Tamoxifen & menstrual cycle

Hi again everyone,
I have been on tamoxifen for 2.5 years now following lumpectomy, chemo & radiation. I had not had a period for a year, but got one two weeks ago. I'm 46 and my gyn. wants to do an ultrasound to see if my endometrium is thickened.

I'm just wondering how often this happens with women on Tamoxifen, that they get a period after they thought they were in menopause. I am rather confused as to whether I *am* in menopause, which would make what I had "irregular bleeding" instead of a plain old period.

I did notice that 2 wks. before I got the period I felt like I was ovulating. I thought-- nah, that can't be. I'm in menopause! Then, what do you know? Mother Nature comes to call. So I guess I'm not after all. And here we go again with the tests and the waiting..

Such events are why I opted for a total hysterectomy not long after finishing chemo & rads. I'd had fibroids, endoscopy, endometrial biopsy etc and they WERE painful. Besides as I understand it the ovaries make estrogen, even if in menopause, so I figured it'd be one less source of the vile stuff encouraging C to return.

Haven't regretted it at all, except for the ever growing abdomen. But then I suppose that could be the chocolate too

Hope all is well with you.
Before the BC, I had a history of uterine problems with fibroids & cysts. I've had an endometrial biopsy before, and it was, well, damned uncomfortable. Like the worst cramps I've ever had, times 10. But it isn't the thought of having the procedures done that bothers me as much as the waiting. I can work myself into a frenzy worrying about what tests might show.

Since my breast surgery in 01, I have had (relative) peace of mind in getting on with my life and feeling pretty good. Right after my diagnosis, I posted here a lot-- this group gave me lots of support, and helped me through the toughest time of my life. I'm a pretty independent person, live alone, and don't like sharing my problems with friends or family. To this day I have *close* friends and family who don't know what I've been through. I've just always been like that. I admit I stopped posting after a while, because I had gone through a year of eating, living, and breathing cancer, chemo, radiation, scans-- and I just didn't want to think about the big C anymore. I wanted to get back to "normal".

But this latest thing with the period, and the subsequent gyn exam, makes me realize once again that my life is not the same. Anything that goes slightly awry with my body becomes a cancer scare. I am grateful to be alive and feeling fine at that, but I just wish I could go a year without the fear and anxiety of waiting for test results.

I suppose it's the trade off for still being here.

Depending upon what the ultrasound shows tomorrow, I guess the biopsy would be next. I know the ultrasound tech won't tell me anything, so
I'll have to wait two weeks for my doctor to let me know. Arrrrrrgh!

Thanks so much! And please excuse my rant..