My Period Vol.036 - My journey with breast cancer and my "last period" - A "cancer notebook" born from that experience

Mitsuko Nishi, 41 years old, Owner of mien (a notebook useful if you are diagnosed with cancer)

Menarche: 5th grade (age 11)

Current average period length: None

Current average menstrual cycle: None

Sanitary products currently used: None

-What day was your period?

A hard, painful day

-What image comes to mind when you hear the word "menstruation"?

Abdominal pain, Cairo

- From here on, I'd like to look back on half of my life, focusing on menstruation. When was your first period? How do you remember it?

I got my first period when I was in the fifth grade of elementary school. I had learned about it at school, and I somehow thought, "It's about time," so I wasn't all that surprised, but I did have a real feeling that "It's here." I noticed blood on my panties, so I told my mother and asked for some pads that we had at home and put them on.

Around that time, I asked my mother if I wanted a sports bra, and she bought one for me. When I got my first period, I thought, "I've become an adult," and I was happy to feel that I was becoming an adult. It was more of a change in my mind than a change in my body.
When I was in elementary school, my period would cause a little stomach pain, but I don't remember it being particularly painful.

-Have you noticed any changes since you became a junior high school student?

Even after I entered junior high school, my periods weren't that heavy, but in the winter my body would get cold and my stomach would hurt. It was around this time that I started using a heating pad when I had period pain. It wasn't because someone told me to, but because I thought "warming it up might help." I actually found that warming it up helped, so I started using a heating pad all year round, not just in winter, but in summer as well, when I had severe period pain.

Even though my menstrual cycle was off, it came regularly every two weeks and the flow wasn't that heavy, so I would say my periods were rather light.

- What changes have occurred since you graduated from junior high school?

I went on to high school. The pain in my stomach and lower back during my period got a little stronger, so I started using one heat pack on my stomach and one on my back. It still hurt, so I started taking over-the-counter painkillers.

Also, there were times when I forgot to change my pad, and by the time I got around to changing it, the whole pad was stained bright red, or my period blood had leaked out. I even got blood on a chair at school. But because it was an all-girls school, I just thought, "Oh no, I messed up," and didn't think much of it.

- What happened after you graduated from high school?

After graduating from high school, I continued my education while exploring my options for junior college, four-year university, and graduate school. Throughout that time, I was constantly troubled by the changes in my physical condition that came with menstruation. In particular, when I moved from junior college to university, my PMS symptoms became more severe, and I began to suffer from headaches and severe abdominal pain.

At that time, I heard that "low-dose birth control pills would apparently help," so I went to a gynecologist. Although I was hesitant at first, my symptoms were alleviated after taking them. My menstrual cycle also became more regular, and it became easier to plan my schedule, so I felt less at the mercy of my period and my daily life became more peaceful.

After entering graduate school, I continued my research while working as a part-time lecturer, and it was a great help to be able to control the ups and downs of my physical condition even during busy days.

- At age 35, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. The beginning of treatment and my "last period"

I was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 35. It started when I started to feel breast tenderness and pain before my period. This continued for several months, and then one day I felt a lump when I touched it. I immediately went to a gynecologist and was referred to a breast surgery department where I underwent an examination, which revealed breast cancer. My cancer was the type that grows due to female hormones.

I knew that chemotherapy could affect my ability to become pregnant (fertility), so I froze my eggs before starting treatment. I didn't have a partner at the time, but even though I wasn't completely sure I wanted to have children, I wanted to keep my options open.

Later, as part of her treatment, she received injections to stop the female hormones, which stopped her period. That was her "final period."

After undergoing chemotherapy, I had my left breast removed and had breast reconstruction done at the same time. I then underwent genetic testing and found out that my cancer was hereditary.

About a year after I thought I had finished my treatment, metastasis was found in my hip bone. Because the area was inoperable, I underwent radiation and chemotherapy. After that, my ovaries and fallopian tubes were also removed to reduce the risk of recurrence or another cancer. I am currently undergoing hormone therapy while undergoing checkups every three months.

- What I'm currently working on: Creating a "cancer notebook"

Currently, while working as a university teacher, he has decided to make use of his experience as a cancer patient and is working to create and spread the word about "Notes that will be useful if you are diagnosed with cancer."

Being diagnosed with cancer is so sudden, and not only is the mental shock and the burden of treatment huge, but you also have to make a lot of preparations. Not only about surgery and treatment plans, but also about work, money, and so on... There's so much to research, think about, and act on your own. I also experienced firsthand how difficult it is to accurately communicate your physical condition to the hospital.

Therefore, I thought that if there was a place where I could write down information, it would be important for both myself and those around me. First, I created a notebook where I could organize reliable information and discuss treatment plans with my doctor and family.

After that, with the transference as a trigger, I also created a "Preparation Notebook" as a step before the ending note.

In the future, we plan to expand the scope of use and aim to create a notebook that can hold all of your important "records of daily life" such as treatment schedules, side effects, moods, pain, and daily notes.

-Looking back on your period, what do you think now?

The me when I had my period and the me now that I no longer have my period are both me.

There are some things that have helped me feel better since my period stopped, but I also think that having a period has made me feel more connected to my body.

After going through the illness, I was able to have a strong sense of self. Even if I don't have my period, "I am still the same person." Believing this, I live life to the fullest.

Note: "My Period" aims to provide an opportunity to think about and talk about menstruation, an issue that is often hidden, by recording and sharing how people of various generations and backgrounds have dealt with it. It does not endorse any specific products, services, or methods of coping. The content posted is based on each person's personal experience, so if you have any symptoms that concern you, please consult a medical institution.