Hi, I’ve been diagnosed with very invasive and advanced lobular breast cancer in 2021 and was put in the medically induced menopause. I am on 3 monthly Prostap injections and Letrozole only at the moment. The question I have is what are the pros and cons of removing my ovaries? I am very conflicted and not sure what to do…
LBC is not behaving like all the other types of breast cancer and because of it’s unique biology there is not that much research done of where it can become metastatic. It’s usually in the bones and liver but I’ve been reading that LBC is sneaky and can spread to the ovaries and digestive system instead. As my tumor was very big 12.5 cm and spread to the lymph nodes I am really anxious about the cancer coming back…I know that at the moment I am on Letrozole and that’s suppressing my ovaries but what about in 5 or 10 years time?
My other post was closed because the BCN nurses replied to me but I still can’t make up my mind and am posting again in the hope that I will get more replies…it’s a very personal decision but for once I don’t know what to do. My oncologist has said that he will support me in whatever decision I make but I am stuck!
Hi, I’m in a similar situation and also thinking about having my ovaries removed. I already had an appointment to go over the pros and cons. I was peri menopausal when I was diagnosed (at 49), and now I get monthly injections to shut down my ovaries and induce menopause. I also take letrozole, because even after menopause, women still produce estrogen from fat.
I was told that the monthly injections are just as effective as removing the ovaries, and there aren’t any studies showing a big benefit to removing them instead of inactivating them. The tricky part is figuring out when to stop the injections—basically, when am I considered fully menopausal? They would have to check my hormone levels to know for sure, but it’s not always clear when I no longer need the injections.
Removing the ovaries would take away that uncertainty, since you’d be sure there’s no estrogen being produced. With the injections, it’s just an assumption. The downside to removing the ovaries is the loss of testosterone, which could affect libido. That’s what I’ve understood so far.
Hi @marie911 thanks so much for all the info. I was 43 when first diagnosed and put straight in the medically induced menopause. I know that oestrogen can be produced by the adrenal gland as well…so in a way the injections are pretty good in keeping levels of oestrogen to a minimum but I don’t want the cancer to come back in my ovaries.
In the past like the 90s two of my aunties on my mum’s side had BC and they both had full hysterectomies but this was I think the norm then. Though, they both passed away because of BC so not sure how much removing my ovaries will help.
My libido is so low now that my sex life is non-existent but I wasn’t aware about the testosterone part…I need to speak with my oncologist and see if he think it’s worth it but it will be my decision in the end…so so difficult…
