considering ovary removal
considering ovary removal Im 47, haven’t had a period since May. My FSH and LH are showing menopausal levels but since taking Tamoxifen my oestrogen levels have risen again. I am currently anxiously awaiting an explanation about this from my consultant but I really do feel uneasy about the fact that I still have ovaries as my cancer was highly receptive to estrogen and progesterone.
I’d like to hear from anyone in a similar position who has been advised by their Oncologists that Oopherectomy is the correct path for them or from anyone who has had the procedure. What are your experiences?
Many thanks
Frances
Hi Frances
I have an appointment next week with the Cons Gynae to discuss ovary removal. I am hoping that I could have it done under local anaesthetic of some sort as I don’t fancy another op. I will let you know what he says.
Grace T
hi, I am so pleased to see someone ask this question as I only have my ovaries after major surgery seven years ago at the age of 35. I had to have a mastectomy in feb and have now just finished chemo and rads. I have heard there is a link between them so looking forward to any posts you recieve. good luck kim
Ovary Removal Hi Frances
I have an appt with Cons Gynaecologist in December to talk about ovary removal. I am postmenopausal, had been on HRT, am now on Tamoxifen after WLE and radiotherapy. I have had aunts and cousins with breast cancer, bowel cancer and now a cousin has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. The Cancer Genetics team seem to consider that these are all linked and that I have a very high risk of ovarian cancer and referred me for yearly CA125 and ovarian ultrasound test, or, if I decide to go down that road, ovary removal. I don’t relish more surgery as I had to have 2 WLEs, but think I would feel happier if they weren’t there to get diseased!
Marie C
ovaries Hi, If it is any help I had bc 5 years ago and local reocurrence 2 years ago, I have had Tamoxifen followed by Zolodex and Arimidex, last year I had a Vaginal hysterectomy with removal of ovaries, appart from 3 months off work, I felt great, the hot flushes ceased very quickly and to be quite honest it is the best I have felt in the last 5 years, (I am 51 now).
I know not everybody has ovaries and hysterectomy at the same time, I can honestly say the ovaries have not been missed, I thought it would be quite difficult i.e. mood swings etc, but i am very even tempered now. If I knew 5 years ago how much better I would feel, I’d have had it done then.
Good luck
Ann
Ovaries out… Hi Frances
Im 47, and hadn’t had a period since I had my lumpectomy in April 05, I found another lump in September and decided that for me it would be better to have my ovaries removed after I had finished my chemo.
So the following July after I had finished my chemo in the April I went to see my gynacologist and asked him if he thought I should have the full works ovaries / hysterectomy, he said that because my tumours were 100% oestrogen driven he thought it better to have them out, but he said that I didnt need the ‘full works’.
I went down to theatre at 11.30am, and was back eating toast on the ward at 3.30pm, I was home the same night and was out walking the next day.
The hot sweats/feeling a little low are, according to my GP a little worse than if you have a natural change, but I didnt think that I had a choice and I am glad that I made the decision.
After everything that we have been through it really is an easy operation
and I am so pleased that I made the decision to have them out.
Good luck
Debbie x
To Frances Hi Frances, I had bilateral mastectomy March 2005 and Ovaries removed in June2005. I was put on Tamoxifen in April 2005 and had Radiotherapy 20 sessions in May 2005. The ovaries could have been removed by keyhole surgery but unfortunately I’d had a hysterectomy 13 years previously and so the ovaries had moved and were very difficult to get to so I had to have my old scar cut through and had nerve damage afterwards. The scar healed really well though and although for me it was a really unpleasant experience as I also picked up a nasty bug whilst in hospital I would recommend it as it does give alot of benefit in reducing the oestrogen. It’s hard to tell where all the nasty side effects are coming from when you’re on Tamoxifen aswell but I have started splitting the dose to half in the morning and half at night and the hot flushes are not such a problem and I think I’m not so depressed. I’m 44 and although I haven’t put weight on my thighs seem to have got fatter and I generally feel stodgy but again I think it’s a combination of suddenly becoming post menopausal and the Tamoxifen. If you can have keyhole surgery it should be really straight forward although you will need to take it easy afterwards for a while. Good luck. Beryl
Removal of ovaries Hello Frances,
Like you, my BC was highly oestrogen/progesterone receptive. I was also pre-menopausal, so had an oophorectomy in November, 2005 (I was 50 yrs old then).
It was key-hole surgery and went very smoothly. Had the op in the morning and was discharged in the early evening. In my case, they pumped gas into my stomach to separate other vital organs from the ovaries (my non-medical interpretation), so post op I had a very bloated tummy for a few days. Have three tiny scars.
Have been on Arimidex for almost a year. Still having hot flushes but they are manageable. Don’t know how much the Arimidex contributes to them Also have aching joints, muscles - Arimidex, I think.