Ovarian Sonogram

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CAROLMARIE427
CAROLMARIE427 Member Posts: 206

Just curious-had pure DCIS, BRCA negative.  My breast surgeon doesn't think that I have a much elevated risk of ovarian cancer with being BRCA negative and thinks that a yearly pelvic exam is more than sufficient to detect ovarian problems, as sonograms can pick up a thousand things and arent even that great at picking up ovarian cancer.  However, he feels that if my gynecologist recommends it for me then I should follow those instructions.  My gynecologist believes I should have a sonogram because of the link between ovarian and breast cancer.  Truefully, I have had five surgeries in the past two years for my breast between mastectomies and exchange surgeries and other healing issues.  I know it sounds childish but I really dont want to go open "a new can of worms."  Just curious if anyone with pure DCIS has ovarian sonograms?  Thanks for your reply. 

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  • Deirdre1
    Deirdre1 Member Posts: 1,461
    edited August 2010

    God I totally understand this - when is enough enough!  It's not childish but you might be regretful if you don't have the sonogram - even though it is not a great test for ovarian.  I starting to feel as though I will start refusing tests - they would have you testing everything and the worst part is when they tell you the tests comes back clean but "that doesn't necessary mean anything" that one just infuriates me!!!!  I'm with you girl, I do not have an ovarian sonogram.  I do now have a breast MRI every  2-3 years (mostly for the implant viability more than a cancer review but still they do also look for any new cancer)..  I decided not to have my MRI last year (2 yrs out) and my pcf wasn't too happy with me, but I will have one this year and then I don't intend to have any other testing for 5 years (except the CA125 and normal blood tests)... Its such a personal decision but I can tell you I feel more "Normal" since I turned down that last MRI!  They tell you its DCIS and that having surgery reduces the potential of having a recurrance to such a tiny percentage.. when they try to create a new cancer somewhere else...  For me it needed to STOP/  I wanted you to know you are not alone in this... good luck, Best, Deirdre

  • redsox
    redsox Member Posts: 523
    edited August 2010

    If you are taking tamoxifen I would have the pelvic ultrasound because it can also find changes that could be side effects of tamoxifen.  If you are not taking hormone treatment and do not have other factors increasing risk of ovarian cancer, I would not have the ultrasound. 

  • CAROLMARIE427
    CAROLMARIE427 Member Posts: 206
    edited August 2010

    Thanks ladies, hmm...  made me feel a lot better that maybe I am not such a baby after all.  LOL No, no tamoxifen.  I had bilateral mastectomy, and I do have a yearly pelvic exam.  Sometimes you just don't know what to do.  I also am due to have MRI's but like you Deidre, mainly to check my implants.  My doctor said that he is ok with that once every three years after a baseline one.Thanks for the input and making me feel not alone in these thoughts.

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