Hi Jan,
I just wanted to say good luck for tomorrow too. I had full hystrectomy and oopherectomy done 11 days ago and im fine up and about, although i have to stay on tamoxifen for the 5 years, ive yet to find out why.
Take Care
Leslee x
Hi Ladies…I am half-way through rads at the moment and have been referred by my breast onc to a gynae onc for the removal of ovaries.
She is of the opinion that it is the way to go. I am hightly ER+ & PR+ (both scoring 7/8), so your thread has been really interesting reading.
I am still undecided as to what to do. The gynae onc has said it is entirely up to me as it is preventative and therefore my decision, but I have also been recommend for 3 months zolodex following the surgery…this is my main bug bear.
I am 48 and pre-menopausal (though chemo has started some sweats) and I am wondering what effect the zolodex will have on top of the effects of surgery…
Hi there
Thanks as ever for your replies.
Jan, Good luck for tomorrow. You sound like me with the zoladex and tamoxifen so am really glad to hear from someone with similar issues who is having the oopherectomy.
Pheebster, The zoladex is like having an instant menopause. My main problem has been hot flushes, weight gain and loss of libido as per the rest of us in here. I am on a tablet called chlonidine for the flushes since september and things have been much better since and since sorting out the flushes that has sorted out my sleep patterns a bit better which has helped me generally feel better about myself which helps with the libido issue.
I’m so grateful for all your help, as ever words of wisdom from the BC Babes. Whee would I be without you.
Be kind to yourselves ladies. Shonagh x
Oh god, not more weight gain…
I just gained two stone during chemo…
Think I will take his up with onc.
Thank you for reply
Hi all,
I am just wondering if anyone has had horrible migraine type headaches from the zoladex when I spoke to my oncologist yesterday before my seventh injection,he looked at me as if I was mad and making it up about the headaches, I cant believe he has not come across this side effect or else he is really good at lying. Am I going mad or does anyone out there suffer from these headaches.
Aido
re zoladex I was at my docs today,haven’t seen onc yet tho,but doc said they would give me a monthly injection first to see how I got on with it,if that’s the route that I go down,then would have them 3 monthly…
Hi Sandra,
I was on Tamoxifen and Zoladex but onc took me off the tamoxifen because it didnt put me into the menopause. I am going to the internet to find out what side effects people have from Zoladex because my onc ( who is supposed to be the best there is in Ireland ha ha) has never heard of anyone suffering from headaches because of zoladex.
Because my cancer was er+ would I better off going for a hysterectomy or oopherectomy ?? I have my family so thankfully I have no worries on that front
Aido
I’m in North Wales so will let you know what is favoured here,am strongly oestrogen positive too, have had a mirena coil for past 4 years and have had no periods at all,damn it just when thought had all my hormones under control they go and bite me on the bum !
Sandra…I also have a mirena in and love not having periods…
I have arranged for that to be removed next week, but hoping chemo has put an end to the monthly curse.
re: zolodex. I work for a Dr and we have patients coming in for their regular zoladex. i can reassure you that most of them feel like cr@p while they are on it and have many SE’s including headaches, sore boob(s), fatigue etc. I have to admit that even the size of the damn needle is enough to send me running!
Hi there,
sorry didnt mean to depress anyone with the thought of weight gain. Its not too bad, just every pound is that bit harder to lose. On the plus side since no periods or oestrogen I havent had a single spot (never had them until in my 30’s so not getting any is a huge bonus), I used to suffer migraines pretty much one a week and now only get a mild headache about every 6 weeks or so, my leg hair seems to have got less and finer, my hair on my head seems to be growing faster than ever before and the obvious one no periods. I like to think of the plus sides as the silver lining to the cloud.
Needless to say as far as I am concerned an early menopause is a plus for me especially as I was also 100% oestrogen positive.
The needle is fine as my GP gives me a local first, I just dont look.
S x
Hi
I had my ovaries removed 3 years ago (aged 33) not had kids which has always made me sad - but anyway i was on zoladex for 6 months and asked then to have my ovaries out as realised as i was oestogen positve and had a secondary by then that kids were outta question anyway, so i requested a oophrectom - i had to have 2 appointments with consultatns as they too gave me the talk too young etc problems later in life etc, but i knew that i had to take the risk. 3 years on and i am fine. dont have hot flushes, not aged, or anythin (yet) and no aches in bones - altho take bondronat as had spread in bone. but am good.
so i thinkg you need to go back and say you want this op. now. be firm with the consultant (could say you have researched and know what the side effects could be and willing to accept that) and if not ask for second opinion to see another consultant you are entitled too and i have done that twice now and its fine to ask.
hope you get on ok and get the oophrectomy done. (easy op - think i was only off work total of 2 weeks!)
GOOD LUCK! 
After having had monthly zoladex implants for 4 months and fighting with my onc for a referal for an oopherectomy, I paid to get it done privately as I am highly ER+ and in my mind it made perfect sense to remove all oestrogen from my body.I did have a patial hysterectomy almost 8 years ago to remove fibroids but was told my ovaries would not last longer than 5 years after that, yeah ok!!
I hated the side effects of zoladex and wanted to stop it as soon as I could.
I just wanted to let anyone know who is thinking of this op that sometimes it doesnt go exactly according to plan, I had been warned that there was a possibility of abdominal surgery instead of keyhole if things werent straightforward, but a very low possibilty.
I awoke from my op with a 12 inch vertical scar and major abdominal surgery, one ovary was embedded in my bowel, so a section of the bowel was removed and the other was stuck to my bladder, as you can imagine my recovery is long and slow.Funnily enough, gynae told mr afterwards that my ovaries were as large and ‘ripe’ as a 2o year old!
I know that the vast majority of keyhole oopherectomies proceed with no problems and a very quick recovery, but bear in mind that there is a risk, albeit small that it may not. You do have to sign on the consent form that you understand that you may have to have abdominal surgery.
Saying all this, I wouldnt hesitate to make the same decision again
SS
Hello there all
Thanks as ever for the support and suggestions.
It must be fate you posted stillstanding, I have faxed a letter to my consultant only today to say I intend to call them out on this one. When I was given my treatment options one of the deciding factors was that they would be removing the ovaries so thats what I said in the lettter. I explained that I am extremely anxious about the change in decision and am aware of the negatives and also explained that my GP is on board with regards to monitoring bone thinning etc. I have informed the surgical consultant I have an appointment with the oncologist on the 11th May and intend to discuss it at length then and as he will be in clinic too I have invited him along to the party!!!
Wish me luck.
S x
WOW
what a read … Im quite new to this bc diag just over 5 weeks now right mast and just started first chemo (sick as a dog still !!!)
Ive always had gyni probs policistic overies fertility probs ovarian drilling …
And when younger always thought in later life ( bit eariler than thought 39 yrs now )would have probs down there…
Since reading this post im goin to metion this as i was told i was hormo pos 8 out of 8 they said and id need drugs after ect …
Removing my overies was never mentioned and as they have never seemed to work from the start may be it something to think about
(take my mind of feeling sick )
Will continue on reading with interest thanks ladies
Lisa
Hi Lisa
Sorry to meet you under these circimstances but just wanted to say hello and good luck with your chemo and treatment. I was 39 at DX (40 now) but didnt have chemo as I said invthe thread I had a choice of treatment routes so am always in awe of you ladies out there going through it.
I will keep you all posted with my mission details.
Love and luck to all.
Shonagh
Custard - I am very intersted to read your take on the ‘ooph’.
I was dx at 38 and will be 40 this year, and am Oestrogen positive (and HER II positive). Finally after a year of chemo, radio and surgery my periods came back last week. I am now looking at the options available to me including Zoladex and ooph and am in a real quandry. I don’t plan any more kids so that’s not the issue. The idea of reducing my oestrogen levels is a complete no-brainer as far as I’m concerned in terms of improving my prognosis, but I am so worried about libido levels etc, and the impact that will have on my personal life (and marriage does take a bit of a hammering anyway after a cancer diagnosis). Will be interested to find out what you decide to do…
Hi Koolcat
I have sent you a PM too but I will let you know the outcome of the 11th May appointment. As yet no reply to my faxed letter to the surgeon…honestly wasnt expecting one.
Will keep you all posted.
S x
HI
I’m due for my ooph on 20th May. My consultant was more than willing to do it straight away. I have been diagnosed for 2nd time with oestrogen + cancer so I want to get rid of oestrogen. I cannot seem to find anywhere that mentions the side effects of ooph op. Can anyone point me in the right direction. I’ll still go ahead with it anyway but would liek to be forewarned and fore armed.
kal
xx
Hi Kal,
Heres a link to some off the side effects of oopherectomy i had mine done in feb along with hystrectomy the benefits outweighed any side effects for me. Hope this helps and good luck. Keep us updated on how you get on.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oophorectomy#Risks
Take Care
Leslee x
I had ovaries taken out last April was also er+ have had bad night sweats, hot flushes, now on veniflexin which has lessened them,would make the same decision,Wanted to give myself the best chance of it not coming back, cause even 3yrs on I still think it,s come back with every lump, bump and pain, this illness has does my head in
Lorna xxx