Asking for alt views/info/experience regarding hysterectomy.

I am BRCA1+. Found this out a few weeks after my two biopsies and diagnosis of IDC. I made the decision to have a bilateral salpingo - oopherectomy at the time of my BMX. The risk of facing another cancer down the road was just too much for me. I kept my cervix and uterus. I didn't want to take more than I had too. I have never second guessed my decision - need to be here for my family



I will not lie, it has not been easy, but it is doable and getting better every day. Due to my surgery, I was put on Femara instead of tamoxifen. Instant menopause hit me like a brick wall, but is evening out. I have hot flashes, usually only at night (cool pjs and a little fan by my bedside help). No problem with mood swings, but I have usually been mellow anyway. Personal dryness was an issue at first, but scream cream and patience have greatly helped in that department! My oncologist and I have discussed using something like vagifem if needed in the future (she is ok with it, I personally did not want estrogen due to strong er+ cancer).



Ovarian cancer is sneaky. I wasn't feeling safe with monitoring only, now I can breathe easier. Still need yearly Pap tests, but that is fine with me. Don't know if any of this helps at all, but that's my experience. Good luck and peace as you figure things out.

Menopause hit me like a brick wall for a couple of reasons. I was only 44 at my surgery and had not been having any premenopausal symptoms before that. Stopping all of my estrogen from my ovaries and then starting Femara just a few short weeks later never gave my body time to adjust gradually. Thus the brick wall. Now a few months out and it is tolerable.



Scream Cream is wonderful! Definitely ask for a prescription. My libido is still low, but improving. The cream helps my body remember what it is supposed to do! Once I get these rock TE out and have squishies, I expect it will improve even more. Have my fingers crossed and high expectations!

I printed out the PDF. However, when I asked for it she just smiled and told me all about the pharmacy she would send it to. My oncologist is great! She was also my breast surgeon - from what I hear it is rare to find one who does both.

Susan, My experience was very similar to Bayou Babe's, dx at age 43 last year, got oophorectomy at same time as mx. Did so because of stage III grade 3 dx and possible micromets, I was at very high risk for recurrence. It was a difficult decision and I had to research extensively. I weighed out pros and cons repeatedly. It was a very tough call with all the pressure, but when it came down to it, I knew I was not going to get chemo, and my situation was very dire, and I was in need of an alternative to chemo.  An oophorectomy plus femara immediately following was it. The surgery itself was fairly easy. I had pain the first day from the air they shoot up into the cervix to do the surgery, and then the pain was fine after that, but what followed, especially for the next six weeks was hard. It was really very hard. Emotionally I felt like I was in a pit, Physically, I felt okay for a couple of weeks or so. I was glad not to be so overridden w/ estrogen, but then after that I felt like I was aging at light speed. Mentally,cognitively, I was in a fog, couldn't remember what I was saying or doing half the time, my personality changed. I felt like I was having to relearn how to do everything all over again. It takes you to a different dimension, and the feelings, attitude, and appearance that accompany youth goes quickly, especially w/ the femara. I will say that even w/ the femara, by month 3, I had put the pieces of my life together and was functioning normally again and felt even and better than before diagnosis. And even though I went through all of that, and had a sad and traumatic farewell with my youth, I do not regret it and I would do it the same all over again, because I believe my choice saved my life, and I am thankful.  I was quickly headed into stage IV territory, w/ high tumor markers of CA 27-29 of 99. Though it didn't show up on scans to confirm a stage IV diagnosis. My onc said that it was likely that I had micromets, just too small to detect. My current TM on CA 27-29 is 17. That was/is just my experience. Wish I could make the decision easier for you. Personally I think the full hysterectomy would be too much, but I don't know.  

Don't give up on the scream cream. To me it is much safer than estring or vagifem for us e+ girls - no estrogen in the cream. Also, quality of life is a huge consideration. I am too young to be having problems of this nature, cancer is bad enough!



Also, as a thought, different compounding pharmacies tend to "tweak" the prescription slightly. Maybe one would make the cream without an ingredient your MO disliked. A support group friend of mine has a prescription also. Her MO, however, sent hers to a different pharmacy. We have compared ingredients, both not identical, but both still work. Fingers crossed for you!

I had a full hysterectomy in April this year.  I took it easy for about 3 days and then it was back to full time mom duties.  Since I am BRCA1+ I didn't want to risk it.  I was done having kids.  I haven't gained any weight or issues with anything you listed.  I'm happy it's done...check!