Not sure where to post this Ovarian removal vs. Tamoxifen

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NicoleRod
NicoleRod Member Posts: 2,906
edited April 2019 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After

I am 50 years old. I had INSITU cancer contained (supposably) in the milk duct in 2015 lumpectomy & radiation. Feb 2019 invasive cancer same breast double mastectomy no reconstruction. I am getting close to starting menopause being 50. I am thinking with all the side effects has anyone every had their ovaries removed instead of taking hormone therapy? While I realize we can make a small amount of estrogen the majority comes from out ovaries and tubes. I have a history of lyme disease and worry about taking anything new as I usually have a lyme flare....

Just wondering if anyone opted for that instead of the therapy?


Nicole

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  • farmerlucy
    farmerlucy Member Posts: 3,985
    edited April 2019

    I have not heard of that as an option. The ooph is an option if you are premenopausal and choose to take an AI rather than Tamoxifen. I did an ooph at 55 for just that reason. I was surprised at how much the loss of estrogen affected me. I'd think twice about doing that again. In the end the AI was much harder for me than the Tamoxifen. I also had a hysterectomy due to side effects of Tamoxifen.

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  • NicoleRod
    NicoleRod Member Posts: 2,906
    edited April 2019

    What is AI??? Also if you did it at 55 weren't you almost ready for menopause anyway...so you would have experienced the same problems with loss of estrogen anyway right?

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  • NicoleRod
    NicoleRod Member Posts: 2,906
    edited April 2019

    I mean we are all going to go through menopause...I am going to start it in the next year or 2 so if I start it 2 years early...I think I would rather experience loss of estrogen from my ovaries being removed rather than risk all the side effects of tamoxifen..??? Just my thoughts right now....

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  • CBK
    CBK Member Posts: 611
    edited April 2019

    I had my ovaries removed pre-menopausal and it was and continues to be hell! The side-effects for me were and continue to be much more severe than a natural menopause. And you don’t have the option of one or another. Well you always have an option; but you will be placed an aromatase inhibitor (Al) Arimidex, Femora Or Aromasin. You still produce a significant amount of estrogen without ovaries that warrant many to to takes Als for 5 to 10 years.

    If I wasn’t at high risk for ovarian cancer, I would never have removed my ovaries.

    Farmer Lucy - how long did it take for you to see diminishing of side effects from ooph? I’m like over a year out .... and still suffering. Damn that ooph is the most difficult thing in my whole treatment plan. Well the combo of that with Arimidex at the same time was like just off the charts difficult.

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  • gb2115
    gb2115 Member Posts: 1,894
    edited April 2019

    As others have said, I don't think they would be satisfied with just removing your ovaries...you would get put on a medication that isn't without side effects.

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