Some cancer treatments can cause early menopause as a side effect. This is called ‘treatment-induced menopause’. In this case, menopause may be temporary or permanent. It depends on the type of cancer treatment you had, and other factors.
Some common symptoms of menopause;
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Problems sleeping, such as not being able to fall asleep
- Weight gain
- Vaginal dryness or vaginal itching
- Some loss of bladder control
- More frequent bladder infections
- Mood swings or getting easily irritated
- Problems with memory and concentration
You may have all of these symptoms or only a few. Every woman is different.
Causes
Some surgeries to treat endometrial cancer can cause early menopause in pre-menopausal women. When menopause starts, estrogen levels start to decrease and vaginal dryness and vaginal atrophy (shrinkage) may occur.
Some types of chemotherapy may also cause a sudden loss of estrogen production from the ovaries. The loss of estrogen can cause:
- Shrinking, thinning, and loss of elasticity of the vagina
- Vaginal dryness
- Hot flashes
- Urinary tract infections
- Mood swings
- Fatigue
- Irritability
What you can do
Speak to your oncologist or nurse at your follow-up appointments or call if your appointment is too far away. You can also speak to your family doctor.
