Re: Female CMLers

[Guest guest]

I was wondering if any females have needed hormone replacement therapy since

being dx with CML. I saw a doctor today who doesn't want to put me on

anything because of my history with CML yet being 35 and post hysterectomy, I

suffer from every menopausal symptom. I was wondering if I started HRT maybe I

would feel alive again. I know my Gleevec contributes to my lack of most

things but I believe the menopausal stuff plays into things as well. I had a

complete hysterectomy at age 29.

Has anyone run across this? Does anyone know any studies? Any guidance

would be helpful. I do see my oncologist tomorrow morning and will ask the

question as well.

Thanks for any input.

35

CML 5/13/05

Gleevec 800mg

wife and mother of 3 (11,8,6).

************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I'm convinced that Gleevec effects our hormones even if the doctors

can't be bothered to investigate it. I say this because of all the

complaints we hear regularly of women having problems with their

cycles etc.

I do understand a little bit how how you feel because although I have

all my parts and am only 36, I often experience menopausal symptoms

such as hot flashes and night sweats which is another reason why I'm

convinced that Gleevec effects our hormones.

I'm sorry I can't help you with the HRT question but I would caution

you to be careful due to the risks involved.

Take care,

Tracey

dx Jan 2002

>

> I was wondering if any females have needed hormone replacement

therapy since

> being dx with CML. I saw a doctor today who doesn't want to put

me on

> anything because of my history with CML yet being 35 and post

hysterectomy, I

> suffer from every menopausal symptom. I was wondering if I started

HRT maybe I

> would feel alive again. I know my Gleevec contributes to my lack

of most

> things but I believe the menopausal stuff plays into things as

well. I had a

> complete hysterectomy at age 29.

>

> Has anyone run across this? Does anyone know any studies? Any

guidance

> would be helpful. I do see my oncologist tomorrow morning and

will ask the

> question as well.

> Thanks for any input.

>

> 35

> CML 5/13/05

> Gleevec 800mg

> wife and mother of 3 (11,8,6).

>

>

>

> ************************************** See what's free at

http://www.aol.com.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/26/2007 1:12:09 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

traceyincanada@... writes:

wondering if any females have needed hormone replacement

therapy since

> being dx with CML. I saw a doctor today who doesn't want to put

me on

> anything because of my history with CML yet being 35 and post

hysterectomy, I

> suffer from every menopausal symptom. I was wondering if I started

HRT maybe I

> would feel alive again. I know my Gleevec contributes to my lack

of most

I too suffer from menopausal symptoms. I have a period only twice a year

now, and suffer from sweats terribly. Weight gain also. When I asked about HRT

the oncologist said an emphatic NO. It is too risky for some reason with CML. I

did not press him, because I had heard it before from another doctor, so I

have to live with it and uncomfortably at that.

I did try and take Black Cohosh but was told to stop that too. I don't know

why. It did not really help anyway.

My biggest problem is the weight gain and the terrible sweats. And when I

do get a cycle, which is rare, I bleed profusely for days, and have all sorts

of side effects, strange ones like searing muscle pain or bone pain that is

not normal, or I'll get an infection of some kind, usually a sinus or lung

infection.

Having normal cycles helped my metabolism stay normal, but now it is all

messed up and I have gained too much weight and do not have a clue how to get

rid of it. I exercise and watch my diet but still cannot lose.

I do have a 'cycle' now and lost 5 lbs., so you can see how it is so

important to me that I have menstruation.

I know this post will not help you, just wanted to share with you my own

situation so you can see how it affects someone else. I blame Gleevec for

this,

surely I do. - Lynne A.

************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.

[Guest guest]

I have complained about this for years now. The same symptoms. Cycle

changes, severe PMS symptoms, especially the night sweats. I hate it!

My ONC and my primary did testing and said my hormone levels were a bit

higher than they should be at my age_ now 42!

But finally last year I started getting my period 3 times a month and

demanded a sonogram because they could not do a pap test considering I could

not get a good 10 days without bleeding.

The sonogram did show that I had cyst on my ovaries and my PCP said to leave

it alone. The end of December I got my cycle again and it didn't end until I

went to the gynecologist and I demanded a D & C. I had that done February 14th

and so far so good.

But the other symptoms are still there ladies. Especially the night sweats!

And they always start a week before my cycle.

The good news is that they biopsy the lining of the uterus when the do the

D & C and that came back fine.

Regardless of what Dr's say I believe I have all the menopause symptoms and

I believe its due to CML or Gleevec.

It started about a year after treatment began and my first year was the

interferon and ARC.

Hopefully one day they will think its worth researching further to see why

we women have these same symptoms.

ez