Hi Luskentyre1,
Thank you for posting. It sounds like a complex situation and it’s understandable that you have questions about the options of ovarian suppression which your oncologist has mentioned. It sounds like it will be helpful to talk to your breast care nurse about these options in more detail. They will be able to liaise with both your oncologist and surgeon, and clarify the reasons why your oncologist is considering the surgical removal of your ovaries (oophorectomy) in your situation. This not usually routinely offered unless you are found to have an inherited gene alteration.
They will also confirm how long you are prescribed letrozole for, as this usually continues regardless of the type of ovarian suppression you have.
You mention that that you are in your early 40s and you are not yet post-menopausal. If you’ve not already had one, your surgeon may sometimes suggest a blood test in the first instance to fully assess your menopausal status and guide treatment decisions.
If you are found to be post-menopausal, then you will not need to continue with Zoladex injections and can continue on the letrozole treatment without ovarian suppression. .
If your blood test shows that you are premenopausal then it may be recommended that you continue on Zoladex and letrozole for up to a further 5 years. As you may be aware these treatments can cause menopausal symptoms.
Removing the ovaries is a more permanent and irreversible treatment. If ovary removal is recommended for you, it can usually be done as keyhole surgery (laparoscopy) and as a day case procedure under general anaesthetic. Sometimes keyhole surgery is not possible and an incision to the abdomen is required. Removing the ovaries will mean an immediate and permanent menopause and you may continue to experience menopausal symptoms.
The menopausal side effects experienced following an oophorectomy and from medical ovarian suppression such as Zoladex vary from person to person, so it is difficult for us to say which treatment may be better for you. It may help you to know that treatment decisions should be discussed in the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) meetings.
Although having a diagnosis of breast cancer can slightly increase the risk of developing other cancers in the future, there are also many factors that can influence your risk. Your treatment team are best placed to answer questions about your individual risk of developing an ovarian cancer.
You may be interested in our support tailored specifically for younger women with primary breast cancer who are aged between 18-45 years. This includes our Younger Women Together events that are run face to face and online. This support offers the opportunity to meet and share experiences with other younger women and get expert information in a confidential space. More information can be found on the links above.
You may also be interested in The Younger Breast Cancer Support Group (YBCSG) which is a private Facebook group run by young women for young women (18-45 years) who’ve had breast cancer. To join, go to Facebook and search ‘Younger Breast Cancer Support Group’ and send them a private message.
Some people find talking with another younger woman who’s been diagnosed with breast cancer helpful. Our Someone Like Me service can match you with a trained volunteer who’s had a similar experience to you. They’ll contact you by phone call or email to answer your questions, offer support or simply listen. You can ring the Someone Like Me team on 0800 138 6551 or email them at someone.likeme@breastcancernow.org so they can then match you to your volunteer.
Do call our helpline if you would like to talk this through or have any further questions. The helpline team have time to listen, talk things through and signpost you to additional support and information if necessary. Your call will be confidential, and the number is free from UK landlines and all mobile networks.
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Best wishes,
Katy
Breast Care Nurse
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