Complete hysterectomy, should I? after est.+ BC

I finished up my  treatment this past Nov, Lumpectomy, chemo, and rads. I had a total hysterectomy in Dec. I am not sure how much that decreased my chances of recurrence but for me it was an easy decision. My thoughts were that if it was estrogen positive I wanted to do whatever I could to get rid of it. I figured it had to improve my chances. The surgery itself was very easy and I havent felt any different since having it. I do not have any side effects from having it done and was put on Arimidex. I hope you will find peace in making that decision.

I absolutely agree with Cindy - why the full hysterectomy? I had my ovaries and tubes removed (bilateral salpingo-oopherectomy) and it was a very simple day procedure. Tamoxifen can increase risk of developing uterine cancer - but the risk is very small and certainly no reason to remove your uterus!  I would definitely not go down the hyst route - especially as you have no other problems down there.

Good luck.

The only thing that may help with reducing your BC recurrence is to remove the ovaries. Also, reduce any ovarian cancer risk.

Unless you have some family history of uterine cancer,cervix ect or fibroids/cysts that are causing problems....why do a hysterectomy?

It kinda scares me that woman start trying to remove every organ out of their bodies because of some "risk". We are human...we have cells in our bodies. We are exposed daily to carcinogens through out food and the air....everyone is at some risk of cancer(s). Cancer or no cancer....

Sorry, for ranting...but I just dont get it.

Good luck with your decision.

Kerry when did you start the shots-while on chemo?

I don't know if there is a right or wrong choice as far as total hyster or just the ooph...just a personal choice.  I did it all.  I came back a poor metabolizer for Tamox and I made what I consider to be the best decision I could make with the information I had at the time.  The ooph was going to put me into early meno, I am 37, and I knew that with bilateral hormone + BC I would never go through the meds it would take to support an assisted pregnancy so I had it all out. The hormones go with the ovaries and I thought that if I was not going to use the uterus or tubes then they could go as well.  I did not want to worry about uterine cancer down the road and looking back this decision may have been made in haste but I don't regret it. I have had times where I mourn.  I had been trying to get pregnant for about 3 years prior to my BC diagnosis and hubby and I tested completely, frustratingly normal as far as fertility was concerned.  It just did not happen.  I mourn that I will not carry a baby and that without a uterus I can not change my mind down the road about an assisted pregnancy but we are in the middle of our adoption process so parents we will be.  Anyway I did do Lupron shots during chemo, to protect my ovaries (what irony now!), and I just wanted to be done with this mess so I decided on the surgery. I have had little to no side effects, sometimes I pray for a hot flash because it is so freakin cold in my office at work.  For me, I decided I had had enough of the female organ cancers and the uterus could go so I would not have to worry down the road.  That does not mean I will not get cancer again I know but I will not get uterine or cervical or ovarian.  They are off the list. I am comfortable with that.  One thing I do know is that we are all so different and everyone makes the right decision for them.  Good luck with your decision and know that whatever it is you made the best one you could with the information you had at the time.  That is all you can do.  There is always great advice on these boards so I know the ladies here, even if they don't agree with my choice, will be a great help to you.  Best wishes.

Hi Lexis!  Yes it was all done laproscopically and taken out vaginally. I have a little scar in my belly button and one that looks like a paper cut in the pubic area.  I don't know why she would need to cut you open again unless she wants to leave the cervix which I think is impossible if you have the uterus removed vaginally.  I think that is true but am not 100% certain.  I was in the hospital one night and went back to work in two weeks.  I should have stayed out one more week but that was just because I was tired which may have been more because I had just had chemo and a bilateral mx in the same year.  The worst part was the air they blow into you during the surgery.  It takes a few days to dissolve and it set up shop in my right shoulder and hurt like a really tight muscle.  I agree with you on the surgeries and decisions.  Right or wrong I did not give myself much time.  I felt it best to make the decision and move forward.  Put this crap behind me if I can.  PM me any time if you have any questions.  Good luck girl.

Hi there,

I just saw your post tonight.  Sorry to hear about the recent turn of event.  I too may be headed down that path myself soon.  I do understand your concerns but if the onc thinks it will lessen the chance of reccurance it might be a good thing to do, although I would ask again about why the whole shabang and not just the ovaries.  In reference to the anesthesia thing I can relate to that.  I had a bad experience once coming out from a procedure, but ever since then I've told them ahead of time and have had no problems recently.  They can usually try different meds as a precaution if they know ahead of time. 

Let us know what you decide.

Take care,

Sharon

I have already had a hysterectomy with one ovary removed because of multiple cysts. My one lone ovary is still pumping away (no menapause) and is now enlarged. My OB/Gyn wants to remove it. It is a hard decision because of putting yourself into menapause but I kind of wish she had removed it during the surgery in 2002 so I didn't have to go through another surgery.  I feel for you, I know its a hard decision {{hugs}} For myself, in hindsight I would have done the whole thing to avoid future issues, which is where I find myself now. You have to decide how comfortable you are with a complete hysterectomy, how you feel about a possible future surgery and what is best for you. {{hugs}}

I want to chop as many organs as possible off just so I don't get cancer in them.  I don't care how crazy it sounds, it is true.  I have been going back and forth of whether to get an ooph or hyst - today it's hyst.  I am doing it for birth control purposes since I'm er/pr- because I can't be on birth control, I'm not going to have any more babies, and since the ovaries are going there's just no good reason to me to leave the uterus in.  I am too d*** young for this crap and have a lot of different cancer in my family - no uterine, but I don't care I still want it out.

I thought I'd go through a mourning process when I had my bilateral mx but I didn't. 

maybe some helpful reading for you..  you might have to copy and paste them into your browser

http://www.breastcancer.org/risk/everyone/question/hysterectomy.jsp

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/85/topic/698882

http://www.ohanlan.com/what_if_br_ca.htm

Right now, I am getting Zoladex shots every three months along with Femara.  I have begged my onc and my family doctor to please take my ovaries.  My FD has wrote several letters to the gyno and the cancer center and they have all come back saying no.  I'm not giving up.  Worse comes to worse, I will be asking to please refer me to the cancer center in Toronto and I will have them taken out there!  I am so fid up with this issue, but everyone has to do what they think is best for them.  I would have a full hystertomy done, but I know that will never happen!

I had an ooph (gyn took both ovaries and tubes)....it helps reduce the risk of ovarian cancer...could have done Lupron shots, but preferred this instead....old gyn was going to do TAH...but insurance didn't want to pay (they eventually agreed) but after talking to onc, he assured me that I didn't need the hysterectomy, that the ooph was all that was necessary....he said (as was insurance reason) that there is not the association with BC and uteran cancer as there is with ovarian cancer.  Its the loss of ovaries that slams you into menopause.  The ooph was done laprascopically, day surgery....was off work just over a week...fatigue was the biggest issue....good luck in making your decision..