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Re: Chemically inducing menopause

From: Katherine (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Mon, 11 Jun 2001 13:30:58 -0500 (CDT)

At Tue, 20 Feb 2001, Ann wrote: >
>At Wed, 31 Jan 2001, Arelis wrote:
>>
>>>From: anonymous@obgyn.net (Kristen)
>>>Reply-To: anonymous@obgyn.net
>>>To: Multiple recipients of list BREAST-HEALTH
>>><anonymous@obgyn.net>
>>>Subject: Re: Chemically inducing menopause
>>>Date: Mon, 29 Jan 2001 16:39:23 -0600
>>>
>>>Hi, Corinne, thank you for responding. I think I was a little too
>>>cryptic in my last message, so I'll try to better explain what I'm
>>>looking for.
>>>
>>>I am 36 years old. I had a lumpectomy in October 2000, followed by
>>>chemo. I began tamoxifen three days ago and will start radiation soon.
>>>
>>>During a visit at Sloan-Kettering for a second opinion, the oncologist
>>>said to me: If you don't begin menopause from the chemotherapy, you may
>>>want to consider chemically inducing menopause. The oncologist said
>>>that there was a "provocative" new study from Europe being published at
>>>the end of the year. It's my understanding that it is an injection
>>>given once every three months. I thought the name was Zolodex, but I'm
>>>not certain.
>>>
>>>I have been exhibiting menopausal symptoms from the chemo --night sweats
>>>and an extremely light period -- so it may be a moot point, but I do
>>>want to read more about it. I'm interested in hearing from women who
>>>have elected this therapy. I'd like to learn more about the side
>>>effects and/or long-term effects. My oncologist said it is not widely
>>>used in the U.S.; that Europe uses more hormonal therapies. I will be
>>>seeing her in three weeks, so I can get more information from her, but I
>>>thought I'd try my luck online.
>>>
>>>Thank you for taking the time to respond. Best wishes to you.
>>>
>>>Kristen
>>>
>>>At Mon, 29 Jan 2001, Coffey, wrote:
>>> >
>>> >Kristen, I have been taking Tamoxifen as follow-up treatment for my
>>>breast
>>> >cancer for the past year. I am 38 years old (pre-menopausal) and had a
>>> >lumpectomy. The side effects I have experienced are: moodiness (which
>>>is
>>> >being treated with Prozac), hot flashes (actually, I'm warm all the
>>>time),
>>> >some weight gain, and irregular menstral cycle. It is not a complete
>>> >menopause, as I still get my period, and must use birth control. I
>>>wasn't
>>> >estrogen-receptor positive, but because of my relatively early age, my
>>> >doctor wanted to follow this treatment.
>>> >
>>> >-----Original Message-----
>>> >From: anonymous@obgyn.net [mailto:anonymous@obgyn.net
Hi! I've been on Zoladex therapy for three months now as an alternative to chemotherapy. I consulted with a specialist in Dallas, Joyce O'Shaughnassy, who has about 15 women on it, before choosing to do this in place of chemo. I'm very happy with the choice. I've had NO negative side effects from the Zoladex, other than a diminished sex drive -- but then, there are other reasons for that! I stopped menstruating, but have had no hot flashes or mood swings. This is unusual, I think, but may be because I started taking Celexa (an anti-depressant that controls side effects) right when I started taking the Zoladex.

The articles you are looking for are titled "Zoladex (Goserelin) As Effective As Standard Chemotherapy in Early Breast Cancer" and "ASCO: Zoladex (goserelin) May Be Effective in Pre-Menopausal Breast Cancer." Both can be found at http://www.docguide.com/news/content.nsf/news. You may have had trouble finding them because only the abstracts are available; the articles have not been published yet. But your oncologist can tell you when they do come out.

I would like to correspond directly with other women who are on Zoladex. As this is a relatively new therapy, maybe we can pool our resources and experiences. I'd love to hear from any other breast cancer patient on, or considering Zoladex.

>>> >Sent: Friday, January 26, 2001 7:09 PM
>>> >To: Multiple recipients of list BREAST-HEALTH
>>> >Subject: Re: Chemically inducing menopause
>>> >
>>> >At Fri, 26 Jan 2001, anonymous@obgyn.net wrote:
>>> >>
>>> >>I'm interested in learning more about a drug used to induce menopause in
>>> >>premenopausal, estrogen-receptor positive women. I thought the name was
>>> >>Zolodex, but my search has only found that that is used for prostate
>>> >cancer.
>>> >>
>>> >>Also, if you are aware of a European study that was to be released at
>>>the
>>> >end
>>> >>of 2000 on the same topic, I'd be very interested to read it.
>>> >>
>>> >>Thanks in advance,
>>> >>
>>> >>Kristen
>>> >
>>> >I realized I didn't include my email address in the prior message, so I
>>> >am just tacking this message onto my original inquiry. Thanks, Kristen.
>>>Hi Kristin,
>I am a breast cancer patient at Yale. I am 40 years old, premenopausal,
>I've had neoadjuvent chemotherapy, a mastectomy in Jan. and will begin
>Tamoxifen soon.I am currently receiving a milder chemotherapy for 5 more
>treatments. In the summer I'll have radiation as well. My oncologist
>also wants me to take Zolodex injections every three months. I'm also
>looking for anyone who has had this treatment. I am supposed to begin
>the Tamoxifen and Zolodex tomorrow! I didn't realize the research was so
>new and only in Europe so far. I have many questions for my doctor
>tomorrow.
>Ann
>>>Hi I have a mastectomy at April 11 1996 my oncologist recomended to me that
>>>I have to eliminate my ovaries and matrix. I,m estrogen-progesterone
>>>positive she induce to me that way a menopause is very hard but that helped
>>>to me too much. Thank a God Im 5 years away from cancer.

--
Katherine

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