Why am I having menopause symptoms after breast cancer surgery?

Surgery can sometimes trigger hormonal changes that bring back menopausal symptoms, even after they've previously settled down. This experience sounds incredibly draining, and it's completely understandable to feel overwhelmed when dealing with recovery while also managing these unexpected symptoms. Many others in this community have faced similar challenges after breast cancer treatment, so reaching out here was a great step - you're definitely not alone in this journey.

While hormonal changes are definitely possible, it might also be worth asking your doctor if these symptoms could be related to stress, medications, or other aspects of recovery - sometimes our bodies react in unexpected ways to the whole cancer experience, not just hormonal shifts.

I am scheduled for a lumpectomy( two at the same time) and a bilateral lymph node biopsy. It is easy to feel alone and scared when talking to people who have not experienced what you have. You are not alone, although it feels like it when people don't accept what you say you are feeling . Sometimes, people want to help , but don't get it that you are not asking for advice, but just want to be listened to, and have someone understand and accept what you say you are going through. I am glad you can share your feelings here and be accepted without judgement.

Thank you, Beth Emily D -- seeing your comments on my post really helped me feel Not Alone. After I posted I reached out to my conventional care team and naturopath -- Got immediate feedback from natureD. Taking homeopathic and herbal remedies for symptoms and prevention. And started a journal to keep track of triggers and what helps once I have the symptoms. It's still here but I think I'm controlling it better. Most of all I learned that I seriously need to DO LESS and rest more.

Emily, I'm sending you positivity for your surgery and recovery!

Hello Neko, I have been reading some of your posts...would you be able to share what homeopathic and herbal remedies you are using? I have had my cancer removal surgery on Jan.22, 2026, and I am not interested in the radiation treatments, as I am already living with many other chronic illnesses, and I refuse to be subject to any of the possible side effects of the radiation. I am hoping that there's some type of info you can share, that can possibly be obtainable and not so costly. There are so many things out there that claim to help with cancer, it's extremely hard, trying to figure out what is not just a complete scam. I need something definate, something that's real. And effective. If you do not feel comfortable sharing, I do totally understand. Or if you would rather message me privately, just please let me know. Regardless, I thank you for sharing your experiences, as this seems like a good way to get all of us cancer patients a much better quality of care in the future. It just seems like a lot of us here are sharing a lot of the same difficulties, and alot that is not being addressed. I know that things could be a lot, alot better for us cancer patients overall, and hopefully with enough of our own advocacy, can one day finally be able to recieve the type of care that we deserve, and actually have a legal right to. Sorry this is so long, and there's so much more I could say, but I will not. But it's looking like a lot of us are really having the same, unnecessary struggles, and it's things like this, that connect us, that can help us help each other, and hopefully one day obtain a better level of care, overall. Thank you for listening. Have a blessed day!