Did any ladies get ovarian suppression?

Hi Hyla,

by the time I was given tamoxifen I was at Stage IV - so they had to hit it with ovarian suppression/Zoladex as well as I have ER+ PR+ and HER2- disease and despite it being widespread the onc thought my best chance was with hormonal treatment - but the ovary suppression shot was (and still is) vital to stop oestrogen being produced - or at least reduce it. I was 37 at the time and I went from being very strong and well to being, well...not so strong. I went into menopause with the second monthly injection and there I have remained - getting gradually slower with arthritic pains and a few other side effects which I would probably have not experienced until I was much older - but then without this treatment - I would never have got there...its a tough gig and the decision for ovary suppression truly depends on just how hormonally dependent your disease is - if it is highly dependent and you are young - 5 years of suppression and tamox may be worth the SEs - good news is - SEs go once you go off meds - of course at Stage IV - that won't happen for me - but caught early the thinking is treating you with oestrogen deprivation for 5 years gives your body a chance to overcome any lingering cells - I also noticed that if you keep up your exercise and watch the carbs - the effects can be minimal - as for the bones - depending on your age and build and your response to the treatment - you may experience very little loss - or if you experience significant loss - and they will test this - you could taken bisphophates to counter act this or seriously - eat yoghurt and walk to keep up the density - sometimes it is as simple as that....you are in a tough place being young and probably not feeling as though this is worth the SEs - I was in the same position and told no nodes involved - I did not bother with adjuvant treatment - I am bothering with treatment now!!! Good luck

I did injections for 5 years with stage 1 bc.  After that, they cut me loose. 

My cancer did come back 8 years after original dx and so I had my ovaries removed. 

Jessica

Ive been on Lupron + Tamoxifen since June 2008...

Hi hyla,

 I have been on Zoladex - which seems to be similar to Lupron for over 6 years - not sure why your onc was so sure it could only be taken for 3.5 years - it is still working for me....and yes I failed to take tamox at initial diagnosis - I was told the surgeon had got it all and early so treatment was really optional - well - not really

I am on Lupron and Tamoxifen since May 2010