I am 42 and was Diagnosed with bc 19/12/07, lumpectomy, 5 lymph nodes removed 10/01/08.
23 January 2008 went back for biopsy results, grade 2, ER receptive 157 out of 300 not to sure what this means, size 2.2cm, clearance was good on 3 sides, nodes clear, calculation was 3.4444444 border line case as chemo was offered over 3.4 so was told by consultant due to age grade and size that I would have to have chemo then shaving of some more healthy breast tissue and then 25 sessions of radiotherapy, 5 yrs on tamoixfen
I left that day in a complete daze and feeling like my life was falling apart. Over the next few days I accepted that chemo was going to happen and that I would lose my hair and began to accept that all this was to give me a longer life.
29 January 2008 went to see professor at the oncology department it was then that I was offered the choice of having my ovaries removed or chemo I was border line case his words, I was in total shock as this had never been mentioned before, having worried about getting ovarian cancer since being diagnosed with bc my aunt is terminal with ovarian cancer at the moment, my choice was to have my ovaries removed, the professor said I had made the right choice, I was given and inplant to turn of my overies whilst waiting for operation.
I understand the theory behind this, no ovaries then no oestrogen so starving cancer, however as chemo is like a detox to the whole body how can I be sure that having my ovaries out wont stop the cancer coming back elsewhere, I am a little concerned at the moment anyone else been offered this treatment.
It sounds like you have some concerns with regard to the treatment you have been offered. Whilst you are waiting for other users to reply with their experiences it may be helpful for you to talk this through with one of the professional nurses from the Breast Cancer Care helpline. The number to call is 0808 800 6000 and the line is open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm and Saturdays 9am to 2pm.
Please note that even after your ovaries have been removed there is a residual risk of ovarian cancer due to the way our bodies develop. The ovaries start growing higher up then where they eventually “rest” and so cells are left behind as we grow and the ovaries head south, so to speak. That said, you’re ovarian cancer risk will still be much lower than that of the general population. You can request an annual CA-125 blood test but I’m not sure how effect these are and little is written about them.
When they take your ovaries make sure they remove your tubes too - a Bilateral Salpingo Oophorectomy. I was given this advice by an ex-Marsden genetics specialiast doctor.
Thanks for the info was going to ask when I went to the hospital about this as, acording to the information I have found about the operation the risk of overian cancer is reduced by 80% so as you say there is still a risk of 20% and nothing in life is 100%. I’m going to ask if I can have everything taken out the womb overies and tubes but not to sure what the implications of this will be re recovery time and can they still do this via keyhole surgery.
I dont know if this relevant to your predicament or not but I has a WLE 10 Jan. 1.8cm grade 2 margins and 5 removed nodes clear. I have been offered a 94% survival in 10 years(plus) with 19 sessions of radiotherapy 5 years of tamoxifen and 2 years of zoladex to shut down my overies with possibility to remove them in the future. I was what my oncologist classified as 100% er positive and 80% pr positive. If I went the chemo route my survival %only increased to 94.8%and they recommended the zoladex route. I am 39 (40 in June). I think my NTI came in at 3.36 also borderline and too had prepared myself for chemo.
I decided to take the zoladex and possible ovary removal option as 94% sounded pretty good to me especially when I was looking at 85 - 89% before I spoke to the oncologist.
Like I said not sure if the info is any use but thought it sounded similar to you.
Good luck with everything and making the decision its awful when they give you choices sometimes isnt it.
Shonagh xx
Your treatment sounds very much the same as mine, I think zoladex is the implant that I had and will continue to have till the operation to have my overies removed some time this year, I feel more comfortable with my decision now, my 10 year servival rate with chemo 90% without chemo and overies removed 90% so no difference and a lot better recovery as chemo would be for 18 weeks as aposed to 4 to 5 weeks after overies removed to recover from operation, you are right giving you a choice is not that easy but I do have a choice others dont, hope all goes well with your treatment let me know how you go on as we seem to be doing this journey togeather with the same treatment plan.
It certainly does sound like we are on the same path. I have got my radiotherapy planning at Christies on the 19th so not sure when I will start. Its nice sometimes to be almost on the same path as someone isnt it? I think I will probably be having the overy removal at the end of the the 2 years injections unless I have massive side effects to the injections.
I will keep a watch out for you in here, to be honest I’m a bit addicted to watching for new comments at the minute. It stops me becoming hooked on daytime telly!!LOL.