Menopause and ER+ breast cancer

Hi noswad1

I finished Chemo in May and was also suffering from severe night sweats and hot flushes during the day but they stopped again not long after finishing chemo.

I am now starting to experience them again as I have had my ovaries removed and am therefore now technically post menopausal. I have just turned 40 so should have been a good few years away from the menopause but having a hormone receptive cancer I made this decision to hopefully help prevent a recurrence. 

I was advised to take Evening primrose oil to help with symptoms but it does take 3 months or so to take effect so I can’t be sure if it’s helping or not to be honest. Lots of supplements that claim to help with menopausal symptoms are also a natural hormone so you do have to be careful as there just isn’t enough research yet to know if they are safe or not. (Black Kohash) I think it’s called was one I was told to avoid ?!?

Take care 

xx

Hi, 

I have read on here that a small dose of Venlafaxine, an antidepressant, is often used to help with hot flushes.

May be worth asking. 

yvonne xxx

Thanks for the advice both! 

I was told I was post menopausal, although I’d had no symptoms. So I’m on Letrozole which brings hot flushes, night sweats, sore and aching joints etc.

After about 3 months it settled down a bit but I still have aching in my fingers, arm and legs in the morning. My oncologist has given me Adcal D3 vitamins which are for bones, he mentioned Antidepressants helping with menopausal symptoms and sleeplessness but they bring their own side effects so I declined them. 

Wishing you well x