ovarian suppression

Hi

I do lupron--1 shot per month--I was pre-menopausal at dx--I could not take tamox-had to take an AI and they had to put me in menopause for that..it was a little tough at first, it is a quick decline in estrogen, but it has been a while now and I am adapting.  I just turned 50 so the thinking is that I will be in menopause soon and at that point, can go off the lupron and just keep taking the AI.... 

Hi,

I was given option of inj because I could not receive Tamoxifen due to clotting issues. I also had pituitary gland problems in the past and Lupron/Zoladex can cause some additional problems to te gland so I am considering ovary removal.

How old are You? Inj have some serious side effects and me being 43 meant that I would eventually end up with removing my ovaries.

shelby

I had a risk of blood clots so no tamox for me--- I had chemo so I was put into temporary menopause anyway--so I just kep t going.... My oncotype was 27 

shelbytroy-

my oncotype score was low enough (10) that it was not felt chemo would be of much benefit, so I did not do chemo. The thinking seems to be that the menopause many people get as a result of chemo may be what's providing the slight benefit to the hormone positive patients and maybe you can get similar results with the ovarian suppression instead of chemo.  But, unfortunately for us, no one has the clear answer which makes the decision all the harder.

Have you gotten more than one opinion?  It may be worth seeing at least one other oncologist.  Some of us have even seen more than that...

Hi there,

Thought I'd chime in on this topic.  I'm 47.  I've just finished chemo (didn't do the Oncotype test as I would not have foregone chemo anyway due to micromets in one sentinel node) and am preparing for radiation.  I am also in a clinical trial comparing Tamoxifen to one of the aromatase inhibitors (Arimidex, I think). Being pre-menopausal at dx, I am getting monthly injections of Triptorelin to suppress ovaries, which is basically the same as chemically-induced menopause.  My position is that I'd rather not go through menopause twice, and I don't want to do the monthly injection for the entire 5-year period of the study, so I will be having my ovaries out.  I haven't actually taken a Tamoxifen pill yet, as I am on Prozac which renders Tamoxifen ineffective, so I have to have that changed first.  Also don't know my clotting status, but will be having a blood test to determine it due to Scandinavian ancestry.

Seriously, how many other factors will we have to consider to stay alive?!

My onc recently suggested an oophorectomy for me.  Her reasoning is based on recent findings that getting and remaining amenorrheic during/after chemo resulted in better outcomes.  My bil is a physician and forwarded me a link to this study a while back and I'll try to find it.  I have an appointment with a gyn next week to discuss the surgery options.  So this is an alternative to the Lupron - my onc prefers not to use Lupron if possible - and since I don't need my ovaries anymore and am fine with the surgery I didn't even ask why.  Also, my onc says that I will likely stay on Tamoxifen after the surgery.

I am getting Lupron injections every three months and taking Tamoxifen.  My onc says she's not sure how much extra benefit I'm getting from the Lupron, but I feel safer doing it since I didn't get chemo and my Onco score was in the intermediate range.  She says I can stop it at any time and am hoping the issue will become clarified at some point.  From what I've read it seems that ovarian suppression is generally considered to be effective.

I just received my first Zolodex inj. Waiting for SE.

I'm 36 and been on tamoxifen for a year and 3 months. have had no real issues with it thank God. My new oncologist suggested i also do the Lupron shot once a month for 2 years. She just told me this on Monday so i have been in overdrive doing research on it.

Naturally this makes me heart broken because i've always looked forward to having a child and here i am at a point in my life, having to say to myself "might not happen, kid. consider adoption".

I HATE needles so a needle in the ass is not comforting to me! LOL

Is it really painful? is there anything to do to numb the area first? LOL

what kind of side effects have folks had? I know we are all different so some may have none.

if you did it and have stopped, has your periods come back?

Klawless -- I unfortunately did not have a good experience with Lupron...had monthly shots for about 6 months before I asked my onc. gave me his blessing to stop.  Shots themselves didn't hurt at all (after all the shots/blood draws/IVs for chemo, it was a breeze!), but the Lupron made me so anxious I had panic attacks (and made me a wicked witch to live with -- my poor family!!).  I asked a psychiatrist friend about the situation, and she said she had 2 patients who had the same problem on Lupron (although they were taking it for infertility, not for cancer). 

 My onc. said that it would only affect my odds about 1%, and that if it was affecting my quality of life it probably wasn't worth it.  But it might not have the same affect on you -- I'd just be aware of the potential for anxiety/irritability/depression.  Good luck!!

Oh yeah, my periods never returned...but I was 43 when I went through chemo and I've read that the ovaries are not as likely to recover if you're an an "older woman" like me!

I am in the clinical trial where my ovaries have been suppressed with Triptorelin and I'm taking Tamoxifen.  My 5 years will be up at the beginning of August.

Side effects ... sleep deprivation ... leg cramping ... aching joints ... serious hot flashes, but manageable ... all in all, the first 2 1/2 years were the worst and it has lessened now to pretty much nothing but occasionally feeling warm.

I'm just hoping I don't come OUT of the menopause when I stop my shots (I'll be 50 in December). 

Sige.... You're a hero!!!! I don't know if I would have stuck it out like you! I am embarrassed to say that after taking one or two injections, I had some mild hot flashes and that was it. I am a year in, only will have to do it hopefully another year or two and then hopefully go into natural menopause. I started at 53. My sister had her period until 55!