Treatments for menopause with lung cancer

[Kajamite]

Hello everyone. I haven't posted on Mumsnet in a while but looking for some advice.

My mum has EGFR positive lung cancer and has been taking afatinib for about a year. She's also unfortunately hitting menopause at the same time, and can't take any kind of HRT as that'll feed the cancer.

The biggest problem she's having is the bleeding. It's ridiculously heavy! She uses super plus extra tampons along with a super pad, and still ends up leaking all over the show within the hour. She also describes wearing the tampons as being like having broken glass in there and it's excruciating to take it out. She still works full time and this is a nightmare for her when she's at work. She's tried reusable pads and maternity pads and it's the same result.

Obviously she's at her wits' end with it! Is there anything at all she can do to lighten the bleeding? Hopefully it won't last much longer! She's 50 if that helps :) Thanks!

Oh your poor Mum, I would suggest getting this moved to the menopause topic. Just report your post to MN. The report button is at the bottom of your post. Lots of knowledgeable posters on there. I hope the New Year is good to you and your Mum.

Ohhh I'll do that, thank you!

So sorry to hear about your mum.

Can I ask who has told her she can't use HRT? Many women with some cancers can use HRT (the main exception of course being breast cancer.)

Ideally, your mum needs a mixed team of specialists to discuss this.
For instance, she may be able to use the Mirena coil which is the treatment for heavy bleeding. It does contain progestogen which is a hormone.

This is a question for her team who are looking after her now.

She says it was her oncologist that told her she couldn't have any hormonal treatment. Asking about the Mirena coil might be an idea though! If a tampon is really painful would the coil be okay? (Clearly I've never had one!)

I would ask her to speak with her nurse specialist. They tend to have more practical hands on knowing. Could the non hormonal coil be an option?

Speak to her oncologist would TXA be an option? Maybe not with the clot risk from the cancer. Would they be able to do a hysterectomy.

I'd want more info about why she can't have hormonal treatments because if her own hormones added a risk, surely they'd be giving her treatment (like removing her ovaries or giving anti-hormonal injections to put her into chemical menopause?)

Most modern HRT is identical to our own hormones.

But HRT won't deal with heavy bleeding anyway. It could make it worse.

The ordinary coil isn't an answer as it often causes heavy periods and it's only used for birth control.

@Kajamite The Mirena is nothing like a tampon :)

@Kajamite Has your mum thought about phoning Macmillan for advice? Or using their website where there are chat groups for people with the same cancers? Or there may be a Facebook group.

Sometimes, drs differ in their opinions and if she talks to other women her age with the same cancer, they might have some suggestions.

How is your mum, @Kajamite ?
Did she find anyway to reduce her symptoms ?