue417 I had osteoporosis, pretty severe, and 3 spinal fractures when I went on letrozole. Most patients also go on Reclast but my doctor did not want to do that due to my afib (a risk that has since been debunked). I did letrozole for 5 years. Then Tymlos restored my bone density to a level better than before cancer treatment.

Some people with osteoporosis do tamoxifen, which doesn't affect bones and SERMS like that may help to maintain density at least.

I wonder why your friend's rib cage is collapsing on an aromatase inhibitor. Is she not on Reclast?

Tinnitus comes from the brain. I wonder why HRT helped. I am curious. I thought I would go crazy with new tinnitus a few years ago but my brain had adapted. Hope that helps you too.

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I already do reclast. Tamoxifen for 6 days was a nightmare my tinnitus went off the chart severe fatigue the headache was insane . I almost blacked out driving. My cancer was stage 0. I know lots of women that got tinnitus in menopause. It's collapsing because the kwtrozolw has given her severe osteoporosis, she has the fatigue brain fog etc

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Sue Ellen Murrey | @semurrey | Jun 11 9:01am
In reply to @windyshores "I was not on HRT but the aromatase inhibitors cause super menopause, even for those of..." + (show)
@windyshores

I was not on HRT but the aromatase inhibitors cause super menopause, even for those of us who had gotten through actual menopause. In my experience things eased up over time (months) but I realize that is not true for everyone. A naturopath recently suggested I take CBD and Curcumin for other ailments and I wonder if either would help. It sounds like a naturopath or functional medicine doctor could help. I personally felt committed to the full course of aromatase inhibitors but I was not coming off long term HRT which would mean a double whammy for you.

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Hi - just wondering about Curcumin as I read that Tumeric has estrogen like properties and told I should no longer take??

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1 reply
seathink | @seathink | Jun 11 9:40am

Posting to follow. I had triple NEGATIVE BC, and have not found anyone who will let me near HRT, even though the cancer I had is not tied to any hormone. I am 42 and perimenopause, wondering what other people have done homeopathic-wise.

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2 replies
sue417 | @sue417 | Jun 11 12:05pm
In reply to @seathink "Posting to follow. I had triple NEGATIVE BC, and have not found anyone who will let..." + (show)
@seathink

Posting to follow. I had triple NEGATIVE BC, and have not found anyone who will let me near HRT, even though the cancer I had is not tied to any hormone. I am 42 and perimenopause, wondering what other people have done homeopathic-wise.

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Hi
Probably the best idea is to see a naturopath because they can test to see what upurbody responds to

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windyshores | @windyshores | Jun 11 8:19pm
In reply to @semurrey "Hi - just wondering about Curcumin as I read that Tumeric has estrogen like properties and..." + (show)
@semurrey

Hi - just wondering about Curcumin as I read that Tumeric has estrogen like properties and told I should no longer take??

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@semurray thanks for that info on Turmeric. I need to look into that. I have not taken much for any period of time. Did your doctor tell you not to take it?

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Sue Ellen Murrey | @semurrey | Jun 12 8:37am

My oncologist's NP mentioned to me that is has estrogen like properties - I will look for support!

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sedonadreaming | @sedonadreaming | Jun 12 8:18pm

My body spontaneously threw me into post-menopausal status at 28 years of age for no good reason whatsoever. I feel 100% for all of you suffering. It is truly miserable being thrown into the symptoms of "the change". It's a change alright.

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Rom828 | @jgallagher04921 | Jun 13 7:46pm

I was put on Effexor to help w hot flashes. They were keeping me up all night. I still have to take something to help me fall sleep, but I dont wake up as much from hot flashes. Good luck!!

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1 reply
sue417 | @sue417 | Jun 13 8:40pm
In reply to @jgallagher04921 "I was put on Effexor to help w hot flashes. They were keeping me up all..." + (show)
@jgallagher04921

I was put on Effexor to help w hot flashes. They were keeping me up all night. I still have to take something to help me fall sleep, but I dont wake up as much from hot flashes. Good luck!!

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Hi
They offered me that but no thanks. I went to my naturopath and she put me on drops to balance my hormones and 5htp is for sleep and mood much more natural

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1 reply
Rom828 | @jgallagher04921 | Jun 14 4:40am
In reply to @sue417 "Hi They offered me that but no thanks. I went to my naturopath and she put..." + (show)
@sue417

Hi
They offered me that but no thanks. I went to my naturopath and she put me on drops to balance my hormones and 5htp is for sleep and mood much more natural

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At first I said no because I didn't want to be on antidepressant and the AI I started w was Anastrozole. I felt terrible on that and was so emotional. So dr switchdd me to Exemestane and i agreed to the Effexor. My emotions felt better within 2 days. I think I was starting to feel depression but i didnt want to admit it or be on an antidepressant.
Now i realize that if i have to live w " a new" me i have to do things i may not like to do but have to do to get through each day. I try to stay positive but I tell my husband often thst I hate the new me. I'm only 44 and have no sex drive. This journey is hard. I wish everyone the best.

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