Menstrual cycles after surgery and chemo

VJS1985 11 months ago

1 reply
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Hi There,

I’m stuck and no clinician I’ve spoken with can seem to tell me why this is happening because it sure didn’t happen before I got cancer, had the surgery and then the chemo and the pain and flow only seems to be getting worst.. so my periods for the past say 6 odd years have been regular and only a few days long, yea I got cramps but could control the pain with pain relief but ever since chemo they have gotten a little more heavier and the pain a lot worst which I now can’t seem to control with pain meds, i also intermittently suffer with this dull ache on the right side just above my leg so ovaries area which I have been referred for another abdo and internal scan for but I need to know what has caused these changes, my colorectal nurse was pretty unhelpful and my bariatric team also say it won’t be the weight loss making them worst so I’m stuck dose anyone have any ideas as to why my monthly’s have changed.. no one can seem to help or advise and it’s really getting to me now as it’s not going away.. at my cancer ct scan last year they did find the cyst I had had doubled in size but when ultrasound scanned it had gone, colorectal surgeon said it was a physiological cyst that most menstrating women get and they come and go so was nothing to worry about …

George - Macmillan 10 months ago

Hello VJS1985

Thank you for contacting us at Macmillan regarding the current difficulties you are experiencing with your menstrual cycle, which seem to have occurred since having your CAPOX chemotherapy for bowel cancer. My Name is George, and I’m one of the Cancer Information Nurses on the Macmillan Support line. Unfortunately, we cannot access your NHS records and can only give general information and support. We would always recommend discussing these changes in symptoms with your cancer team or GP, which I know you mentioned you already have and are awaiting an abdominal USS. We always stress that any new, continuing, or worsening symptom must be reported to your care or treatment team immediately.

It can be challenging to know the exact cause of these changes, and these changes could be coincidental in that they began after your cancer treatment, but there are also some reports of similar experiences following CAPOX. Bowel Cancer UK has a thread on their online community explicitly discussing changes similar to yours. There is also another Bowel Cancer UK Community thread where people are explaining their periods restarted after treatment with more associated pain and bleeding than before treatment.

You may be experiencing an unexpected and rarer side effect of your treatment. Still, it’s vitally important that your GP and specialist rule out other possible causes, such as benign cysts and fibroids, which can occur quickly and cause increased pain and bleeding during the menstrual cycle. Your GP may also want to assess your hormone levels in case any changes could be associated with a possible early menopause due to your treatment. We also have further information here.

Bowel Cancer UK may have further information regarding this problem, and they can be called on their general enquiry number (020 7940 1760), or you can write a question to one of their nurses on their Ask a Nurse.

Kind Regards

George

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:GH/UH

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Menstrual cycles after surgery and chemo