Xiugiami wrote: << Is this menopause? The only thing I can relate menopause to
is yesterdays
mood swings; a couple of outbursts of anger, and a few crying spells. What's
going on? Any ideas?>>

Hi, sorry but don't have any ideas about what is going on.  One usually goes
into at least chemopause with treatment.  I had AC rather than  FAC.  I wonder
if it might have something to do with the dosage...do you know how nuch 'A' you
are getting?  Will you be having the maximum dose divided into 6 cycles?
I am guessing your oncologist is telling you that you shouldn't be concerned
before completion of chemo.  I have heard of women experiencing cyclical
bleeding from fibroids.  I don't know alot about that although think that would
not involve ovaries but would be estrogen related?  If you continue to have
periods after completion of treatment, your oncologist may recommend an LHRH
agent which shuts down the overies (such as Zoladex, Lupron, goserilin
(spelling?) and/or removal of ovaries.
If you are not comfortable with your oncologist's response you might want to
consult either an ob-gyn and/or another oncologist for a second opinion.  Take
care and hope that you are experiencing minimal discomfort.

Yes, this can happen with natural menopause. A lot of unusual things can
start happening: frequent periods lasting longer than normal, no periods
for two months or so, then starting again, etc. This started happening
to me at around 42. After awhile I went to a gyne who completely
dismissed menopause because I was 'too young'. He said to come back when
I was 50. I never went back to him.  Instead, I went to the bookstore
and bought a couple of paperbacks on women's health and aging. I got
most of my questions answered from these books. When I started with the
hot flashes at 47 (periods ended for good at about 45) I chose a women
doc. who immedately put me on HRT because that was standard then. I was
on HRT for about 9 yrs until microcalicifications were found on a mammo.
Then I was advised to stop the HRT cold turkey. It sure was great stuff,
tho --

My guess is that you are starting menopause (with or without the chemo)
and it may be several years before you are on the other side of it. I'm
not sure what helps with this now, but I think that some docs are still
prescribing HRT for the short-time, but I would wait until you're
getting the hot flashes which may not happen for several years.

Kathie