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Interferon-induced menopause
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Interferon-induced menopause

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Interferon-induced menopause

  • Post
    • May 10, 2016 at 7:50 pm
    karinaaa
    Participant

      Diagnosed with melanoma in 2015, interferon knocked out my liver (enzymes up past 1200 after a week on high dose, should be 300 max) and I received no further treatment. An ultrasound for an unrelated issue revealed that one of my ovaries is looking worn out and my reproductive system looks "normal for a premenopausal woman". Thing is, I'm 21. I'm pretty sure interferon had something to do with this since I've been having some subtle-but-new signs of something hormonal going on post-chemo, and I can't think of anything else to explain this. High doses can induce menopause after all, and after everything my liver went through, it's conceivable that its ability to break down and remove excess estrogen was impaired, which led to estrogen buildup and ovarian damage (among other symptoms I actually noticed before the ultrasound, that could be attributed to high estrogen levels). So… am I completely off track here? Think it's possible?

    Viewing 8 reply threads
    • Replies
        • May 10, 2016 at 9:23 pm
        Julie in SoCal
        Participant

          Hi Katrina,

          I don't know if you're off track, but  I had a month of HD INF and it put me into insta-menapause.  It also did a doozy on my liver.  The menapause wasn't too bad, or shocking though as I was 46 at the time. 

          I do know if took me a very long time to recover from HD INF. 

          Just adding my experience. 

          Hope you can get this straightened out with your dr.

          Shalom,

          Julie

            • May 14, 2016 at 2:35 am
            karinaaa
            Participant

              If you don't mind elaborating, what was your HD-INF recovery like? How long did it take, what long-lasting symptoms did you have? What's a "very long time" to you?

              I'm still dealing with fatigue and chemo brain, it comes and goes. It's only been a year, though (but given that I was only on it for 5 doses, a year still seems excessive). 

              • May 14, 2016 at 2:35 am
              karinaaa
              Participant

                If you don't mind elaborating, what was your HD-INF recovery like? How long did it take, what long-lasting symptoms did you have? What's a "very long time" to you?

                I'm still dealing with fatigue and chemo brain, it comes and goes. It's only been a year, though (but given that I was only on it for 5 doses, a year still seems excessive). 

                • May 14, 2016 at 2:35 am
                karinaaa
                Participant

                  If you don't mind elaborating, what was your HD-INF recovery like? How long did it take, what long-lasting symptoms did you have? What's a "very long time" to you?

                  I'm still dealing with fatigue and chemo brain, it comes and goes. It's only been a year, though (but given that I was only on it for 5 doses, a year still seems excessive). 

                • May 10, 2016 at 9:23 pm
                Julie in SoCal
                Participant

                  Hi Katrina,

                  I don't know if you're off track, but  I had a month of HD INF and it put me into insta-menapause.  It also did a doozy on my liver.  The menapause wasn't too bad, or shocking though as I was 46 at the time. 

                  I do know if took me a very long time to recover from HD INF. 

                  Just adding my experience. 

                  Hope you can get this straightened out with your dr.

                  Shalom,

                  Julie

                  • May 10, 2016 at 9:23 pm
                  Julie in SoCal
                  Participant

                    Hi Katrina,

                    I don't know if you're off track, but  I had a month of HD INF and it put me into insta-menapause.  It also did a doozy on my liver.  The menapause wasn't too bad, or shocking though as I was 46 at the time. 

                    I do know if took me a very long time to recover from HD INF. 

                    Just adding my experience. 

                    Hope you can get this straightened out with your dr.

                    Shalom,

                    Julie

                    • May 11, 2016 at 1:27 pm
                    WithinMySkin
                    Participant
                      I would say this is totally possible. For the 3 months I was on peginterferon (Sylatron) I didn’t have my period (I’m 32). The NP and onc both said I was guaranteed to have hormone/menstrual changes, and lo and behold I did. Im not sure if its liver related or overies/uterus reacting to the drug. Talk to your oncology team about it and let them know what’s up. Hopefully they can work with your OB/GYN to get you back on track!
                        • May 14, 2016 at 2:31 am
                        karinaaa
                        Participant

                          So in your case menstruation came back, right? I'm still menstruating but the reproductive system looks older, and it's been acting a little strange lately. Anyway, thanks for the suggestion – I'll definitely get some more tests done, see an ob/gyn, etc.

                          • May 14, 2016 at 2:31 am
                          karinaaa
                          Participant

                            So in your case menstruation came back, right? I'm still menstruating but the reproductive system looks older, and it's been acting a little strange lately. Anyway, thanks for the suggestion – I'll definitely get some more tests done, see an ob/gyn, etc.

                            • May 14, 2016 at 2:31 am
                            karinaaa
                            Participant

                              So in your case menstruation came back, right? I'm still menstruating but the reproductive system looks older, and it's been acting a little strange lately. Anyway, thanks for the suggestion – I'll definitely get some more tests done, see an ob/gyn, etc.

                            • May 11, 2016 at 1:27 pm
                            WithinMySkin
                            Participant
                              I would say this is totally possible. For the 3 months I was on peginterferon (Sylatron) I didn’t have my period (I’m 32). The NP and onc both said I was guaranteed to have hormone/menstrual changes, and lo and behold I did. Im not sure if its liver related or overies/uterus reacting to the drug. Talk to your oncology team about it and let them know what’s up. Hopefully they can work with your OB/GYN to get you back on track!
                              • May 11, 2016 at 1:27 pm
                              WithinMySkin
                              Participant
                                I would say this is totally possible. For the 3 months I was on peginterferon (Sylatron) I didn’t have my period (I’m 32). The NP and onc both said I was guaranteed to have hormone/menstrual changes, and lo and behold I did. Im not sure if its liver related or overies/uterus reacting to the drug. Talk to your oncology team about it and let them know what’s up. Hopefully they can work with your OB/GYN to get you back on track!
                                • May 11, 2016 at 4:08 pm
                                Gwen in Maine
                                Participant

                                  I did the 1 month of HD interferon/11 months LD when I was 49. I went into menopause instantly, it seemed. I didn't have any of the usual menopause symptoms but it was surprising. I also didn't have any unusual liver problems as a result of the treatment but in your case, it probably didn't help.

                                  Gwen

                                  • May 11, 2016 at 4:08 pm
                                  Gwen in Maine
                                  Participant

                                    I did the 1 month of HD interferon/11 months LD when I was 49. I went into menopause instantly, it seemed. I didn't have any of the usual menopause symptoms but it was surprising. I also didn't have any unusual liver problems as a result of the treatment but in your case, it probably didn't help.

                                    Gwen

                                    • May 11, 2016 at 4:08 pm
                                    Gwen in Maine
                                    Participant

                                      I did the 1 month of HD interferon/11 months LD when I was 49. I went into menopause instantly, it seemed. I didn't have any of the usual menopause symptoms but it was surprising. I also didn't have any unusual liver problems as a result of the treatment but in your case, it probably didn't help.

                                      Gwen

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