No more Zoladex ovaries out

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Konakona
Konakona Member Posts: 173
edited March 2019 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After

I finally convinced my oncologist to have my ovaries out, I am sick of the Zoladx shot every month, my surgery will be in January. Talking to the surgeon she told me because I have 3 c sections I migh have a lot of scar tissue so I don,t. know if it will be laparoscopic or not.

Anyone with a similar experience?



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  • 2Boys3Dogs
    2Boys3Dogs Member Posts: 2
    edited December 2018

    Out of curiosity, does your onco plan on putting you on something else after ovary removal? Do you mind sharing what has led you to this decision?

    Tamoxifen tore me up so I've been taking the Zoladex shots for a year now. I had to drop the Exemestane I was taking with it after three months of experiencing every side effect listed. The joint pain I am having with the Zoladex is increasing each month so I've been considering ovary removal. I want to confirm that will resolve the joint pain before I take that step so I am waiting to meet with my Ob/gyn because my oncologist hasn't been particularly helpful. By the way, my ANA panel has been positive the two times they have taken it and I am wondering if the Zoladex is contributing to it.

    Sorry that this doesn't answer your question, but I am interested in your post and decision to quit Zoladex and remove your ovaries.

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  • kkhalle
    kkhalle Member Posts: 20
    edited December 2018

    I am seriously thinking of having my ovaries removed. I am 56 years old and have and have been on Airmidex for eight years. My onc told me I could stop taking it. One month after stopping I got my period. Now I am terrified that my cancer will come back. I do have an appointment with my gynecologist. I am now seriously thinking about having my ovaries removed. Just a note, I did get my period 3 years ago while taking Airmidex. Has anybody had the same thing happened to them

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  • CPB1167
    CPB1167 Member Posts: 24
    edited December 2018

    I am glad to have found this thread. I am supposed to start Zoladex in 2 weeks and add Letrozole the following (?) month.

    I am 51. I had used an IUD for 11 years that suppressed my period. When I was diagnosed in July I was told to remove it. I spotted a couple times in October, but other than that no period since. My docs have tested my hormones and the tests indicate that I am in menopause - or very near to it, but still in a gray area. The treatment plan was originally to start tamoxifen but then I read that the antidepressants I take would reduce the tamoxifen so my MO recommended taking Letrozole but to confirm I was in menopause I would take Zoladex shots monthly to shut my ovaries down. I thought what a drag to have to go to the doc every month to get this shot but I would do it. Then my MO said, "you can do the shots until Spring and then you can get your ovaries removed".... wha what? I was surprised by this, first time she told me. I dont have alot of info on what is involved with this removal, the thought of having another surgery isnt appealing to me, but neither is going to get shots every month and reading that the Zoladex causes bone/joint pain, yuck. Since being off the IUD it hasnt been a full year without a period to clearly show that I am in menopause, but if my hormone levels indicate it why cant I just start the Letrozole? I have had symptoms of menopause - hot flashes, etc so maybe having my ovaries removed at my age wont change much in regards to what happens when your ovaries are removed? I just dont know enough about any of this, I appreciate hearing what you are going through.

    Thanks.

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  • kkhalle
    kkhalle Member Posts: 20
    edited December 2018

    Hi

    I am going through a lot of anxiety. I couldn't believe my period came back after eight years on Airmidex and being 56. I am now at the point where I do not want to take any chances with having a reoccurrence. I was 99% estrogen & progesterone positive and in my mind ovary removal is the best option to ensure my hormones no longer work. My oncologist just retired and I have not met my new oncologist. I did call and she did not seem concerned. Not a good way to start a relationship. Not sure if she even took a look at my records. I am seeing my gynecologist next week but I do not have a lot of faith in him. I talked about having my ovaries out three years ago and he said he would not do the surgery however my oncologist agreed w/him. Another surgery is not appealing to me either but I don't want to go thru this again. I can reply back to you again after my gynecologist appt.

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  • Peregrinelady
    Peregrinelady Member Posts: 1,019
    edited December 2018
    Kk, I am surprised with ILC that they did not agree to take out your ovaries. My breast surgeon recommended oopherectomy because of family history and although hot flashes were pretty severe at first, they have mellowed and I am glad to have one less thing to worry about. I was 53 when I had the surgery and they removed them during my DIEP surgery. It only added 20 minutes. Btw, I was still having regular periods at diagnosis, but after taking Tamoxifen they stopped. However, my gynecologist tested my hormone levels and she said that they were still high, so oopherectomy was the right choice for me. Please ask why any of your doctors are against oopherectomy considering you have ILC and the ovaries are a site where ILC can spread. Keep us posted, please.
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  • kkhalle
    kkhalle Member Posts: 20
    edited December 2018

    Thank you. Did not know ILC can spread at the ovary site. My last blood test indicated I was in post menopause. Apparently, I am not. I thought I did a pretty good job of researching but I guess I missed a few things. If I have my ovaries removed do I need to go back on Arimidex? I was on it for 8 yrs. Again thank you for you input.

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  • justamy
    justamy Member Posts: 532
    edited January 2019

    My side effects are terrible and I will be discussing it with my MO this week. They offered it to me last year but my insurance was.messed up. I do not have to take Tamoxifin or Lupron following the procedure. Good luck on your journey

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  • TessaW
    TessaW Member Posts: 231
    edited January 2019

    I wish they would give me a hysterectomy! I had one son and almost stroked out on the table. They refused to tie my tubes like originally planned right after the birth because of my blood pressure. It was so high I was in the hospital for four days strictly because of blood pressure.

    I got pregnant again at 42 and miscarried in the second trimester. I was advised to never get pregnant again. Yet for some reason no one wants to approve hysterectomy.

    Seems like it would be a lot better than dealing with all of these meds every single month. When I went off of them when I lost my insurance for a while 40 lbs dropped off in 2 months. No exercise.

    Went back on double zoladex and letrozole jumped from 120 to 150 s right away.

    I'm over being exhausted and fat. They need to just give me the hysterectomy already

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  • Konakona
    Konakona Member Posts: 173
    edited January 2019

    Well, surgery is on Monday. Easy decision for me, after two years on Zoladex I am having a lot of side effects like high Colesterol ( before Zoladex 134-140, now more than 200) and high blood pressure


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  • Pye72
    Pye72 Member Posts: 1
    edited March 2019


    I am on my 3rd shot of Zoladex. My onco took me off Tamoxifen because another cancer came up in left breast within 3 months. I was only on Tamoxifen about a month. My onco suggested to have ovaries removed but I opted for the shot. I am still bleeding, mostly spoting now. My onco ran my blood work last week and shows I am in menopause. Saw my gyn today and everything is normal overall. If the bleeding continues my gyn will do a D and C. The first shot I was only sick to my tummy, headache. 2nd shot just the bleeding. 3rd headache and bleeding. Right before the first shot found out I have osteoporosis and had the prolia shot at second Zoladex shot. Not sure if I will do the ovary removal but if the bleeding does not stop I may.

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  • Peregrinelady
    Peregrinelady Member Posts: 1,019
    edited March 2019
    Kkhalle, just rereading this thread and wondering what decision you have made. Are you still on Arimidex? Did you have an oopherectomy?
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