Oopherectomy??

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gfbaker
gfbaker Member Posts: 173
Oopherectomy??

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  • gfbaker
    gfbaker Member Posts: 173
    edited November 2009

    I am debating if I should get my ovaries removed or not. I have ER/PR+, and keep going in and out of chemo induced menopause (the periods I get are darn near hemorraging!). I am taking tamoxafin but worry that it might not help; I had very aggressive grade 2/3 with necrosis. But, I also have low bone density for my age (40). My onc won't give me an opinion one way or the other. Are there docs that specialize in this kind of thing that I can go to for a 2nd opinion? It's all a risk, I just want to take the best risk possible.

     Thanks,

    Gayle

  • flash
    flash Member Posts: 1,685
    edited November 2009

    There's a lot involved in your question.

    1. Statistically (remember group, not individual results) oopherectomy +AI does not confer any additional benefit compared to the lupron shots +AI.  You also have to consider the risk of any surgery. It is still surgery with its inherent risks.  It does hurt and it does have a recovery period.

    2. There is a statistical advantage to the AI's  BUT you are sacrificing the bone density.  There is also some a new research study which is raising some questions as to the accuracy of the advantage of the AI's. 

    3. It 's also been considered to be as effective if you do 2 yrs Tamoxofin and then switch to the AI's.  You may be at menopause naturally by then.

    4. It is still difficult to find ovarian cancer early enough , accurately and that can be a benefit of doing the oopherectomy.

    it is not unreasonable to get a second opinion.  It is a very personal thing and you need to get a good medical opiniion to make the decision.  You may want to also talk with your onc.  They may have already done the benefit/risk analysis for your particular situation. They just might be poor at expressing why they think the Tamoxofin is better for you.

    I hope it all works out. 

  • flash
    flash Member Posts: 1,685
    edited November 2009

    There's a lot involved in your question.

    1. Statistically (remember group, not individual results) oopherectomy +AI does not confer any additional benefit compared to the lupron shots +AI.  You also have to consider the risk of any surgery. It is still surgery with its inherent risks.  It does hurt and it does have a recovery period.

    2. There is a statistical advantage to the AI's  BUT you are sacrificing the bone density.  There is also a newer research study which is raising some questions as to the accuracy of the advantage of the AI's over tamoxofin. 

    3. It 's also been considered to be as effective if you do 2 yrs Tamoxofin and then switch to the AI's.  You may be at menopause naturally by then.

    4. It is still difficult to find ovarian cancer early enough , accurately and that can be a benefit of doing the oopherectomy.

    it is not unreasonable to get a second opinion.  It is a very personal thing and you need to get a good medical opiniion to make the decision.  You may want to also talk with your onc.  They may have already done the benefit/risk analysis for your particular situation. They just might be poor at expressing why they think the Tamoxofin is better for you.

    Having said all that, I have to admit that I chose the oopherectomy route but I also had more history and other things that lead to the decision for me.

    I hope it all works out for you. 

  • swmmom
    swmmom Member Posts: 73
    edited November 2009

    I was also ER+ with grade 3 tumor. My doctors recommended oopheractomy so that I could get on Arimidex.  My surgeon and oncolgoist both said that even though chemo pushed me into menapouse there was still a risk that my period could come back. They said arimidex was superior to tamoxifen and if I wanted to use Arimidex they both suggested getting the surgery. I am so happy I had it done. It was a very easy surgery with no complications. I have been on Arimidex for two years now and my recent bone density test results were perfectly normal. I also get  Zometa every 6 months and I think Zometa has been helping my bone density greatly. I would highly recommend getting the surgery. 

  • KattyC
    KattyC Member Posts: 16
    edited November 2009

    I was Stage 1c, ER+ with grade 2 tumor in 2001.  Had 4 rounds A/C, rads, tamoxifen, and 7 rounds of zoladex.  In addition I would get uterine fibroids (fed by estrogen).  Finished all treatments in 2006.  I recently recurred with mets to the liver.  Good news is it's one tumor and can be resected.  Biopsy is ER/PR+.  My Onc and her cancer team unanimously agreed that an oopheractomy is reasonable in my case and AI will be added to treatment after recuperation from surgery.

    Without question I would seek another opinion.  Remember, it's your body and your life.  Good luck with your decision.

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