Cramps without bleeding, postmenopausal

Hi RedSquirrelsNuts

Thanks for getting in touch with us at the online community. My name is Penelope and I am one of the Cancer Information Nurse Specialists.

I am sorry to hear that you are having regular cramps. You say that your symptoms are almost daily and are unpleasant. With any new, worsening or persistent symptoms we would always suggest speaking to a GP, hospital team or NHS 111. A GP would usually be the first point of contact with symptoms such as these. If you are unable to speak to a GP promptly then please call NHS 111.

There are lots of possible reasons for stomach ache or cramps, but as the linked information from the NHS advises it is important to see a GP if you have stomach pain that will not go away. Please don’t feel that you would be bothering the GP. It is important to get these things checked out.

I hope that you have been coping ok since your breast cancer treatment and with the ongoing exemestane.

If you would like to talk things through further at any point, then please do get in touch with us at the Macmillan Support Line on the number below.

Best wishes

Penelope, Cancer Information Nurse Specialist 

You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or send us an email. 

Ref/ AC

The cramps vary with intensity and how long they last. It definitely isn't stomach or bowel, although my bowel is more active than usual - again, that's how periods used to be.

The aromatase inhibitors make me hurt all over with movement, worse after resting, but it's manageable. I'll follow your advice. Thank you so much.

Hi Penelope,

I mentioned this at an appointment with my oncologist, and she referred me for a t/v u/s. Results came back 2 weeks ago. The polyp is actually a small intramural fibroid 1x1x0.7cm, unchanged since April 22, but now I have thickening of the womb lining in that same area on the fundus only. I'm on the 2WW pathway. It will be 2 weeks on Friday and I've heard nothing. The cramping has been almost constant, worsening, since the beginning of April and now I'm having daily pinky brown discharge as well. I've noticed puffiness around my groin lymph nodes for a while but now they're sore too. Nothing I've read suggests anything other than womb cancer.

I'll be honest, the waiting is really, really hard. If it IS womb cancer, how badly could the delay impact it? Are there cancers which are that aggressive, that can develop in that short a space of time? Should I go private or just gnaw my fingernails off and wait it out? Haha!

Hi RedSquirrelsNuts,

Thanks for getting back in touch.

My name is Carole, and I’m one of the Cancer Information Nurse Specialists on the Macmillan Support Line.

Penelope is one of my colleagues. I’m glad you followed her advice and that the oncologist arranged for you to have tests. Hopefully, you’ll hear soon from the hospital, as waiting to see a specialist can be such a difficult time. It’s common to experience a range of emotions.

It’s only natural to worry about what could be happening while you wait, and to wonder if you’d be better ‘going private’. The best advice we can give is for you to contact the hospital and ask them how soon you’re likely to be seen.

I can see from your first post that you have a breast care nurse. It might be worth contacting them as they should be able to say if an appointment has been made for you, and if it hasn’t, they may be able to arrange for this to happen. They might also be able to say if you are likely to wait for more than the 2 weeks that are recommended when an urgent referral is made.

We’d also recommend you let them know about new or worsening symptoms, including the daily discharge you’re having and pain and puffiness around your groin lymph nodes.

Alternatively, you could speak to the consultant’s secretary, and ask them to let a clinical member of the team know about the change in your symptoms.

I hope this is helpful.

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have further questions.

Sending best wishes,

Carole

Cancer Information Nurse Specialist 

You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or email us. 

Ref/ SC

Thank you so much Carole. I've asked the BCNs before if they have access to the appointments system and they didn't, but those were oncology appointments rather than gynae, so it's worth asking again.

I'll get back to them and update them with the new/worsening symptoms. Of course, having bitten the bullet and typed all that out, today the cramping has been minimal.  

Thank you!