Benefits of complete hyster?

mzmiller99

Hi, sisters - I have my yearly check up with bs on Thursday.  Last year, during tx, she mentioned having my ovaries out this summer, Which I was all for, since ovarian cancer has been a huge fear for me. 

 Lately, I've had spotting - trans-vaginal ultrasound showed fibroids.  Something new for me. 

 So, what I'm wondering is, should I push to have the whole mess out? I know it's surgery and there are risks, but are there any reasons I should want to keep all my parts?

Are there any percentages for gyno-type cancer after bc?

Have anyone had their female equipment out after tx for bc?

Hope someone can help.

Anonymous

Yep , I certainly did at 46 yrs old due to the fact that the tumor I had was 95% er positive..not one of my doctors blinked an eye at having a complete hysterectomy for that sole reason...I never had any other issues with the female organs but was told by my gyn after my hysterectomy that I had made a good decision to do the complete as both ovaries and uterus were covered with cysts that we never knew about....of course they tested everything and it all (thankfully) came back b-9 but he said he felt that I was a ticking bomb just waiting to go off.

I feel it is really your choice but I dont see a reason to keep those parts if they are no longer needed and potentially could cause issues down the road.

Best wishes

Jule

susan_CNY

I had hysterectomy at 32, kept ovaries. At 52 after being dx with bc I questioned removing them, but onco felt unneccesary since I had already been through natural menopause at 45 and ovaries were checked by ultrasound  the previous year (when gyno felt my protruding colon tumor and was unsure what it was.) Sorry you are in this predicament, I agree with get anything not needed out. Feel better soon. You sound very stressed, hugs

swimangel72

Susan the spotting is a worry - are you postmenopausal? Much depends on your age. I went through the same difficult decision process a couple of months ago. I got it in my head that I needed a TAH and OOPH because of a fibroid that's been there for years, a thickened endometrium and small non-symptomatic cysts on my ovaries. I wrote a letter to a gynecologic oncologist my general surgeon recommended,  explaining to him how I am a breast cancer patient and at the age of 54 think it would be beneficial to remove these "useless" organs especially since I need to undergo opened abdominal surgery anyway in July (to repair my hernia and remove my gall bladder.) The gyno-onc was totally against it - saying he only believes in "evidenced-based medicine" and the studies show that I wasn't at any more risk of getting gynecologic cancer than the normal population of women. I disagreed with him - and arm-wrestled with him for about a month - he went so far as to giving me an endometrial biopsy (which was normal) but still I was insisting on this surgery. I only changed my mind about a month ago when a doctor-friend told me I would be at an increased risk for infection considering the length of such a surgery. My 7 hour mx and free-tram already resulted in a MRSA staph infection in my abdomen, so I decided against the hysterectomy and ooph and will just get the surgery that must be done.

I am so very afraid of getting endometrial or ovarian cancer because these are hard to test for...........at least Pap smears can test for cervical cancer. However, now I am second-guessing myself again  because a woman I work with has just been dx'd with Stage 3 endometrial cancer. She was the picture of health - 54 years old, post-menopausal like me, never any problems, when she suddenly started spotting. Her pap smear just 6 months ago was fine. She just had all her organs removed laproscopically (and she's doing well) but now she must endure very heavy-duty chemo and rads. My heart is aching for her (she's a good friend) - and it makes me worry even more that maybe I should go through with this surgery!

I hope you're getting good advice from your doctors - it's such a difficult decision. Good luck and let us know what you decide to do!

mzmiller99

Susan, Swim, and Jule - Thank you for your responses. 

 Since I'm 62, my parts have been useless for many years. 

 And, while I don't relish the thought of more surgery, I'm leaning in that direction, unless Dr. P. can convince me otherwise.

(I wonder if the recovery time is as long with the laproscopic surgery as with the traditional?)

Anonymous

Mzmiller

Mine was laproscopic and my recovery time was supposedly a month to 6 wks....I went back to work full time at 2 1/2 weeks but felt that I could have gone back a week or so later..I obviously was blessed with no difficulties, but everyone is different.

Im very active and other wise healthy so I think that helped alot.

Good luck with your decision making.

Jule