Chemotherapy Treatment for Breast Cancer (cont.)
In this Article
- Introduction
- How is chemotherapy given?
- When is chemotherapy given?
- Can I still work while receiving chemotherapy treatments?
- How will I know if the chemotherapy treatments are working?
- What are the potential side effects of chemotherapy drugs?
- How will chemotherapy affect my menstrual cycle?
- What is menopause?
- How does chemotherapy influence the onset of menopause?
- Will my menstrual flow be different after chemotherapy?
- Will my periods return after chemotherapy?
- Can I get pregnant while I'm receiving chemotherapy?
- What is the safest type of birth control during chemotherapy?
- After I've completed chemotherapy, how long must I wait before trying to get pregnant?
- Are there risks of chromosomal abnormalities or cancer in children conceived after chemotherapy?
- Find a local Oncologist in your town
Will My Menstrual Flow Be Different After Chemotherapy?
Menstrual cycles vary from woman to woman. Some women may experience less frequent cycles than they had prior to chemotherapy. They may skip a period or increase the number of days between periods. Other women may have more frequent periods.
Some women may not experience a change in the length of their menstrual cycles but the flow pattern may be different than it was before treatment (the number of days or amount of flow may diminish or the flow may be heavier). Mixed patterns are also common: some women may have shorter menstrual cycles with heavier bleeding, or infrequent cycles with many days of a very high flow.
Even though periods tend to be irregular around the time of menopause, it is important to be aware of bleeding that is not normal for you. It is very important to call your physician if you ever have very heavy bleeding that is associated with weakness or dizziness.
Will My Periods Return After Chemotherapy?
Many premenopausal women retain or recover ovarian function and their periods return after treatment is completed. Return of ovarian function may depend on the woman's age prior to treatment and the type of medication she received during treatment.
Can I Get Pregnant While I'm Receiving Chemotherapy?
Yes. There is always a chance that you can get pregnant as long as you are menstruating. While on chemotherapy, your menstrual cycle may become irregular. As a result, you may never quite be sure where you are in your menstrual cycle and your period may take you by surprise. Some of your menstrual cycles may be non-egg producing, but you cannot rely on this.
Even if your periods seem to have stopped, you should use a safe and effective method of birth control for at least four to eight weeks after your chemotherapy treatment has ended.
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Source article on WebMD
http://www.medicinenet.com/chemotherapy_treatment_for_breast_cancer/article.htm
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