total hysterectomy vs oophorectomy

tbayer

I am 45 and had breast ca reocurrence last summer, finished chemo 1/2015, finished radiation 4/2015 and now have opted not to retry Tamoxifen because of side effects 1st time around. Oophorectomy had been recommended by my MO....

I just got back from GYN appt. This is the 2nd time I've spoken with her about oophorectomy and each time she leans towards a total hysteretomy. She didn't give me any medical reason why hysterecomty over only ooph other than that's kind of standard practice. She would do ooph if I wanted but doesn't see any reason to leave uterus.

My MO recommended just ooph and says there's no significant reason for me to have hysterectomy, my chances of uterine cancer are not significantly greater than woman withough breast ca history, larger procedure doing hysterectomy.

Any thoughts? I went in to discuss ooph and came out signed up for hysterectomy a month from now but why take something else out if I don't need to?

Thanks,

Tori

kebab

I'm about the same age as you and had an ooph done 2 years ago. I was the one looking at hysterectomy -- I wanted anything that could be causing problems gone. My gyn felt strongly that the ooph was all that was needed (a) because the risk of uterine cancer is low; (b) it's much less invasive surgery with much easier recovery; (c) being so "young", I needed the uterus in there as a placeholder, so to speak, to keep all of my other organs from dropping down and causing other issues later on. That was good enough for me. It makes sense to me to only take what is required if there's no real reason to take more, and keep my body as intact as possible so as not to cause further complications down the road.

Hope that helps. Good luck with your decision.

Holeinone

I had a hyster at age 45 due to severe anemia caused by fibroid tumors. He took a ovary & left one.

This was pre Cancer, but for me, it was the best decision ever made. Obviously your situation is different. It would keep you from having pap exams, & having another body part to go bad.

Spookiesmom

I had one ovary out at about 30. Then hyster at 35. BEST surgery I've ever had, and there's been a lot. No more of that monthly crappola.

Leah_S

I had an ooph, left the uterus. As Kebab said, it helps keep the other organs where they should be, and there's less chance of bladder prolapse. "Standard practice" is not a medical reason. Why have a more difficult surgery if you can avoid it?

BTW, no ovaries=no periods so that doesn't have to be a consideration.

Best of luck.

Leah

inks

I'm with kebab and Leah, leave the uterus - less chance of all sorts of prolapse and do you really need such an invasive surgery when you have had a recurrence? My laprascopic oophorectomy was very easy, no bladder issues whatsoever and my vagina is not falling out. Why take on the risks of side effects when you don't have to. My surgery was done by a gynecologic oncologist and he did not even bring up taking the uterus.