Bleeding after oophorectomy

MyBRCA2

help! I just had a double salpingo prophylactic oophorectomy on Sept 11 (brca2 positive) and the funny thing is I barely had any of the gas pain that I was worried about BUT I have been bleeding since Tuesday (4 days after surgery) heavy non-stop bleeding- my period apparently which I didn't think was possible after ovary removal!! I called the surgeon and they just said to go to my doctor to discuss birth control pill or HRT (which I am already taking). So they gave me a note for 2 weeks off too originally but I don't know how I will be able to work with this bleeding. It's constant and I am not allowed to wear a tampon!! Has anyone else had this problem? When will it stop???

farmerlucy

I had a D&C at the same time as an ooph and I expected bleeding which lasted about four weeks. It started again lightly for a couple more months. My gyn was not concerned and predicted it would stop which it did. She felt like the uterus was still under the spell of Tamoxifen and hormones and it would take some time to adjust.

MyBRCA2

thank you for your response! I can't decide if I should stop the HRT to see if that is making the bleeding worse

farmerlucy

I'm a bit surprised your docs are good with the HRT, due to the BRCA risk but what do I know?

MyBRCA2

I know! I am too!!! The surgeon's answer to that was that the BRCA2 type of cancer isn't affected by estrogen???? Honestly, that's what she said. Why am I taking my ovaries out again then??? I was adamant I didn't want to take it. They told me to take it and not cause myself menopausal symptoms as I am only 40! I don't know what to do!

39andhip

MyBRCA2 - BRCA does put you at higher risk for ovarian cancer, so perhaps that's why the oophorectomy was suggested? I'm sorry you're having to go through this. I am also 40 and will soon need to decide if I want a prophylactic ooph. Using 'want' loosely, of course.

farmerlucy

that's very interesting. Have you checked out the FORCE website? I'd bet some of those ladies have experienced something similar. I'm telling you if the docs gave me the blessing to take HRT I'd certainly consider it. Perhaps BRCA2 mutations are generally estrogen neg. maybe get a second opinion with an oncologist

39andhip

Sorry for the semi-hijack, but I was interested in HRT for BRCA1/2, so I looked into it.

According to the Komen foundation, TNBC is more common with BRCA1 whereas ER+ BC is more common with BRCA2: http://ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/InheritedGenetic...

However, according to this site, HRT is helpful for both BRCA1 and 2 carriers (plus, I knew Angelina Jolie said she was taking it):

http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/news/News_Releases/2011/...

It doesn't give a scientific explanation of how this works, but I guess it just goes to show that there are lots of unknowns in all of this.

I hope your bleeding resolves, MyBRCA2!

MyBRCA2

Thank you so much ladies!! I didn't take the HRT last night to see if the bleeding lessons but now I am thinking I should have taken it! Eeek! I will read the links you sent me! Thank you! Thank you!

I am going to a naturopath who told me once I recover she will help me so I don't need to take HRT and that the doctors never tell you that the adrenal glands can take over for what the ovaries did.

;-)

Moderators

MyBRCA2, how are you feeling? Has the bleeding lessened?

You may be interested in reading the main Breastcancer.org site's page on Using HRT and Breast Cancer Risk for some good info on the risks involved with this type of therapy.

We hope this helps! Please keep us posted on how you're doing.

--The Mods

MyBRCA2

hi there! Thank you for asking! I finally stopped bleeding after about 6 days. I will definitely check out the link you sent me!