Although I was 10 years older than you (50)when diagnosed and treated I was still going strong with my period. When my oncologist recommended removal of my ovaries since my cancer was also estrogen sensitive I responded with a hearty SIGN ME UP! I saw it as one of the positives of the whole treatment regime and my commitment to fighting the cancer with everything in the arsenal. When my friends started complaining of menopausal symptoms I was happy I had flown through that so quickly. (I had a hot flash that soaked through a leather jacket once.)I'm sorry you're feeling the way you do but a period doesn't define you. Being a warrior committed to seeing your kids to adulthood does. Was my oophorectomy the reason I'm 20 years out? Maybe. I'll never regret seeing my son graduate with honors, marry, and give me a grandson when my original goal was to get him through high school.
I loved this so much, Sandy! I really relate to what you say about menopause, it hasn't been that bad for me and I'm grateful I don't have to deal with years of perimenopause fluctuations. I also feel your last line deeply. I keep telling myself I just need to get my kids to 18 - I haven't allowed myself to imagine I may still be here to meet my future grandchildren! Thank you for sharing your wisdom so generously in this comment, it really gives me hope.
It’s so hard to say goodbye to parts of you that you didn’t know you had to be forced to. I feel this. We moved into our new house this past week and prior to that I packed up the bathroom storage and medicine cabinet. I had saved a box of tampons (which surprisingly hadn’t expired) for “someday”, but that someday never came. I cried. I never thought I’d say that I miss my period. Seeing that box of tampons made me long to have it again and sad knowing that cancer took that from me, too. Cancer takes and it takes. Like you, the control is ours to take back. Thank you for sharing your heart and putting it into words so beautifully. Hugs! 💜
I had a total hysterectomy + BSO in Nov 2025, at the age of 40, after a breast cancer diagnosis and 11 months of various treatments/surgeries. Just yesterday I was walking through a store and walked past all the pads and tampons and I thought, "wow, I'll never need to buy those again". It was a strange feeling and a momentary existential crisis before moving on with my day. It's nice to not feel alone in this, but I hate that we have to be here together.
Who would've thought the tampon and pad aisle could carry so much emotional weight??😅 It sounds like we've been on a similar journey. I hope you get some respite now that the hysterectomy is done. I'm now gearing up for reconstruction.
It's so true that I never thought it would carry that weight! We seem to be in a similar stage for sure. I have temp expanders and am gearing up for exchange surgery - hopefully sometime in May. Wishing you the best with your reconstruction. 💕
I’ll be 37 next month. In February I was diagnosed with breast cancer and am facing the same — early menopause and saying goodbye to the highs and lows of my cycle, which I so dearly love and use to anchor myself in life. Thank you for writing this.
I'm so sorry you're starting this journey, Catherine. Feel free to DM me with any questions etc. Those first few weeks after diagnosis are so intense. I'm thinking of you 💗
I am SO glad you wrote this. I had to have a hysterectomy back in last October. I cried so hard a few times, realizing there were pieces of me I'd never get back. My period being one of those pieces.
I went to the store last week and shed some tears over not needing pads any more. In March. And here I was, thinking I was stupid and silly for crying over something mostly everyone else hates.
I'm so glad this helped you feel less alone, Courtney. It's not stupid or silly at all. Our period represents so much, it makes sense we'd grieve it when it's gone. I hope you're doing ok after your hysterectomy, that's a big surgery, physically and emotionally💛
Alison, you and your many fellow cancer survivors have been through the hardest, most horrendous battle imaginable: losing parts of yourself, one by one, both physically and emotionally. I think of it all the time, wishing I could take the pain away. I know it is hard in the midst of this to see any good in it all. But you are so fortunate to have two beautiful children who look to you as a hero for the strength and resilience you've shown. You have done everything possible to be hopeful about your longevity, and as another commenter said, being a warrior to see your kids to adulthood is what defines you. Your invincible spirit that is changeless and greater than the challenges of an ever changing body.
"I’m adrift, no longer in sync with the moon’s expansion and contraction."
Thank you for writing this. Another BC survivor (?) here and this last sentence touched me. This is exactly how I feel. Thank you for putting it into words. ❤️
Although I was 10 years older than you (50)when diagnosed and treated I was still going strong with my period. When my oncologist recommended removal of my ovaries since my cancer was also estrogen sensitive I responded with a hearty SIGN ME UP! I saw it as one of the positives of the whole treatment regime and my commitment to fighting the cancer with everything in the arsenal. When my friends started complaining of menopausal symptoms I was happy I had flown through that so quickly. (I had a hot flash that soaked through a leather jacket once.)I'm sorry you're feeling the way you do but a period doesn't define you. Being a warrior committed to seeing your kids to adulthood does. Was my oophorectomy the reason I'm 20 years out? Maybe. I'll never regret seeing my son graduate with honors, marry, and give me a grandson when my original goal was to get him through high school.
I loved this so much, Sandy! I really relate to what you say about menopause, it hasn't been that bad for me and I'm grateful I don't have to deal with years of perimenopause fluctuations. I also feel your last line deeply. I keep telling myself I just need to get my kids to 18 - I haven't allowed myself to imagine I may still be here to meet my future grandchildren! Thank you for sharing your wisdom so generously in this comment, it really gives me hope.
It’s so hard to say goodbye to parts of you that you didn’t know you had to be forced to. I feel this. We moved into our new house this past week and prior to that I packed up the bathroom storage and medicine cabinet. I had saved a box of tampons (which surprisingly hadn’t expired) for “someday”, but that someday never came. I cried. I never thought I’d say that I miss my period. Seeing that box of tampons made me long to have it again and sad knowing that cancer took that from me, too. Cancer takes and it takes. Like you, the control is ours to take back. Thank you for sharing your heart and putting it into words so beautifully. Hugs! 💜
This was so beautiful, Jenn! It helps knowing we aren't alone in this, and that there are so many of us navigating these same feelings of loss💗
I had a total hysterectomy + BSO in Nov 2025, at the age of 40, after a breast cancer diagnosis and 11 months of various treatments/surgeries. Just yesterday I was walking through a store and walked past all the pads and tampons and I thought, "wow, I'll never need to buy those again". It was a strange feeling and a momentary existential crisis before moving on with my day. It's nice to not feel alone in this, but I hate that we have to be here together.
Who would've thought the tampon and pad aisle could carry so much emotional weight??😅 It sounds like we've been on a similar journey. I hope you get some respite now that the hysterectomy is done. I'm now gearing up for reconstruction.
It's so true that I never thought it would carry that weight! We seem to be in a similar stage for sure. I have temp expanders and am gearing up for exchange surgery - hopefully sometime in May. Wishing you the best with your reconstruction. 💕
I’ll be 37 next month. In February I was diagnosed with breast cancer and am facing the same — early menopause and saying goodbye to the highs and lows of my cycle, which I so dearly love and use to anchor myself in life. Thank you for writing this.
I'm so sorry you're starting this journey, Catherine. Feel free to DM me with any questions etc. Those first few weeks after diagnosis are so intense. I'm thinking of you 💗
Thank you, @Alison
I am SO glad you wrote this. I had to have a hysterectomy back in last October. I cried so hard a few times, realizing there were pieces of me I'd never get back. My period being one of those pieces.
I went to the store last week and shed some tears over not needing pads any more. In March. And here I was, thinking I was stupid and silly for crying over something mostly everyone else hates.
Thank you!
I'm so glad this helped you feel less alone, Courtney. It's not stupid or silly at all. Our period represents so much, it makes sense we'd grieve it when it's gone. I hope you're doing ok after your hysterectomy, that's a big surgery, physically and emotionally💛
Alison, you and your many fellow cancer survivors have been through the hardest, most horrendous battle imaginable: losing parts of yourself, one by one, both physically and emotionally. I think of it all the time, wishing I could take the pain away. I know it is hard in the midst of this to see any good in it all. But you are so fortunate to have two beautiful children who look to you as a hero for the strength and resilience you've shown. You have done everything possible to be hopeful about your longevity, and as another commenter said, being a warrior to see your kids to adulthood is what defines you. Your invincible spirit that is changeless and greater than the challenges of an ever changing body.
"I’m adrift, no longer in sync with the moon’s expansion and contraction."
Thank you for writing this. Another BC survivor (?) here and this last sentence touched me. This is exactly how I feel. Thank you for putting it into words. ❤️