question about ovaries in relation to breast cancer

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scary
scary Member Posts: 213
edited June 2014 in Stage I Breast Cancer

I posted this in another forum, but it may have been seen as off-topic, so i will ask here.

I have a question about follow-up care for my other gynecological parts (ovaries, etc.)  I don't have a regular gynecologist right now.  I go to a sliding scale clinic that did my women's exams and sent me for the mammogram through the best chance network, and now I am on Medicaid.  Is it normal protocol to get my ovaries checked now?   The clinic I went to did the basic pap smear, etc., which was normal, but they said they don't do the uterus, ovaries, etc.  Do I need to get myself a regular gynecologist now that I'm covered?  Do most women who have breast cancer get their ovaries checked too?

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  • jessica749
    jessica749 Member Posts: 429
    edited May 2014

    No, is the short answer. Most women who have had bc do not as a rule get their ovaries checked.  I know this because I wanted my ovaries checked. In fact, even before bc I wanted my ovaries checked. And, as my former gynecologist told me, it's not part of the guidelines.  (whatever is the gynecological professional org., it's not part of the 'guidelines' of standard treatment to check ovaries for otherwise normal people of those who've had bc without any other indicators….). I dumped my former pre-bc gynecologist over this. (Their refusal to screen me for uterine cancer l -et alone ovarian- beyond pap smear.)

    You should be tested for BRCA because you had bc.  I think medicaid would pay for this if you are youngish. Certainly you can make the argument, and please do in writing to them. If you were positive for BRCA 1 or 2, then you'd get your ovaries checked regularly and indeed it would be recommended that you remove them after child bearing years/circa by age 45.  But without any other risk factor no, you won't be screened for ovarian as a matter of course.

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  • Faith316
    Faith316 Member Posts: 2,431
    edited May 2014

    I may be wrong but I don't think BRCA testing is covered by any insurance.  But not sure.  When I was diagnosed with BC the first time, I was 45 years old.  I had BRCA testing done .......... cost me $3500 out of pocket, unfortunately.  But, fortunately, I tested negative for the gene.

    Good luck to you. 

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  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited May 2014

    Sure it's covered by a lot of insurance companies, but with some qualifications. Probably number of relatives with certain cancers, if they are first degree, and how old you are.

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  • farmerlucy
    farmerlucy Member Posts: 3,985
    edited May 2014

    Scary - Many of us have extra gyn screening when we're on Tamoxifen, since the risk of uterine cancer increases (not ovarian) however in my gyn screen I had a transvaginal ultrasound and they generally always look at the ovaries as well. AIs don't have the increased risk of uterine cancer. 

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  • scary
    scary Member Posts: 213
    edited May 2014

    thank you all for the answers.  i am going to my pcp next week and asked that i get fsh and prolactin taken.  I have a history of prolactinoma, and want to make absolutely certain that i am in menopause even though i have been without a period of two years, because there could be other problems that are causing the lack of periods.  if the fsh shows i am not yet in menopause, the femara (which i like and want to stay on) would not be effective.  i will find myself an ob-gyn to ask about getting my ovaries checked.

     

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