Hormonal therapy for DCIS post ooph?

Hi, 3monstmama--

I'm afraid I have not had this experience. My semi-educated guess is that no ovaries = menopause, for all practical purposes, and therefore maybe you would switch to aromatase inhibitors? Please let us know what your oncologist says after you see him/her.

It's helped me a lot to poke around here and the Internet in general so I can go to appts. with a list of questions, but don't forget that if you realize later you forgot to ask something important, you can always give the person a call and ask more questions.

Good luck!

Linda

mama --You can take Tamox whether you're past menopause or not. It's never been entirely clear to me why some post-meno women are on Tamox and some are on AIs, but I am post-meno and am on Tamox. AIs are not being considered for me due to osteoporosis and osteopenia.

My mom had Ovarian cysts, and now I have DCIS...no breast cancer in the family...but I always wondered if those were linked.

3monstmama-

I gasped when you mentioned your mom's history and family history. My grandmother died at the age of 53 - in the mid 1930's from "stomach cancer". I have often wondered whether that was what it really was.....

It is my understanding that Tamoxifen is still the only recommended hormonal for DCIS regardless of menopause status or presence of ovaries. I know I recently asked my MO whether he would want me to switch from tamoxifen to an AI some time during the 5 years as I had been reading about that change in protocol and he said NO YOU HAVE DCIS, no AI for you!  

MROCHON- 

Boy you have certainly been through alot of surgery this year, I hope you are healing well. Having the BRCA gene mutations puts you at increased risk of Ovarian cancer, if you are BRCA negative, then you are still at risk - but not as high as you would be if you were positive.  I would think if you had your ovaries removed, you would decrease your risk of ovarian cancer to almost zero. 

Julie E

3monstamoma------you are correct---estrogen is produced in other places besides the ovaries (in the adrenal glands, skin and fat), so tamoxifen is still needed. As far as I know, the AIs are not used for DCIS. My oncologist had me continue on tamoxifen (I am high risk due to LCIS and family history of ILC) after I lost my ovaries  (not by choice; they ruptured) for another 3.5 years to finish up my full 5 years.

Lisa----ovarian cysts are very common and generally are benign, they are not linked to DCIS.

mrochon---you can still get ovarian cancer if you are BRCA negative, but the risk is much higher if you are positive.  Oopherectomy (removal of the ovaries) reduces risk by about 90%.

Anne 

LWA, some docs do prescribe AIs for post-meno women with DCIS. I've talked about it with both my MO and my (ex) OB/GYN, but for me it's a poor choice because I have bone density issues. (AIs are very hard on bone density.) If it wasn't for bone density, I probably would have been put on an AI.

I saw my gyno this morning.  We talked about all my options and he is scheduling me for surgery to remove my ovaries and fallopian tubes.  He will be doing it laproscopically.  I should have a surgery date in two weeks.  He said it will be outpatient, sweet!  My recovery won't be bad.  He said it should be similiar to my tubal ligation and uterine ablation which was about a week.  He is sending me to an oncologist he is very familiar with and has personally treated his family.  I should be getting a call from that doctor in the next couple of days.  My gynecologist is awesome, he is a listener and explains everything.  I feel good about my decision.  The information I gathered from you all and this board has also helped me understand and ask my gyno better questions.  Thank you!

He also said my uterus looks really good, nice and small.  If anything develops, he'll take it out but he doesn't want to put my body through anymore additional stress.  It's been through enough!

Michelle