I’m 39 years old, otherwise health married mother of two girls aged 4 and 1.
I was diagnosed with stage 1 grade 2 cancer on 22 September and had my lumpectomy on 22 October with sentinel node removal. I was told that micro cancer cells were found 1.5mm into the sentinel node but it was removed. My margins were clear but the deep margin only by 0.2mm.
I met the oncologist for the first time on Friday and he said that radiotherapy was a given (5 sessions + 5 sessions boost). They have sent my sample for onko DX testing to see if chemotherapy would be beneficial and the results will take another couple of weeks. My cancer is invasive ductal carcinoma ER+ HER2-. The Doctor is recommending 10 years hormone therapy not tamoxifen but the other two that suppress hormone production (I presume because I’m cancer was highly ER+ 8/8). He also suggested that some people opt to have their ovaries removed so stem oestrogen production.
My husband and I have decided we are done having children but I wanted to hear others experience of having the oestrogen suppressing drugs or from those that have had their ovaries removed. I know both push you into menopause - something I hadn’t expected to think about yet but I wanted to understand how the side effects really feel for people and how they made the decision to have their ovaries removed or not.
I’m trying to think practically and focus on maximising my chances of being around for as long as possible for my family but I’m completely floored by what my body/mind will have to go through and how I will cope with that.
I am also considering having my ovaries removed and will meet with a gynechologist oncologist next year on it. But it’s not a given that it will happen despite me having two close relatives with ovarian cancer (and I am negative for all actionable genes associated with ovarian and breast cancer). The reason are the side effects of having them removed. Quite simply statistically speaking their removal will decrease my natural life span. Ovaries, even after menopause, still secrete a minute amount of hormones and experts now believe these hormones are vital for brain, cardiovascular, and bone health. Being hormone positive breast cancer patients we can’t replace these hormones so if our ovaries are removed we’re on our own trying to mitigate the side effects. It’s not impossible to do so but it’s tough. Granted their removal also helps breast cancer not to come back but dementia or a heart attack isn’t anything we want either. Anyway shutting down your ovaries 10 years is one thing but a lifetime is something else. So for this decision, the risks versus the rewards has to be carefully considered and perhaps you need to speak to some other experts (gynechologist perhaps) to help you make the rights decision for yourself.
The good news is you have plenty of time to make your decision. I am on ovarian suppressing drugs with an AI right now and my oncologist wants me on that for at least six months before we explore ovarian removal. So I’m still fighting my cancer even as I have my ovaries so I’m in no rush. You don’t have to be either.
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Hi there, I’m reopening this topic as I’m considering having my ovaries removed instead of having the monthly injections to inactivate my ovaries. @Kay0987 @tankhal what did you decide at the end and how is it going? any others with some experience on this topic?
Hi Marie! Ovaries disappeared earlier this year 
I went to see a gynecologist oncologist and she thought the decision was a no brainer considering our family history. As far as the surgery went it was easy peasy. Couldn’t exercise my abdomen for a little while which drove me crazy because I was raring to go after a few days but that was the only real downside. No symptoms that I weren’t used to except for the first month or so afterwards I had more frequent hot flashes. And not having the ovarian suppression shots is just marvelous. I do of course worry more about aging now but it is what it is. I’ll just exercise, go to appointments when I’m supposed and basically do the best I can.
Hi,
I had my ovaries removed and I don’t regret it at all. As Kay mentioned, not having to go for the injections is wonderful and also for me, everytime I bloat now, I don’t spiral into a panic like I used to.
The operation is simple and recovery fast. I did get more menopausal symptoms straight after (more hot flushes) but nothing too uncomfortable and it only lasted a couple of months.
Good luck with it all!
Lots of love
Carrott xx
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Thank you @Kay0987 and @Carrott. I’m happy to hear that you’re still happy with your decision and all went well. I have a consultation in 2 weeks but I think I pretty much decided to go for it ; I have monthly injection to inactivate my ovaries but no way to know if it’s 100% effective (they don’t check my oestrogens level) and I have a high risk for BC reoccurrence… Thank you for your reply 
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Good luck, Marie!! The chances are good you’ll have the same good outcome as Carrott and me.
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