Hi all
Due to a family history of ovarian cancer my gynaecologist has agreed to do either an ooph or hysterectomy. He says it’s up to me. Am going over the pros and cons and just wondering if any of you ave compelling reasons to have the hysterectomy? So far the fact that the ooph gets rid of the ovaries, hormones, is a short op, with less recovery time makes it seem more appealing. However I just wondered if there were benefits to having the hysterectomy- am er neg and don’t take tamoxifen .
The oopherectomy can probably be done through keyhole surgery, which is very quick and recovery from the operation is quicker too. I had this done, and it was the easy as far as the op was concerned.
But I guess that the operation time and recovery times are probably not what should be your main concern… You will need to figure out what gives you the best chances in the long term of avoiding any problems with cancer developing in that area… And the long term side effects of both operations. I am sure there are some people here who will have gone through making that decision.
Very best wishes
Hi Deb,
I had an ‘ooph’ done last month. It was done laprascopically, and was very quick, efficient, and I recovered very well. I haven’t had the results of my genetics tests yet, but my Onc never-the-less felt it gave me another extra little percentage chance. I was, up to that point, having Zoladex jabs once a month.
In my case, there was no real argument for removing my uterus. I have young kids, and keyhole surgery, giving me a reduced risk of recurrence etc, was a ‘no-brainer.’ However, abdominal surgery would have been a bigger decision.
We won’t know if we have made the ‘right’ decisions until we are lying on our death-beds at age 98 years old!!
Sometimes I feel though, that I’d like every non-vital organ and piece of soft tissue removed - ‘just in case’!
Has your Onc not given you some stats on weighing up the pros and cons? Good luck with whatever decision you come too,
Tracey
X
I also had an ooph 5 years ago. The gyn told me there was no reason to go through the major surgery of a hysterectomy when an ooph by keyhole would do everything I needed it to. He also said that if there were any problems with my uterus further down the line, they could do the hyst at that point. They found some endometriosis when they did the ooph, but I’ve had no problems, so haven’t had to have any further surgery.
Good luck with your decision and op, whatever you choose!
Angelfalls xx
I had a hysterectomy prior to my diagnosis of BC. I had this all done by keyhole (belly button and bikini line incisions) and through the vagina so no scars or cutting through muscle etc. My sister in law had the same. It is though still a much more major op than an oophrectomy and recovery time is definitely longer.
I was very ill with endometriosis prior to my hysterectomy so my recovery was quite slow as was my sister in laws. I’m not sure how recent your BC treatment was but that may possibly impact on your recovery time too.
I think if I were in your shoes I’d be asking for the rationale of having a hysterectomy. My understanding is that very rarely ovarian cancer can develop even when ovaries removed (I guess just outside the ovary area)and then I presume there is the possibility of spread to the uterus. Possibly that’s why it’s been offered. However, I think that is extremely rare so whether that’s enough to factor into the equation I don’t know.
Did your mother or older females in your family have a need for a hysterectomy due to other problems such as fibroids, heavy bleeding etc? That could be another possible reason.
I’d also ask the surgeon for realistic recovery times for a hysterectomy.
Hope the above helps and doesn’t muddy the waters too much. I hate having all these decisions to make.
Thank you ladies for taking the time to reply. There are no other gynae probs in the family. My reasons for considering the hysterectomy
( which would be keyhole as well) are to avoid further surgeries in the future, get rid of more unneeded tissue- ( although doc did say that uterine ca is rare) and I have been told i would not need smear tests (not told this by a doc- need to check) which can be difficult once hormones have disappeared.
Recovery the doc says is two months ish, for a hysterectomy.
I suppose the bottom line is if the ooph is preventative, why not have the hysterectomy to prevent another possible- if unlikely cancer.
However the ooph does seem a lot less extreme and gets rids of the main risk and recovery would hopefully be much easier.
I think I would rather have the ooph, but hate the thought of regretting it later and wishing i had just got rid of it all in one go. Am 40 btw.( in case that is relevant)
Thanks again. I know non of you can make the decision for me but it help to hear opinions.
I don’t have to have smear tests done as my cervix was also removed when I had the hysterectomy which I think is the usual procedure.
It’s a hard decision. I didn’t have my ovaries removed when I had mine done and then 18 months later I was diagnosed with BC and guess what 8/8 ER+. My gynaecologist was kicking himself he hadn’t. I have the same dilemma of whether or not to have that done now. My breast surgeon told me two years ago when i finished chemo that my bloods showed I was in menopause and he said I would stay in menopause. But I didn’t and 6 months later came out of it. I’m now 48 and still definitely not.
I also have a higher risk of ovarian cancer due to endometriosis although the risk is still very low. Also because of the amount of pelvic surgery I’ve had (not just hysterectomy) it wouldn’t be so straightforward for me. My gynaecologist is happy to go ahead but my breast surgeon and Onc think its unnecessary.
I drove myself mad trying to make a decision and still haven’t really decided. It’s great to have choice but sometimes it’s so hard to know what is the best way forward.
Hopefully you’ll have some other replies that might help.
Elinda x
Hi midge I had a hyst and ooph as preventative for ov ca… The risk for ovarian is in the ovaries and the tubes and theoretically this means that the part of the tubes that terminate within the uterus could be the originating point for ovarian ca (although there are no documented cases of it starting there so this would be very rare) as It’s thought genetic ovarian ca at least originates in the tubes more so than the ovaries themselves.
Having your ovaries out can cause very sudden severe menopausal symptoms and having a uterus would mean anybody opting for hrt would require the combined type which is the one associated ith a slightly ncreased risk of BC… Where as without a uterus you can take oestrogen only which isn’t associated with the same increased risk.
The BSO is is a quicker op and is pretty much always done laparoscopically… You may only need an overnight stay in hosp and about a two week recovery. The hyst is often an open procedure you will be in hosp for around three or four days and can take 6-8 weeks to fully recover.
Having a hyst means they will usually remove your cervix so you no longer require smears… Which can be beneficial as having your ovaries out can cause vaginal atrophy and make smears pretty difficult.
I’d planned to have an ooph but had thickened endometrium and rising ca125 so decided to get the lot whipped out… I have no regrets in that respect even though I got peritonitis 5 months after my op.