I recently had my usual check ups done – still no sign of recurrence!! We did learn that my ovaries are no longer producing enough estrogen, which is par for the course if I’m honest. My body keeps finding fun ways of surprising me with new things to deal with.
I, not really being super interested in biology at any time during my education, did not know how, and also why, estrogen imperative it is for a woman’s general wellbeing. Without my body producing all the natural goodies it needs, I basically went into early menopause.
The side effects of “menopause” I was experiencing up until now were mainly hot flushes and night sweats. Those were also the only ones I knew of and were starting to get used to, both of which occur intensely and at random. I always wondered: how bad hot flushes could really be? Answer: they suck!
It is the longer term side effects of lack of hormones, however, that are scarier and more surprising. Instead of expecting the bone and cardiovascular issues to start in my 60s and 70s after I would have gone into menopause naturally in during my 50s. The lack of naturally produced hormones could potentially cause those same issues occuring 20 years too early, during my 40s and 50s…
I keep learning about the delicate orbit in which the body operates. One little bump and it goes off course and careening into space.
In addition to the physical side effects there are also bouts of major insomnia that became longer and longer. It was surprising to learn that that was likely also related to the lack of hormones. I was a relief for my sleep deprived mind to know that it was not a result of the sleep regulating part of brain being permanently damaged by treatment or trauma had permanently damaged.
Since my ovaries failed to do their intended job… I am now on hormone replacements to rectify my wonky internal calendar.
Going onto hormone replacements is not as arduous of a journey as I anticipated. A checkup. Some blood tests. A consultation. A doctor’s script. And now I am on my first course of hormones.
Hormone replacement was one of my backburner fears on this tandem ride with cancer. I heard, or more read, some horrible tales of hormone replacement – especially relating to breast cancer. Since I had already had one type of cancer, I was petrified of changing anything thinking it could automatically trigger another type of cancer. I know that isn’t how it works, but cancer is so unpredictable and that is just where my mind goes now. And also I already lost a part of my physical “womanhood”, for lack of a better term, I don’t know if I can handle losing more…
Thankfully, the type of cancer my biology had picked to wrestle with is generally not the type that goes to breast cancer. It doesn’t mean I am magically immune to it, more that the hormone replacement is less likely to cause breast cancer.
Hormone patches specifically. After a good chat with the doc about the options and hearing about the pros and cons of all. I felt at ease that patches were the best starting point.
I’m a little over a month in and so far so good. The hot flushes and night sweats have improved significantly. I am sleeping much better and more consistently, which I am thankful for. I’m hopeful that it will continue on this upward trajectory as my body adjusts and settles.
Shattered Warrior 