Hi. I am currently recovering from a lumpectomy following a breast cancer (ER+ and HER-). While still awaiting results following the op, I believe I will soon be put on hormone treatment. Does this mean I will enter menopause immediately on taking medication? Or will it be a gradual change? I am still of child bearing age and want to know if I need to consider contraception alongside any hormone treatment.
Hi LMCN ,
My name is Keith and I’m one of the Cancer Information Nurse Specialist
Welcome to the online community, I can see you have already joined several of our forums.
With any cancer diagnosis or treatment it can affect everyone differently .
Hormone dependant breast cancers are usually commenced on hormone therapy at some point during their treatment.
Hormonal therapy reduces the amount of oestrogen in the body or stops oestrogen attaching to cancer cells. It only works for breast cancer that is oestrogen receptor positive (ER positive). Hormonal therapy is also called endocrine therapy.
You mentioned you are still awaiting further results after your operation. Every situation is different and considering your age and menopausal status different options may be available to you.
As you have not been through the menopause, your consultant may recommend 1 of the following drugs , tamoxifen goserelin or leuprorelin. However other options may also be available.
This is where the multidisciplinary team looking after you would look at your individual situation and advise accordingly.
All of these drug’s roles are to reduce levels of the hormone oestrogen. It can also have the negative effect of causing side effect such as hormonal type symptoms.
As you are premenopausal treatment such as chemotherapy and hormone therapy can cause hormonal symptoms or can cause you to go into early menopause.
Even if during your treatment you stop having periods and experience hormonal type symptoms you may still be fertile, as your ovaries may or may not have completely stopped working. For this reason, we would always advise discussing this possibility with your clinical team They may discuss fertility /menopausal status with you and in some situations advise having some blood tests to check your menopausal status during treatment.
Regarding any cancer diagnosis/treatment including breast cancer contraception is always advised both during and after active treatment for a period time to prevent any possibility of pregnancy. With breast cancer they may suggest barrier methods such as condoms /diaphragms or caps that don’t contain any hormones.
Looking at this further information on sex life and fertility after treatment for breast cancer may be helpful.
If you’d like further explanation or have any other questions, please feel free to recontact us. By giving us a give us a call or contact us via our web chat platform.
take care.
Keith, 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 KM/KE
