Severe Period Pain After Cancer Treatment

Updated: September 15, 2025

‘I changed tampons every 1 hour for 48 hours straight’: Chhavi Mittal on experiencing ‘severe’ period pain, ‘most probably’ related to post-cancer hormone therapy

"My brain function was hampered, my eyes were closing, and I felt my whole system shutting down," added Chhavi Mittal

Chhavi Mittal, who has time and again highlighted the various aspects of fighting breast cancer, recently opened up about experiencing severe period pain at 45. “Not enough is being said about this. Period pain is compared to breaking bones or having a heart attack in extreme cases. Some women are blessed (like me) to endure it strongly, but some simply cannot. I experienced this at 45! All my life, I have thought periods are just another part of my day/month/life. This is a general belief. But I knew something was wrong when I couldn’t get out of bed to make @arhamhussein sleep, or pack tiffins and send the kids to school. Hell, I haven’t gone to the gym in 5 days! I changed tampons every 1 hour for 48 hours straight, dying in pain, and collapsing due to weakness & tingling in limbs. My brain function was hampered, my eyes were closing, and I felt my whole system shutting down,” Mittal shared her ordeal on Facebook.

According to her, the main reason for a heavy flow is thickening of the endometrium (which has many reasons too), “most probably in my case, is the post-cancer hormone therapy. (I get them heavy since 3 years but never like how I experienced this month).”

Fibroids, polyps, etc, are common reasons too. “Just want to put it out there that no way a woman should go through this alone and be expected to behave like nothing’s wrong! That as a man, you cannot do anything about the physical pain, but as a partner for your woman, you can show sensitivity rather than irritability around her during this time. Give her a hot water bag, give her your arms, a kiss, and some jokes, help too to cheer her up. Let her rest, ruffle her hair, make her a cup of tea,” she added.

She continued, “But even if you’re not physically present, be patient when she complains. Tell her it’s OK to cry, to give herself time to recover, that this will pass, and that YOU’RE THERE WITH HER. I’m super proud to raise a sensitive lil man in my own house. Arham hugged me and cried to let me know that he’s worried, he pressed my feet, kissed my forehead, and told me to stay in bed coz he’ll sleep on his own tonight ?? He learns from the best @mohithussein, who always somehow magically takes care of everything when I’m suddenly out of action. He canceled everything to just be available in case I need to be rushed to the hospital. But for women who feel alone through any kind of pain & suffering, join the space I’m creating. U R not alone.”