45 and my onc wants me to remove my ovaries

Sunflower64

hi everyone,

i just finished my last chemo. next i have to have re-excision to get clear margins at my lumpectomy site, then off to 6 weeks radiation. my onco wants me to have my ovaries removed because i am premenopausal. i was put into menopause from the chemo. onco said my ovaries could wake up again and start to produce estrogen.  i am 45.  if she puts me on tamoxifen wouldn't that take care of the estrogen and block it?  or if i have my ovaries removed and i do go through menopause for sure then she would put me on something for post menopausal women. i need some information from all of you to help me make this decision. what are the risks and side effects to keeping them and having them removed?

thanks so much,

diane

momand2kids

Hi

I was premenopausal too-- after lumpectomy, chmeo and radiation-- we decided to go with a combination of lupron to shut down my ovaries and femara, which is an AI for post menopausal women--- my periods did stop with chemo- and I started the lupron in June---- 

I have the lupron shot once a month at my gyn and take the femara daily....

I too wondered what the difference would be--my onc and a second opinion onc both said that the efficacy of these drugs is the same as having your ovaries taken out.  Lupron essentially shuts down your ovaries so they are not producing estrogen---- 

I have thought about taking my ovaries out, but I just did not want to deal with it then---but they both felt that this was really the same thing--- and that at some point I might get tired of the shots and just want to take them out--- well, I don't right now---

It is a 5 year course--- so I may change my mind--I know a number of people who have done it this way--- the side effects of lupron is that it stops estrogen- so menopause essentially arrives--- I am still working out what is an se of lupron and of femara--but overall it has not been too bad--it is just that you are using another drug... some people tolerate it better than others.

I have decided on this course for now, but over the next year or two I am going to think about having my ovaries out--- just not sure it is necessary----- 

 It is funny--I would think with the lupron stopping my estrogen that there would be no need to take additional drugs, but alas, this is not true..... 

Congrats on the end of chemo--feel free to pm if you like

Anonymous

Hi, Diane.  I had my remaining ovary removed in 1997 because I had gotten a complete relapse of endometriosis - another estrogen dominent disease.  I went into menopause then (I am now 46) and it has not really interefered with my life at all except for the menopausal stuff.  Have they done BRCA testing on you?  If you are BRCA positive, they really like to get the ovaries out so you rule out ovarian cancer.  And, you are ER/PR positive like me, and yes, they are nervous about anything that will increase the production of estrogen.  Tamox doesn't block the estrogen like the AI's does, it redirects it from the breast (this is what my onc nurse told me).  I tried Femara first and couldn't handle the se's, so I am now on tamox even though I am postmenopausal and I'm doing well with it.

The surgery to remove it was fairly simple - a laporoscopy through the abdomen - so you are more sore than the breast surgery, because they are going into your abdomen, but it's not horrible.

Good luck with your decision.

kookiesmom

Hi Dianne - I am glad I found your post as I am sort of in the same boat.  I did not have chemo but can't take tamox. anymore.  It is a big decision whether to do ooph or shot.  I am 51 and premenopausal.  I did not have to do chemo as I had an early stage and had a BMX so no rads.  Hopefully more woman will let us know their experiences!

KerryMac

I had an ooph in July, after finishing Chemo and Rads. I have no regrets, and no different Se's than I already had from Chemopause.

I didn't want to have to go in every month for the shot, also my Onc thought Arimidex would be a better option for me than tamoxifen - she wouldn't give me an AI while I still had my ovaries in. She told me that in some peoplke (even if you think you are post-menopausal) having an AI can actually cause the ovaries to over-produce estrogen.

For me the surgery was not bad - less pain than the Mx, I was a bit uncomfortable and bloated (from the gas) for a week or two, but really it was not a big deal.