Oophorectomy - just throwing it out there!

I had an ooph at 35 when Tamoxifen stopped working for me. This meant I could reduce the amount of oestrogen trying to kill me (!!!) and start with an AI. I could also have gone for a chemically induced menopause, which may be another option for you? You just have to go with what feels right for you. Good luck with your decision, whatever that may be, Angelfalls xx

I had an ooph as part of my Tx protocol....chemo stopped my periods....then after chemo shot of Lupron then a couple months later had ooph....my onc didn't think my periods would come back (I was 50) but you never know....for me it was one less thing to worry about having my ovaries out....but there are draw backs to be thrown into instant menopause.....tamox is still a good med....if you are doing well on tamox take your time to decide which way you want to go.....

I know how you feel. I just turned 49 and started on tamoxifen. I would rather be on an AI with the uterine cancer risk, but onc said I was premenopausal and periods could come back even years later. I haven't had one since chemo started in April. I thought she was crazy, I guess not. But I don't really want to go thru an ooph with the thought that I'll be menopausal soon any way if I'm not already. It feels like we're between a rock and a hard place. Good luck with your decision. I think if they offered to do the ooph to me, I'd do it. I am really scared of the uterine cancer with tamoxifen.

Kay1963: Im glad you dont have to do it and things are moving along for you.. one thing at a time!  I wish the Tamox worked for me..

Fearless: You had both done and you have been fine?? Any hot flashes, moodswings, severe pain?? Are you on any meds to help with that?  Im afraid of both cancers as well, I want to just do the ovaries but am afraid to stop there and then live with, what if??

vacationbound, sorry to hear all of that.  I also did not do well on Tami and stopped it after one month.  I am now doing Lupron and once Menap is established will go on an AI, I just hope one of those works for me and is not as harsh as Tami.  I dont think I can take anymore.  Big hugs to you my friend, hope you have luck on finding the right med to work for you as well!!

I just turned 50 when I started chemo.  Had one period and that was the end of them.  Even though I did the bilateral, I went ahead with an ooph because of the BRCA2+.  I think I would have wanted one anyway.  My cancer was 98% ER+ and I wanted to get rid of it's "food"!  I didn't do a hyster because I've never had any issues, wanted to maintain the structure down there, and since I'm being monitored closely it will be easy enough to have done in the future if it's needed.  My maternal aunt died from cervical cancer and my mom had issues with fibroids so she had a hyster.  I'm more concerned about taking care of what I did have.

I was put on Aromasin but the SEs were unbearable for me.  So my onc changed me to Tamoxifen.  In another year we'll probably try switching to Femara or Arimidex.  But I'm not anxious to get on an AI again after the Aromasin experience.

Depression would be a real concern for me if you've already experienced it when your estrogen fell off during treatment.  Did your doc give you an anti-depressant?  When I was on Aromasin I was using Paxil but that interfers with Tamox so I had to switch.  Boy, that was rough!  If I ever had doubts about whether or not the anti-depressant was working, those two months convinced me!  The first month was weaning off the Paxil.  Then it took me 4 full weeks for the Lexapro to kick in.  I hit some real rought spots in there.

I'm 52 and see my MO on Wednesday.  They've been talking about putting me on Tamoxifen, but I have high triglycerides, so I don't think that's a good idea.  I plan to ask about having an ooph.  I'm very ER+ and so close to menopause it just makes sense to remove the major source of estrogen.

I attribute my problems with thinking to chemo brain.  The positive attitude I get from the anti-depressants definitely outweighs any negative effects on my thinking.

They took me off Tamoxifen as it was acting like an estrogen in my womb. I had a clear clean a and pelvic in Aug 2011, then in Jan 2012, they found a cervical polyp, an ovarian cyst and a uterine lining thickness of 10MM (not supose to be bigger than 5 MM) so even though the biopsies came back negative, my Gyno/Onco said she would not do a preventative Oopertectomy so I am goingto have my Estrogen levels tested to see how close I am to natural menopause.