I had a hysterectomy 15 years ago but kept my ovaries. So I don't know if I am menopausal or not (probably yes), because I have some pretty good hot flashes. I would tease my husband and say "I bet you wished I stripped like this before I had cancer". He laughs and says "I'm enjoying now". I do have to say, I had a lot more hot flashes during chemo then I do just on the tamoxifen, and they are not as severe. Best of luck.

My onco said he could give me meds if the hot flashes get to be too much. Right now I am sick of taking medications so I said no thank you.

Chemo only kept me in menopause 15 months. My cycles returned even while on Tamoxifen. Tamoxifen does not keep you from ovulating, though the effects of chemo may linger for months after finishing. The younger you are the more likely your cycles may come back. I was 44. Tamoxifen only keeps the estrogen your ovaries produce from reaching the receptors of your breast tissue and/or tumor cells if they still linger. You can still get pregnant on Tamoxifen and many women have so be very careful. You are not truly in menopause until you have had NO period while off chemo for a full 12 months. AT least that is what my oncologist told me. Two months before that date my periods returned and have been regular since.

I was post-menopause 3 years when diagnosed. Exemestane created fierce hot flashes multiple times a day for about 6 years. Then I had ovaries removed because of cysts, and the flashes reduced quite a bit. I'm in my 9th year of Exemestane, and I don't have menopause symptoms at all. P.S. I had zero hot flashes during natural menopause, and the ones created by Exemestane were a surprise as well as intense.

Have been post menopausal for over 30 years. Ovaries removed with hysterectomy then. On Exemestane for 3 years. Now having hot flashes and night sweats since starting it. Am 78 yrs. Hot flashes start each night 2-3 hours after taking it after dinner. They are not pleasant but bearable. Certainly they are better than going through surgical menopause without replacement therapy! Now that was pure hell! Onco has not recommended anything to counter act hot flashes, indeed seems to be happy that they continue as tho that means med is working.