I am new to this site (having only recently found it) but over the last few days have read the majority of postings and have found myself relating to a lot of what has been said - even found the answers to some questions before I had asked them so thanks for that. Not sure if I am posting under the right heading but here goes…
I was diagnosed with IDC in February. Started chemo in March (3 x FEC and 3 x Taxotere) and had a left mastectomy and node dissection on 8 Aug. Due to go for planning appointment next week for radiotherapy. Got histology results last week - 8cm (after chemo), Grade 3, 5/19 nodes involved. Hormone receptive, Herceptin negative. Now taking Tamoxifen.
I had a CT scan before starting chemo which showed up something on one of my ovaries. After investigation, I was told it is a ‘simple’ ovarian cyst but because of its size (5.3 cm) gynecologist said he would review and consider removing both ovaries. I am due to go to follow up appointment next week.
BCN and surgeon have both indicated that removing the ovaries would be a positive step toward lessening the chance of a recurrence of the BC - no ovaries equals less oestrogen to worry about.
I don’t really want to have another operation (when I had the mastectomy I hemorrhaged and ended up back in theatre again the following day) but if this helps to improve the odds, then the common sense side of me says that this is what I should push for.
Have any of you found yourselves in the same position? What did you do?
i dont know how old you are but if you have had your kids and arent planning on any more !! i would say go for the op.
i had my mastectomy, chemo and radiotherapy in 2004 i was 45 with 3 teenage boys. no one mentioned the alternative of having ovaries removed.
i was perscribed tamoxifen. after a while i had a little bit of bleeding so had smear which showed a growth it was removed and turned out to be a cyst.
in 2006 BC spread to my brain i was given arimidex and have a monthly injection to stop oestrogen production. a couple of times the op has been mentioned but my husband always says you have been through enough just stick with injections. i wish i had ignored him and wonder why the hospital didnt suggest removing my ovaries when i had the keyhole surgery for the cyst. i have had some bleeding after my hols because i couldnt have my injection whilst away and so injection was 2 weeks late. onc not happy so suggested having ovaries out. i just wish i had had the op straight away, you never know it might have stopped the spread.
hope this rambling has helped i have just spotted you saying about haemorrhaging this op is usually keyhole and in and out in a day.
Thanks for you comments and I am sorry I haven’t got back before now - everything has been a bit hectic recently.
I’m 47 and have had my kids so the reproductive bit is redundant now. Since my original posting I have googled a lot and done a lot of thinking. Although taking the ovaries out isn’t as a direct result of the BC, it will benefit it by reducing the oestrogen - also saves them going bad on me in the future!
By the time I saw the gynecologist last week I had managed to convince myself that this was the right way to go. I am now waiting for an admission date to come through - he said that it will probably be the back end of November or beginning of December. He says that he can probably do the op keyhole but if he finds that the cyst is attached to the tube then it will be a bigger job (won’t actually know until I wake up!). I’m not sure at the moment if I have to have any other scans or anything beforehand.
I’m hoping that they don’t come up with an earlier appointment as I have started rads today (15 sessions) plus want to get a weeks holiday in at half term - my daughter (13) spent most of her summer holidays either at the hospital (I ended up being in for 2 weeks) or making me coffee once I got home.
As your onc has suggested you having the ovaries out are you thinking about having it done?
I 've just started a new post re Fiboids and Ovarian Cysts. Hadn’t seen this one.
I’ve been diagnosed with several large fibroids and 3 cysts on right ovary. No idea whether they are cancerous as only had scan on Saturday. Presume the Gynae will contact me to discuss options. I’d rather have the whole lot out rather than go through all these scares. Presume we wouldn’t need Tamoxifen any more???
I’m 48 and was dx in November-had mastectomy and node clearance in December and reconstruction in July.
Don’t have an onc as didn’t have Chemo or Rads.
Hope all goes well for you two.
Hiya
In similar position albeit no cyst. Im 35 and have no kids but after having b cancer and there also being strong amounts of ovarian cancer in family been advised to have ovaries out. Sort rads on Wed and then awaiting date for ovaries out via keyhole if poss, terrified already and hope I get a week or so to recover before op!
Good luck
x
hi, im 43, periods stopped after 3rd FEC…I had oophrectomy in july, unfortunately more complicated than i anticipated as ive ulcerative colitis and ovaries stuck to bowel…Im ok now but Onc stopped Tamoxifen and ive been on Femara 6 wks…i hate it! I feel 90…joint pains, very grumpy, very tired, and awful hot flushes, headaches…Begining to wish i did i didnt have op…but i think femara doesnt agree with me Btw, the genetiscist recommended i had ovaries removed even though results wont be back until new year!..
Most people on here think op is easy but everyone is different!
Worth it to stop oestrogen.
Hi just read ths thread and wonder if I should be doing something?
Dx with BC in July this year. Had lumpectomy and SNB 2 out of 5 nodes affected tumour 2.2cms Grade 2 ER+ HER2-
On 2nd FEC and just had US scan of abdomen refers to simple cysts in both ovaries 3.7 x 4.1cms and 3.3 x 2.6cms. Onc sent me copy of report but not seeing him for 4 weeks. Do these cysts indicate poss ovarian cancer or just normal. I had hysterectomy 10 years ago but they left ovaries and was just starting menopause when this BC stuff started.
Can anyone give advice please?
Hi - I have been advised to have hysterecotmy and removal of ovaries once chemo/rads over. I have Grade 3 with node involvement. Hormone pos - herp negative. I dread yet another op but just want to play it safe. I also have large fibroids which do I believe run a ris of turning malignant post menopause so best to get rid of it all.
Di
Jackie28 - Because my CT scan had showed up something, my onc referred me for an ultrasound to check it wasn’t anything sinister - they said that because they had seen something they had to investigate.
Had the ultrasound and was told that it was a simple fluid filled cyst which could go away by itself (sonographer explained that it was like a big zit and could just pop - uck!) I was referred to the gynae because of its size (5.3cm) - apparently my hospitals protocol is under 5cm re-scan at a later date, over 5cm refer to gynae.
When I saw the gynae in May he wasn’t unduly worried and said that he would review again in 4 months. To be on the safe side he did a blood test which I have since found out was OK but I’m not really sure what they were looking for. He did say that if the cyst was still there or if it was any bigger he would consider removing the ovary and, if he was going to take one he might as well take both as I didn’t need them at my age (charming!)
Anyway, saw him last week and cyst was still there but not any bigger. He gave me the option of re-scanning at a later date or removing the ovaries.
By this time I had found out the the BC was hormone receptive. Like Di, although I dread another operation I also want to play it safe so told him I want them removed - by the time that I saw him I had got myself convinced that this was the right way to go and am not sure what I would have done if he had said no.
Spoke to my BCN yesterday who said that from the BC point of view having the ovaries removed was not a bad thing.
Sorry if I have waffled a bit but basically don’t panic. My gynae said that simple cysts are usually benign.
If you are not going to see your onc for a while (I assume until your next chemo) could you talk this over with your BCN?
Maryfrod - I think it is the clinical name for the removal of the ovaries.
Di & Spongebob - I think talking to BCN is great idea - will do!
Im not too concerned at the moment. But kicking myself for filing away scan result thinking oh thats ok just cysts cos I do like to know whats going on. My ONC is such an arrogant ******* that I feel I need to know what I want before I go so I make sure he does the right thing for me. I had to really push him to even have the scan!!