Hysterectomy instead of hormone therapy?

I don’t think that a hysterectomy will eliminate the need for hormone therapy if that is what you have been prescribed. Tamoxifen is associated with causing endometrial cancer so some people who have been prescribed tamoxifen (and don’t plan on getting pregnant) elect to have a hysterectomy rather than worry about the chance of getting endometrial cancer or having to be constantly on the watch for it. Check back with your doctor on this.

Having your ovaries removed, does not negate the need for Tamoxifen or similar meds. No doctor would suggest it as a replacement, just as a compliment to taking the medication. Been there....done that.....glad I did it too!!!

Here's a basic rundown of how all this works:

Before menopause, most of the estrogen in a woman's body is made by the ovaries (approx 80%).

Smaller amounts of estrogen are made elsewhere in the body - Androgens produced by the adrenal glands are made into estrogen in fat tissue through a process known as aromatization (the aromatase enzyme is the key to the androgens being converted to estrogen by our fat cells). This process accounts for about 20% of our estrogen. AIs inhibit the aromatase action.

After menopause, the ovaries stop producing estrogen. This reduces our estrogen levels by about 80%. This leaves only the estrogen made by the aromatization process as our sole source of estrogen.

Likewise, after having ovaries removed, our estrogen levels drop by about 80%. We still need to take action on the remaining 20% that has become our new 100% after surgery. Aromatase inhibitors stop that extra 20% from being able to be produced thereby starving any remaining ER+ cancer cells. This means you’ll still need to take Femara, arimidex or anastrozole or tamoxifen.

Make sure to put your diagnosis and treatments on your profile. There is no way to help you, if we don't know who we are talking to.

Nikki, back in the 1980s my friends' mom had bc. She had a bmx and refused all other treatment. No chemo rads or hormones. She's still alive today, in her 70s and doing well. Knowing her story didn't stop me from getting all the recommended treatments.

Nikki, ask for help from your doctors. I stopped my Famara after two years2012-2014) February 2018 I'm metastatic (lung and back). Back on femara/kisqali and zometa infusions. It is now my my life extender. Find the help. :-

Guessing I’m understanding that last statement right. In the beginning I tried to enter BC in lowercase - I wasn’t giving it the power of capitals. But autocorrect changes it every time. So caps it is.

I just had a consult with a gyno to get approval to have my ovaries removed (I have a PALB2 mutation for BC and also pancreatic and ovarian cancer) and she suggested getting the whole works taken out. I was a little surprised by the suggestion, but she said that there is a lot of tissue in that area (Fallopian tubes and such) that can turn into cancer and a hysterectomy allows them to take a larger margin of tissue. I'm already one month on Arimidex based on the fact that, thanks to chemo, I've gone into menopause (actually according to my OC I won't be "officially menopausal" until my 12 month anniversary in November) at age 46 and that I'm planning on getting the rest of my lady-parts removed. I have thrown everything at this MF BC, but getting a hysterectomy seems to be the needed final step. I know that I'll continue on Arimidex for at least 5 years (or until something better comes along) and it is reassuring to know that I've done all I could to remove the parts that are most likely to turn cancerous.

Hi: I had total hyster last summer after mastectomy. I had to, as I had early stage endo cancer. Knowing what I now know about the complete and sudden loss of estrogen, I’d be cautious about a hyster if not “necessary.” I was expecting it to be easier. It’s been a lot harder adjustment than I anticipated and I was 52 and about half way thru menopause anyway. For sure the lack of estrogen is helping lower my cancer risk, but my quality of life is suffering. Weight gain, joint pain, hot flashes, hair thinning, and exceeding dry vagina.

Check out the hyster sisters website too. It was a great help to me.

Best to you

My sister, age 70, is having a double mastectomy and her ovaries removed in early July. She is triple negative and has the BRCA1 gene mutation. I've been doing searches but sometimes all the information is overwhelming.

I'm wondering why her surgeon, as far as I know, has not recommended a salpingo-oophorectomy. Your thoughts and insights would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Thank you for your reply SimoneR! I've asked my sister to ask her surgeon. I live 3000 miles away from her so I'm not able to go with her to her doctor appointments.

Viewfinder,

I was told by my gyn that estrogen is also made in the adrenal glands and those aren't removed. So that's why even after ovary removal your body still makes estrogen. If your child bearing age ovary removal can help lower the estrogen level but anti hormone therapy is recommended.

The removal of my uterus and cervix was a separate add on. When doing risk reduction for ovarian cancer, it was explained to me that taking the tubes along with the ovaries is standard procedure as ovarian cancer can start/occur in the Fallopian tubes.

AliceBastable - I am almost 6 weeks out from the same surgery. Uterus, cervix, ovaries and Fallopian tubes. Recovery so different than mastectomy. Getting really bored. You know it is bad when you begin to long for vacuuming:-)