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Bleeding after menopause with history of breast cancer
I am trying to help a friend as she is actively trying to get answers from her doctor.
She had breast cancer with lumpectomy and radiation a couple of years ago. Since then she stopped her periods - they said she was now in menopause based on her labs and ultrasound last year.
She has now started bleeding irregularly. Went in for an ultrasound and found a 3.5cm complex cyst in her ovary and her endometrial strip is 7mm - which her new gyn said was normal is she is still menstruating. But she was told in the past she was done with that.
So they drew off blood work and her estradiol is 5 and her AMH is .01. Doesn’t this confirm she’s in menopause?
So going back to the ultrasound results, if she is in menopause, this would all be abnormal.
What should the next steps be? Endometrial biopsy? And what about the complex cyst?
She is awaiting her doctor to call with results but she doesn’t want to be poo-pooed. She will find a second opinion if the plan is to do nothing but wait and watch.
With her history of breast cancer, which she pushed for further testing and found, she doesn’t have faith in wait and watching
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I would take any bleeding after menopause seriously. They thought it was hormones for me and I had cervical cancer. I would discuss with Gynecology Oncologist.
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2 Reactions@debdebkrz As @ivanthegsp wrote, I would insist on more diagnostics tests when spotting or bleeding occurs after menopause.
I had spotting after menopause and fortunately for me my gynecologist ordered an ultrasound and then did a hysteroscopy and D&C. It was endometrial cancer. I had a hysterectomy within a two weeks of diagnosis and the result was endometrioid adenocarcinoma, Stage 1a, FIGO 1. The cancer wasn't aggressive but it was caught at a very early stage and I'm thankful my gynecologist pursued the diagnostic testing.
If your friend's doctor still says to wait and watch I'd recommend seeking another opinion.
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2 ReactionsThank you for your responses.
She said if told to just wait and see she will look for second opinion.
The ovary has been very crampy too so adding to her anxiety.
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1 Reaction@debdebkrz What is the age of your friend? I had cramping that felt like menstrual cramps about a month after I noticed the spotting. I was 67-years-old at the time and I'd been menopausal for 10 years. By the time I felt the cramping I was already scheduled for the D&C. As women we know what cramps feel like and we know this isn't normal after menopause. We know our bodies so I hope that your friend will advocate for herself.
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1 ReactionShe is 52. Confirmed menopausal over a year ago. She had been having back pain - so she thought. But it’s more like a radiating pain. Just started spotting end of November and January.
Did they draw a CA-125 for you? With her breast cancer she was wondering about Brca testing too.
Maybe the anxiety talking but wondering if these should be considered to help rule out.
Doctor wants to repeat the ultrasound in 3 months for the “watch and wait” approach. Friend pushed for at least a CA-125 level to be drawn and was told there could be false positives but Dr did order.