Jumping the Gun Ooph?

I've been wondering the same thing...

My onc actually recommended an ooph for me....but I was already perimenopausal and 50, so well past child bearing age.....I had my ooph 5 years ago and have never once regretted the decision.....sure it slammed me into menopause faster than my body was going, but for me its one less worry.....I endured AI's for 3 1/2 years......been off of them for 1 1 /2 years...and hot flashes have returned....but I figure at 55, they would be a part of my life anyways.....btw...chemo had stopped my periods and onc didn't think they would come back at my age, but he still gave me a shot of lupron so I could start the AI's soon after chemo....then had my ooph following rads....it was a whirl wind 7 or 8 months!!!!

Even though AI's are thought to be "superior" to tamox....tamox is still a very good med.....if you have time, take it to sort it all out.....you can do lupron and take AI's...or you can start of tamox then look at lupron or oooph for AI's.....then decide later if you want to do the ooph.....For me being 50, it was a much easier decision.....

Well, I was past childbearing age when I had my oophorectomy. I had it in 2008 when I was 55. Six months later I was dx with HER2+ breast cancer on the right. I had the oophor because the doc found a large cyst, which turned out to be benign. After surgery I went through immediate hot flashes, fatigue and emotional ups and downs. I'm not sure how much of the oophor symptoms were related to the subsequent surgery and double mastectomies, all emotionally and physically draining. I do not regret having the oophor, but then I had a hyster over 10 yrs ago so have gotten used to not being able to have kids anymore. I have a beautiful daughter and am thankful for her. Because my bc is also a little estrogen positive I cannot take anything for hot flashes - prescription or over the counter. Just grin and bear it and the hot flashes, if you get them at all, will lessen over time. Sorry you have to go thru this. You can get thru it though.  I am 3 years past bc now and my energy is great, thanks to lots of supplements. I do recommend that you build yourself up before surgery by taking vitamins and supplements. I had a huge incision from belly button on down but likely you would have a laparoscopy.  The important thing is to reduce estrogen and saying bye to the ovaries will definitely help!

Take care,

tuckertwo

This is an area of intense controversy in the onc community, and there are currently some long term clinical trials to see if ovarian suppression (ooph, or shots like Lupron) helps in younger women.

There has been no information formally released, although acquaintances (i.e., people in my support group who are on this trial) say that their docs say they are seeing no added benefit, although the trial hasn't been running long enough to have good answers.

It's a really tough spot to be in - there is no definitive research, and there are serious consequences to premature ovarian suppression - heart and bone issues, mostly. That doesn't seem very important now, but, dying in your 50s of heart disease is a pretty scary thought too.

Early results from AI trials - AIs shut down the last trickle of estrogen in postmenopausal women - are starting to show that it decreases the likelihood of recurrence, but doesn't increase the survival - in other words, they are dying of something else. Again, this is very preliminary, so we don't know exactly what it means.

You might want to consider injectable ovarian suppression, if your test results indicate that your ovaries are returning to normal after chemo. Hopefully, in a few years, there will be more definitive information.

Good luck to you. This is a tough place to be.

Hi all,  it's been  a while,  I would like to chime in here too.... I had my ooph at 41 in between chemo and rads,  I have no regrets..... 2 small kids to  raise!!  I was 98% er pos, my onc. was the one who suggested it to me, we went back and forth for a while being that there is not alot of data. However, my onc. is of the team that believes if you are that highly er pos. it's your enemey in this battle against reacurance!!!!  My bs agreed with him 100%. Here's how I feel,  it is a hard decsion, at any age,  but,  really hard when your young.  I know there are risks involved, I try not to think about or project them,  my gyn. who also has been telling onc. for 15 years Er pos women should have there ovaries out, he feels it's a no brainer, despite the side effects. He said to me, when explaning the risks involved, one being bone issues, down the line, maybe 10 years from now .

I looked at my doc and said,  I would love to be here in ten years to deal with any issues related to the surgury that very well could have been the ticket to saving my life!!!!  My point is that yes there are risks involved in all we do along this journey, but I think lack of est is a very important defense for us, more so then chemo, I will deal with the side effects if and when they come. I am doing great, no hot flashes, I have lost weight, I am a little moody, but who knows, I have always been a little moody!!!! Do what you feel in your heart, I say we are going to find it to be a really great thing in the long run........... You will be in my prayers, it's not an easy road, but It's our road!!!!!

God bless you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!