Anyone have an oophorectomy?

ninel · July 2009

I am 34, BRCA1+ and decided I have no choice but to get the surgery. My surgery is coming up on July 13th. I have to be honest. I am more scared about this procedure than my bilateral mastectomy.

I'm afraid it will change me, my personality, my relationship with my husband.

Has anyone else gone through this surgery? How much did it alter you and your relationship?

Ninel

everyminute · July 2009

I was 39 at diagnosis - 40 now. Felt since my bc was er/pr and I was stage 3 that it was neccesary for me. I had total hyst (laproscopically) in Dec and I am doing fine . I too was afraid it would affect our sex life and hasnt. Nor do I think I am moody, etc. I do have hotflashes and joint pain - not sure if that is medication related or from hyst or from chemo

Feel free to pm me

cancerkicker · July 2009

I am 36 and had a total hysterectomy last summer. My gyno explained to me that if I kept my uterus that I would still have bleeding after the surgery and wouldn't know how much and when and so I opted to do the full hysterectomy and haven't regretted it.

I do get hot flashes but I get them from both the lack of estrogen and from medicine I have to take.

I will say that I don't really have a sex drive anymore. It's not that I don't like it - it's just harder for me to get into the frame of mind. I enjoy it once I get there I guess you could say.

I love not having to worry about a period or having to buy tampons!!

ninel · July 2009

Thats what I'm afraid of...not being in that frame of mind anymore.

lisalisa · July 2009

I'm stage III and ER+ just like everyminute. I just want the estrogen gone!

I met with a gyn onc and we talked it over. I was debating between the ooph and a total hysto. Decided to just be done with it all. Mine is scheduled for early august. At this point, I'm much more concerned with being cancer free than my sex drive LOL! but, I'm older than you!

Let us know what you decide! Also, there is a website called hystersisters that may help you with your decision! Good luck!

ninel · July 2009

Oh...there is no decision. I'm getting it done. Its already scheduled for July 13th. I'm still afraid of the after effects of it.

lisalisa · July 2009

Sorry Ninel! I read too fast!

Like you, I feel like I MUST get the surgery! Hope it's easy on you and the side effects aren't bad!

Just curious....did you do a bone density scan? I'm doing mine tomorrow so I'll know my "before" density to see what happens after. I'll also be taking zometa.

ninel · July 2009

Yes, I had a bone density test before I started chemo.

hollyann · July 2009

Well, being an "older" poster, (45), I had a total hyst ooph and cervical removal.......At first all was well after I healed up but in the last 2 months I have felt pain during ut after a while I was ok....I think because of my age i am just drying up LOL......I don't know but I have found A few things that help, KY being the best so far......I wish all you hyster sisters the best.......

lisalisa · July 2009

Hollyann, I'm an "oldster" like you. What kind of pain are you having? during sex? or otherwise? have you talked to your dr?

just want to know what i'm getting into LOL!

cancerkicker · July 2009

Ninel -

One thing to keep in mind: Sometimes I think if we think or worry about something too much it does come to haunt us. Like side effects for example. I try not to get too caught up in them unless I am feeling them so I don't make myself have them. Know what I mean?

It is quite possible that you won't lose your sex drive. Look at all the menopausal women who claim to have a healthy sex life? Cougars anyone?! Sealed

SInce my hysterctomy, I would say that we have sex once a week mostly - sometimes less rarely more. I don't think that is too shabby everything considered.

Definitely invest in some lubrication. I actually like this one by Pure Romance - it's not so sticky. I had a hard time adjusting to having to use lubrication. To me it felt like failure on my part - but I got it over it.

Good luck to you!

Nelke01 · December 2009

Had a total hysterectomy May 2009

sur5r · January 2010

I was 29 when I found out I had stage II Breast Cancer. Also, I had a oophorectomy on Dec 6, 2008. I have hotflashes but work closing with my doctors with medicine. I feel like I have them under control. How are you doing?

Summer23 · January 2010

Which hormone meds have any of you been taking for ER+? I'm at the point right now where I need to decide if I want to be on Tamox or Arimidex. I also had oophorectomy in December (was premenopausal before that).

TiffanyF4 · February 2010

Im 34 BRCA 1 Positive. I will be having full hysterectomy in May. It is scary thinking it will make me moody or ruin my sex life but then on the flip side I don't want to worry about ovarian cancer! It is all very scarey after going through mastectomy, chemo, radiation it's worth it to me, but it is still very hard.

ElkeMom09 · March 2010

TAH/BSO 2009

ElkeMom09 · March 2010

TAH/BSO 2009

Mom2aej · April 2010

Hi gals!. I'm glad I found this topic. I'm in the waiting stage for my BRCA results. I am 40, no where near menopause, (my mom was put into chemo menopause at 52) and have been diagnosed with IDC. I have already opted for the BMX that is a given for me at this point. The last hold out for me is the BRCA results. If it comes back positive I have been told the ovaries go as well. My questions is what happens afterwords. Are you given any hormones or drug therapy afterwords. I'm not sure I'm liking some of the risks loosing the ovaries leads to any better than keeping them. (Heart issues, cholesterol issues, bone issues, all of which I also have issues in the family with as well).

Sex.. Well I that is also something I'm concerned about as is my DH.

soccermom97 · April 2010

Hi Mom2aej!!

I too am waiting on my BRCA results...should be anyday now!! I had a BMX on 3/31 with expanders put in, now I'm just waiting to heal a little so I can schedule a hysterectomy. My onc told me that since I am ER+/PR+ that I will never be able to take any hormones again. I will have to deal with the hot flashes on my own. The genetic counselor that I met with at Cleveland Clinic said if BRCA1 is + than there is a 60% likeliness of developing ovarian cancer, BRCA2 + is 30%ish chance of developing ovarian cancer, and if both are negative than the chance of developing ovarian cancer is 13%.....which is still high considering the general population has a <1% chance....i guess it all comes down to personal choice. For me 13% is still too high, as I have 4 children who deserve a lifetime. As far as sex goes, I've heard different stories and am not the best one to answer as I have yet to have the surgery.....Best of luck to you!!!!

Dawn

ninel · April 2010

Hi Dawn,

I have gone through my surgery since I last posted. I have to tell you it's like natural menopause. The severity of the symptoms hit everyone differently. It definitely hit me hard in the sex dept. I completely dried up with no drive at all. I had to force myself to do it for my husband's sake. My hot flashes on the other hand weren't too bad. They're much better now. I get them every once in a while.

They normally dont want to put you on any kind of hormonal treatment, but my oncologist prescribed Estring for me. It's a vaginal ring that needs to be changed every 3 months. She said the hormones don't get absorbed into the bloodstream and it's only for the vaginal issues. That ring has worked miracles for me. I can't say that my sex drive came back to what it was before Cancer, but at least now I have sensation and am not dry anymore. Talk to your oncologist/OBGYN.

Good luck,

Ninel.

ninel · April 2010

Sorry...The post was meant for Mom2aej.

Mom2aej · April 2010

Ninel, Glad to hear there is some hope. (Sex wise). I'm just not sure what to expect. Most people tell you it should be similar to what your mom went through. Unfortunately she is no longer around for me to ask. She was Diagnosed at 52 with BC and that put her into menopause. Unfortunately I was dealing with my triplet pg at the same time she was dealing with BC so I couldn't help as much. I also didn't know which symptoms she was dealing with were menopausal or chemo related so I really don't have a clue what I could be in for. I guess its just something I have to wait it out and see how it goes. (not very good with that part of things. Laughing )

Thanks again.

Barbara76 · May 2010

I had a TAH/BSO February 2008

geogina · May 2010

I had a bilateral oopherectomy 5 years ago, after finding mets in my bones. My cancer was estrogen driven. In order to undergo the treatment my oncologist suggested, I had to have the procedure, I was 32 at the time. After going thru the surgery, which took about 4 days to recover from, to be honest things did change. I found that menopause was here to stay, hot flashes and all. My sex drive did decrease and I ended up going thru a depression. It is a fairly simple surgery (compared to the mastectomy), but as I said I changed. You can become irritable, temperamental, easily frustrated, and you may go thru a depression. I went thru all of the above and ended up being diagnosed as bipolar. They don't tell you that there is a possibility that most woman who go thru this surgery and a mastectomy may end up developing depression at some point in their life, due to the mental and emotional stress you are under. If you can, join a support group, talk to friends, or seek counselling. The best thing you can do about it is talk. Take it from me, I have been battling for 8yrs and waiting on results of a possible spread. Stay positive and live your life to the fullest. God bless.

sueglader · May 2010

Yes, at age 38. I took a year to think about whether I wanted it, but in the end, the estrogen positive nature of my tumor, my love for my family as it stood (one young son), and my level of worry for something coming back made me do it.

I recovered from the surgery easily. I can't even see the scars anymore.

Slamming into menopause at 38 was hard, though. Gained weight. Night sweats. Make sure you realize you can't eat like you used to at 20.

Perhaps this is crass, but not having to worry about birth control was a plus.

jessamine · May 2010

I had the ooph because of my BRCA status... I wouldn't change that, I don't feel like I had much choice, but for anyone who is BRCA- --I would not do it. It's been very hard for me. It's been 9 months and I still have hot flashes, all the time. I use the estring but it's still nothing like before- I have to use tons of lube too and it's still kind of tender (in a bad way) and I have a lot of difficulty reaching orgasm (sorry to be so blunt but I think people should know). And I will have these problems for the rest of my life. I hate it.

Additionally, it raises the risk of heart disease, which is the actual #1 killer of women in this country.

I think it's being proposed recklessly for hormone+ breast cancer- it's a huge deal, and they're doing them so much right now... Think twice.

7of9 · January 2016

I am getting one in two weeks. My cancer has returned in the Aux nodes and it's still very ER hungry. The onc gyn says our Ovaries will secret low levels of estrogen for years.... Probably into my fifties even though I may be perimenapausal my mother's side had women popping babies out until late 40s. I wanted these damn things out three years ago. I eat healthy, don't drink or smoke and walking my boxer and cutting my own grass has my heart health covered to me. I survived the chemo pause hot flashes the first time and symptoms were a breeze compared to ulcerative colitis flare ups. The AIs will work better and give me the best chance of seeing my son grow up. ALND and oopherectomy in two weeks. Bring it on! Angelina did it.. So can I!