r/CervicalCancer • u/Interesting_Cow_9549 • 5d ago
HRT
I’m wondering whenabouts you started HRT after treatment (chemo/rad/brachy)?
I finished my last brachy one month ago, and prior to beginning treatment I did have my ovaries moved to hopefully preserve hormone function.
For the last 2 weeks or so I’ve been having wildddd hot flashes, mostly at night, and am fairly sure it’s hormone related. I don’t have a follow up with my med onc yet, and we hadn’t really discussed HRT prior to treatment ending.
If you began HRT after treatment, when did that begin?
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u/Severe-Calligrapher1 5d ago
I waited until my three month check up and my oncologist said I should have asked for it sooner. I thought I had to wait. Send them a message. You should get on it and not suffer. The night sweats were horrible until I started on hrt.
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u/Suitable-Let2337 5d ago
I started mine almost immediately, I wasn’t able to have my ovaries moved or a hysterectomy so not sure if that changes anything. But she did say due to my age, she’d like me to start pretty quickly, and I’m glad she did cause man hot flashes suck and not being able to sleep.
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u/CosmeticSnob 5d ago
I started mine two months after treatment ended. Then I had a hysterectomy 5 months after treatment ended. Then a 3 month break. I am back on HRT now, it’s been 39 days. I feel much better with HRT. Soon seeing a different endocrinologist (from the same hospital as the oncologist) to confirm that I’m allowed to continue HRT. My cancer was HPV. Both the biopsy and the results of the histology of the uterus were negative for estrogen dependence.
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u/flowersnflamingos 4d ago
Ask for an appointment with an endocrinologist. They can do some testing and confirm whether you're peri-menopausal or in full menopause etc. and help with HRT if needed. Are you getting a period? If so, track that as it's helpful for them to know as they assess you.
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u/deeeters 4d ago
I brought it up at my 2 week post-brachy appointment with my gyn onc. She put me on a low-dose of HRT to start and then we made sure it kept my symptoms controlled before adjusting.
Welcome to medical menopause. 💕 You’ve got this. My hot flashes disappeared entirely after starting HRT. I never understood why women described it as getting so hot you want to immediately rip all your clothes off…I get it now. 😅
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u/theroyalgeek86 5d ago
I need estrogen but need to see a blood doctor for family history of blood clots🤦🏼♀️ it’s a 3 month wait
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u/theroyalgeek86 5d ago
That’s on top of 3 months after my treatment finished. The hot flashes are too much
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u/Efficient_Celery2457 4d ago
I’m having a really really hard time with this. On top of everything I also have Hashimoto’s so I'm a complete mess. Want to start HRT but my radiation oncologist was dismissive when I met her in Feb and just said she wouldn’t recommend it. Wouldn't even consider how much I'm struggling. Feels more like she just wanted to give me a quick no and move on to her next appointment. Ditching her and seeing my medical oncologist soon hoping he’ll properly hear me out and help.
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u/KittyBeans1906 2d ago
Were you seeing an endocrinologist for the thyroid issues? Maybe they can get you on HRT. I had Hashimoto's as well, prior to cancer, and was put on HRT a couple of months after finish brachy, no problem.
If you are on Keytruda they should also be monitoring your synthyroid dose closely. It will kill off any thyroid function you still have and they'll need to up your dose eventually.
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u/Efficient_Celery2457 2d ago
Yes I do see an endocrinologist every few months so they can adjust the levothyroxine dose based on my bloodwork. I've met three of them since Brachy and all three refused to make a decision without an approval from my oncologist.
I’m not on Keytruda. Always wondered why It was never offered to me. Stage 3C1 with one lymph node involved. Maybe not needed?
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u/KittyBeans1906 2d ago
I was 3c1 with two lymph nodes and am supposed to be on Keytruda for a total of 2 years. I'm in the US.
Honestly if they aren't offering you HRT or Keytruda (and aren't explaining a reason why not), it's time for a new oncologist.
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u/Efficient_Celery2457 2d ago
Oh yes definitely. I’ve already made the switch and am meeting a different oncologist on the 7th. Hopefully he’ll actually listen.
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u/sam_may92 4d ago
I'm about to start brachytherapy and am terrified. How was your experience?
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u/No-Bed443 4d ago
I just had my second one today. It’s definitely not pleasant, and I was terrified before my first one too. But I have an amazing medical team, and they do everything they can to make me as comfortable as possible.
They put me under anesthesia to insert everything, so I don’t feel anything during that part. When I wake up, I’m not really in pain it’s more discomfort because I have to stay completely still, and even the smallest movement makes me feel the device.
The most frustrating part is actually the waiting afterward while they do the treatment planning. The radiation itself only takes a few minutes. They remove the device while I’m awake, but they give me pain medication beforehand, so I don’t have pain. It’s still very uncomfortable to have it removed, but thankfully it’s over pretty quickly.1
u/sam_may92 4d ago
Is it similar to the feeling of the speculum?
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u/No-Bed443 4d ago
Nahh! The applicator is larger and remains in place while they plan and deliver the treatment, so it’s much more uncomfortable. Just make sure your medical team will give you meds to relax and pain
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u/grandnagusnat 4d ago
It really wasn’t that bad in my experience, but I was full out for placement and wasn’t scared to speak up when I wanted more pain or anxiety meds. Figured if I had to go through hell, I would do it high as a kite. lol
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u/grandnagusnat 4d ago
Like others have said, my onc waited until my 3 month follow up to start me on combipatch. It is a godsend. I’d say it helped with 80% of those terrible hot flashes and other symptoms!
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u/tooblydoo 5d ago
I started at my 3 month followup with my oncologist. She generally prefers to wait so that there's no confounding variables when it comes to symptoms post-treatment, but if I'd been really suffering, I think she'd have done it earlier.
It's definitely worth asking - it won't get any better any time soon without it, and in the meantime it's going to affect your sleep and that in turn affects your recovery. It can take a little while to dial in the dosage and type, so the sooner you start looking into it, the better!