As my cancer was horemone receptive (ER & PR), I’m on a three monthly Zoladex injection which is prescribed by my oncologist and administered by a nurse at my local GP. With all my medications, I’ve tried to track changes and side effects so that I can manage them better, but I’ve found it really hard to measure a side effect on something you have only four times a year.
In essence, Zoladex puts me into the menopause as it blocks my ovaries from making oestrogen. So there are some obvious side effects that come along with that, same as any woman who naturally goes through “the change”.
Side note: Horemone receptive means that it grew with the oestrogen (ER) or progesterone (PR) in my body. You can read more about Zoladex and the side effects here.
Menstrual Cycle
Don’t get it at all. No periods, no cramping, no monthly cycle, nada.
Hot Flushes
The best way I can describe hot flushes is that my body feels hot from the inside out. When it’s cool outside or cold, this isn’t always unpleasant, but when it’s hot, it feels like I’m in a sauna. If you have ever felt the hot flush of embarrasment rush through your body or through anger, it’s like that, but sustained. These don’t feel brilliant if they happen at night and can keep me awake. They also tend to wake up my partner as he wakes up boiling as I’ve thrown the covers over him as I’ve slept.
Weight
I’ve been tracking weight more for this last round of Zoladex, and I’ve discovered that, similar to my previous monthly cycle, there seems to be weight gain in the couple of weeks leading up to it. You can see the drop on this graph. I had my injection on the 23rd – I lost nearly 1kg overnight.
Insomnia
This isn’t a stranger to me either – I’ve had insomnia since my pregnancy, on and off. I will just lie awake at night, physically exhausted, but the chatter in my head just won’t stop. At it’s worst, all the monkeys with cancer worries parade on through for hours. At it’s best, I can drift off whilst listening to a podcast or audiobook.
Low Mood
This is the worst symptom of all for me. I get a real dip in my mood about 2 weeks before I’m due the injection. I’ve been prone to episodes of low mood or mild depression before, this is something similar. The fatigue hits, the worry, the negative thoughts and just the complete lack of enthusiasm or interest in anything. I really try and practice self care and compassion during this time, but it can be really hard, particularly if there’s other “life stress” going on at the same time. The knowledge that it’s a temporary phase helps me get through it.
I’ve debated having an oopherectomy (ovaries out) with my oncologist to avoid having these injections. There’s no massive benefit either way, according to him, and apparently I’m still “a spring chicken” and my monthly cycles may yet return when I’m finally off this. I’ve been on it nearly a year now, so 9 years left to go before I get a chance to either get used to monthly cycles again, or go through the menopause for the second time.
Oh, the joys!
Life After Cancer 