Prophylactic oophorectomy based on family history alone

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ekb88
ekb88 Member Posts: 8
edited May 2018 in High Risk for Breast Cancer

Hi all. I am scheduled for a prophylactic oophorectomy in a few weeks. I had a lumpectomy for DCIS in the fall. While my genetic test came back negative, I have a sister who had stage 2 cancer, a mother dx with ovarian cancer in her 40's (died in her 50's), one of her sisters with stage 1 breast cancer, and their mother died of breast cancer as well. Based on this, my medical oncologist strongly encouraged me to consider getting my ovaries out. I now have the surgery scheduled and plan to go through with it. I'm just wondering if anyone else was in the same boat, and decided to proceed with getting their ovaries out based on family history alone, even with negative genetic testing.


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  • NikJ
    NikJ Member Posts: 24
    edited March 2018

    Hi ekb88, I actually just got the surgery last week. I did not get the genetic test because there wasn't breast cancer in my family (that I know of). However, both my Mother and Grandmother had hysterectomies. They didn't have cancer just other complications. Unfortunately my Mother passed away at 40 (car accident) so I would never know if she would have developed cancer. Since my breast cancer was 95% Estrogen and 90% Progesterone I decided to have the oophorectomy. As I look back my horomones have given me problems all throughout my adult life so the decision was easy for me. I hope I made the right decision and just so you know the procedure itself was not that bad. My oncologist was fully on board with it and said that most of her patients are doing it. Best wishes!

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  • Peacetoallcuzweneedit
    Peacetoallcuzweneedit Member Posts: 233
    edited March 2018

    yes me....i had genetic testing done. I was negative for 34 cancer causing genes. Cancer everywhere in my family...aunts and uncles - no other breast cancer. My little sister passed at 34 from uterine cancer but actually it was carcinosarcoma.... aggressive.....I had a bilateral breast cancer and cervical cancer in situ diagnosed same week.....ovaries came out. My gyn onc said safest decision. I had above 5 medical opinions - mostly 50-50 split on ovary removal.

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  • Peacetoallcuzweneedit
    Peacetoallcuzweneedit Member Posts: 233
    edited March 2018

    The surgery was easy - the recovery ok as well....I wish you well! Sending healing -

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  • ekb88
    ekb88 Member Posts: 8
    edited May 2018

    Just wanted to come back and update this topic. I had my surgery a few days ago. It was fine. No walk in the park, but not the worst thing I've ever done either! I'm comfortable that it was the right decision, but I still have alot of feelings around it. My mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer some 35+ years ago, so I feel like this was a long time coming for me. I think I'm still processing the whole thing. Much thanks to the ladies who responded above!

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  • Peacetoallcuzweneedit
    Peacetoallcuzweneedit Member Posts: 233
    edited May 2018

    So glad you got through it and are doing well....I processed a lot as well after....I think after the hysterectomy +ooph is when I starting processing how much life had changed since May 5th when I was diagnosed.....

    I hope you continue to heal well! We are here for you! Sending positive thoughts and healing comfort!

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