I really need some help here from people who have elected to have their ovaries out.
I am seeing the gyenocologist on Monday and will have to have made a decision by then and be definate about havin this op.
I had a oncology appt today and she was sayin if i had my ovaries removed i could go on arimedex and that was more affective than tamoxifen.
At the moment i have so many appts i am sinking fast and feeling it is too much to cope with so any help on this issue would be helpful.
Thanks
Rx
I had a total hysterectomy (uterus,ovaries,fallopian tubes) some 10 yrs before I got bc. Not in quite the same position as you - my operation was after many D & C’s for fibroids and constant bleeding and anaemia. I have been on Arimidex since finishing chemo and have no side effects that I am aware of. I too have read that Arimidex is more effective against a recurrence than tamoxifen. It will be 5 yrs in Jan 2008 from dx, and I am hoping the mammo and ultrasound then will be clear. My hairdresser was dx 6 months before me, and at her 5 yrly mammo our surgeon found another, but different non palpable tumour and she has just had a mastectomy. That kind of fills me with dread, as my original tumour was not palpable, found on normal 3 yrly NHS mammo. Wish I had gone privately in the intervening years and perhaps the cancer would not have spread to the lymph nodes.
Having an oopherectomy is really a very personal decision and I am glad I had a valid reason for my hysterectomy as I don’t know whether I would have bothered otherwise. Hopefully others with bc will come along to give their advice and opinions.
Liz.
Can I add my plea to some help with this question. I have just had a local reoccurance of Grade 3 BC - took Zoladex for 3 years, got reoccurance 6 months aftre coming off it. Luckily no spread, but not unsurprisingly my onc is now recommending that I have my ovaries removed. I could stay on Zoladex but I am not sure how long you can stay on this before other side effects start outweighing the benefits. I must admit I coped really well with the menopause from the first lot of Zoladex 4 years ago (partly thanks to a wonderful accupuncturist I think) and I am not concerned about doing it again. What concerns me is that I am on 38 and having ovaries removed seems awfully permanent. Having said that I have a 4 & 6 year old, and although the cancer should all have been surgically removed there is always that worry that one cell has gone walk about. What does everyone else think / what experiences do you have?
Thanks,
Sally
I has just turned 38 years old when diagnosed. My eostrogen levels were pretty high after chemo and radio finished and i
was having zoladex injections.
I elected to have oopherectomy as i felt that i needed to get rid of thing in my body that was creating eostrogen and helping feed my cancer. I felt that because i got this cancer so early there was every chance of it returning later on in life and i might not be so strong 2nd time round. I wanted to lower my chances of going through all that crap again. I have one daughter who was twelve when i was diagnosed. I want to be around for her, i dont want to put her through another nightmare 18 months for the sake of keeping ovaries i want to see my grandchildren. In my mind (Right or wrongl!) I feel that my chances of the dreaded C returning have dropped immensly. This is just my opinion and outlook on things. You have to make your own decision and be happy with that decision as there is no turning back once this step is taken.
Caz xx
Hi Girls - originally diagnosed at 34 - lumpectomy, wle, 6xFEC, rads, tamoxifen and zoladex. I decided to have ovaries removed after 6 months on Zoladex at age 35 (Oct 04) - only side effect I had originally was headchaes for a few weeks but then fine. They then put me on Exemastane - Apr 06 - joints a bit clicky and achey but not a problem - main side effect for me is painful sex which apparantly is erosion of the cervical wall due to early menopause - great what we have to go through!! This has only happened since I changed from Tamoxifen to Exemastane though. I was then diagnosed with high grade DCIS this summer so have now had mastectomy with recon. They think best for other breast to go next year.
If I am honest I don’t know if having ovaries removed has helped or not? I still had a reoccurance this summer - luckily caught early at DCIS stage - which was hormone negative. I was told that because of all my anti hormone treatment that is why it is now negative not positive. (told cancer had mutated? - my brain started to shut down at this stage and felt I couldn’t understand it anymore!)
Obviously having ovaries removed has helped prevent hormone positive stuff coming back which I am confident will help prevent hopefully the possibility of any mets ever occurring from original tumour (1 node was involved originally). Also risk of ovarian cancer has been eliminated.There are long term side effects though which are irreversible so girls think carefully.My sex life isn’t great - not sure what has effected it most - trying a thing called replens at moment so will see if this helps - fingers crossed!
Looking back now I think I may have rushed into the decision and wish I could have stayed on Zoladex for longer which gives exactly the same result but is not permanent. Once off Zoladex periods may return. Also Zoladex is quite expensive and some GPs worry about their budgets.
The long and short of it - think carefully. If you are fine on Zoladex then why change unless you have family history of BRAC1 or 2 ? My husband told me not to rush but I didn’t listen, was frightened once treatment finished and wanted all hormones gone.
Hope this helps and hasn’t confused anyone - my advice if not sure wait but do calm down hormones somehow.
Take care
Sarah x x x
Hi Ruth
Hope all went well today and you have made the decision that is right for you, I know how much you hate tamoxifen, and I must say, I am feeling pretty ok now on arimidex.
Shame we couldn’t meet up on sat, maybe next time I’m down. Keep on touch
Love Irene
Email on its way, rather awful weekend but next time for sure will meet up.
Rx