Voluntary Oophorectomy

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catherinejane
catherinejane Member Posts: 7
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer

Hi, my name is Cathy and this is the first time I've posted to the board.  I'm glad I had found it because I really wanted to hear from other people who had the same stage of cancer since there are so many different experiences.

 I was 47 when I was diagnoses last year at this time.  I've been through a lumpectomy, A/C and Taxol and 6 1/2 weeks of radiation and now tamoxifen.  I had my first 3-month follow up last week.  It's a roller coaster for me right now emotionally.  I'm not sure if it is the hormones or the fear of when or if it will come back.  I know those feelings are all pretty normal but I still experience them nonetheless.

 My menopause status at diagnosis was a little bit up in the air when I was diagnosed.  I wasn't in perimenopause but was having irregular periods.  Of course, since chemo I haven't had any  more.  I seem to be obsessed with getting the estrogen out of my body and I was the one pushing for having my ovaries removed.  I know I'm already at higher risk because of the grade 3 cancer and because I'm overweight and hadn't been exercising.  Fortunately, I'm working on the latter two but I can't change them overnight.  If the doctors couldn't be sure what my ovaries were doing, it seemed best to me to just take them out and know for sure.  Then I could also switch to an aromatase inhibitor which could have better results for me.  It just seemed very logical to me but now I'm second guessing myself now that my doctors are on board.  My oncologist never brought it up but didn't push back much at all when I asked about the option. 

 I'm BRCA negative.  I'm wondering if there are any others that made the decision to have ovaries removed just as one more way to prevent a recurrence.  Did you have regrets?  What was your experience?

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  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited March 2010

    I have had it done.

    No regrets at all. The Surgery is easy, the recovery pretty fast.

    My Onc wanted to give me Lupron, I suggested the ooph. I am 100% ER+, and it just seemed "right" to me. 

    Good luck with your decision. 

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  • Kandy
    Kandy Member Posts: 1,461
    edited March 2010

    I was 48 when diagnosed and my oncologist immediately said on my first visit that after my treatments were done that she was recommending hysterectomy. I finished treatments last Nov and had a total hysterectomy done in Dec. For me, if was an easy decision because I was definitely through having kids. I have had no regrets. The surgery was simple and recovery was quick. I was willing to do anything to improve my chances of it not coming back. I was put on Arimidex and really havent had any trouble from it. Good Luck on your decision.

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  • lexislove
    lexislove Member Posts: 2,645
    edited March 2010

    I was 30 diagnosed.

    32 now, almost 33.

    Im having my ovaries out in July.

    I have been on Lupron for almost 2 yrs. Removing the ovaries just makes sense. Noone can give me stats regarding staying on Lupron and survival. And what am I suppose to do? Stay on Lupron untill I hit natural menopause? Thats still 15 yrs down the road. Undecided

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  • Mamita49
    Mamita49 Member Posts: 538
    edited March 2010

    I dont get it..........

    My breat surgeon says NO, no healthy removel of ovaries, and anyhow,  the tamox is working very well for me ( extens. matabolizer.)

    My gyn says, as you wish, its your decision.

    My onc says, not sure if it prevents,

    My rad onc says......Well maybe........

    I am not suppose know, they are.......

    How am I to know...........

    I guess i will go with the removel, one thing less to worry.....OR     ?????? 

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  • KEW
    KEW Member Posts: 745
    edited March 2010

    Had it done, glad I did.  100% ER+ premenopausal, no chemo, so I asked to have it done.  I have hot flashes, but would have had them anyway at some point.  Fatigued, but work 40 hours, in grad school, and single mom--so can't really say fatigue is related.  I'm happy with the estrogen gone, I don't think it was my friend.  The one thing I've noticed is that I don't have mood swings like I did before, so that has been great.  Do your research and follow your gut, that will lead you to the right choice for yourself.  Good luck.

    KEW 

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  • Diana63
    Diana63 Member Posts: 773
    edited March 2010

    How long is recovery time?

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  • KEW
    KEW Member Posts: 745
    edited March 2010

    My doctor went in through my abdomen so recovery is longer.  She is an oncology gyn so she likes to get in and really look around.  I took 6 weeks off of work mostly because I couldn't lift my legs well to drive my car, a clutch.  It was a couple of months before I started doing ab work again.  I also had my appendix out at the same time.  I had a fair amount of pain for a couple of weeks, but not a big deal. 

    KEW

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  • karen1956
    karen1956 Member Posts: 6,503
    edited March 2010

    Had ooph done laprascopically after bilat, chemo and rads...I was 49 going on 50 at time of Dx and perimenopausal....onc did not think my periods would come back....surgery was relatively easy compared to everything else....glad I had them out....was on AI's for 3 1/2 years and just now taking a break from them....

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  • reddinip
    reddinip Member Posts: 1
    edited March 2010

    After starting Tamoxifen and ovarian suppression last week, just found out today that I am a "poor" metabolizer of Tamoxifen.  My onc. has recommended an Oophorectomy and AI.  I just made a bunch of decisions on treatment and clinical trials etc. and now a week later I have to do a whole bunch more research and another surgery.  Debating whether to do more than just an oophorectomy....and I guess more kids are out now for sure. Options? Thoughts?

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  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited March 2010

    reddinip - All I can say is it is a personal decision, but I went that exact route (ooph and AI) and have no regrets. For my Surgery they went in through the belly button, I have two small scars where the Ovaries were snipped off (they pull them out the Belly Button) The surgery actually took longer than my Mx, but the recovery was much faster. I was a bit slow for a few days, but it was not bad.

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  • gsg
    gsg Member Posts: 3,386
    edited March 2010

    I had mine removed at the same time as my lumpectomy  so I could go on Arimidex instead of Tamoxifen.  Best decision ever.  They found a tumor inside one ovary that was nonmalignant, but expresses estrogen.

    Good luck to you. 

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