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Pammy46's avatar
Pammy46
Member
9 years ago

Ovaries removal

Hi ladies
well 3 weeks in to my radiation this week i loath the fatigue.. I had my appointment with gyno and sent my forms off to hospital for ovary removal I'm doing this to get rid of the majority of oestrogen my tumours tested 99.9% positive to it..gyno said in his professional voice "you know your going full on into menopause that day hard.. he freaked me out I know it's coming but was wondering who else has had this and how did you deal with the side affects?? 
Thanks pam xx
radiotherapy

10 Replies

  • Pammy46's avatar
    Pammy46
    Member
    9 years ago
    Hi 
    im having mine done at Gosford I hope the side effects aren't too bad but I'd rather that then the risk of to must oestrogen in my body.
  • Alpal's avatar
    Alpal
    Member
    9 years ago
    Hi @Pammy46. I'm a Central Coast girl too, and had my ovaries and tubes out late last year.  Chemo in 2014 had forced me into early menopause, but my ovaries became active again last year and I began having heavy bleeds.  Also, I had cysts on my ovaries, which had become over 8cm in size, and my breast cancer was hormone positive.  After having hystercoscopy and curettage (to make sure it wasn't anything more serious), my gynae recommended the surgery and my oncologist agreed - so I did too.  The only side effect has been extreme hot flushes which I'm not enjoying at all - especially all through the night.  However, I'm glad I had the surgery done, as it removes risk of ovarian cancer and I don't have to worry about heavy periods any more.  All the best with yours  :) 
  • RNSW's avatar
    RNSW
    Member
    9 years ago
    Hi, I'm on the waiting to have mine removed. I am curious also but the way i see it hot flushes are the least of my problems. All the best xo
  • angg66's avatar
    angg66
    Member
    9 years ago
    Hi @Pammy46. I had my ovaries removed around 6 months after finishing chemo & radiotherapy. I only got mild hot flushes & sweating a little while in bed. I know everyone is different, but for me there were very few symptoms of menopause. Ang xx
  • melclarity's avatar
    melclarity
    Member
    9 years ago
    @Pammy46 unfortunately Zoffiel is correct, in fact I posted new data from the Breast Cancer Foundation about Tamoxifen that in 1/3 of cases it doesnt work and the sneaky cancer cells are growing inspite of it. I had a recurrence in 2015 after 4yrs and being on Tamoxifen and Chemo threw me into menopause which was really difficult to deal with. I still get hot flushes and I believe that coupled with chemo is the culprit for weight gain which does not come off!!! GRRR!!! I am now on Arimidex which the Oncologist prefers over Tamoxifen, but Ive never been told to have my ovaries removed. I am however having a single mastectomy/reconstruction in 1.5 weeks. Id say you'll manage the side effects ok, and that it would be similar to what I went through which I know was unnatural and harsher. Hugs Melinda xo
  • primek's avatar
    primek
    Member
    9 years ago
    We are all different. I foubd peri menopause hard with the changes but then felt like myself again within 18 months. I expected to feel the same on my aramatose inhibitor, but nothing like that at all. The odd hot flush with coffee, wine or panadol. That's about it.
  • AllyJay's avatar
    AllyJay
    Member
    9 years ago
    I had a hysterectomy at age 28 and one ovary removed a year later, due to severe endometriosis and uterine prolapse. Forward to age 38, we had just arrived in Australia and I found a new family GP. She ran a series of blood tests, just to get an overall idea of my general health. Turns out I was Waaaay post menopausal...like years post...and didn't even know it. I had assumed that my solo remaining ovary had stepped up to the mark, but not so. Because of the lack of uterus, I hadn't had the usual irregular cycles, which might have given me a clue. Also no other problems such as hot flushes and so on. I wonder if I might have had a more stressful menopause had I actually known I was having one? Don't assume you'll have all these horrendous problems when your ovaries go...you might just breeze through it too.
  • Zoffiel's avatar
    Zoffiel
    Member
    9 years ago

    Yep, I'll be on one of the aromatase inhibitors for years. This is a recurrence for me after ten years so no-one is mucking around with it.

     I'm overweight, which contributes to my oestrogen levels even with no ovaries. It's actually not quite as simple as that, but you do have to be mindful that your body produces hormones in a number of different ways. There is also new research showing that some forms of BC are finding a way around the aromatase drugs and producing their own fuel. I'll worry about that later.

    Marg.

  • Pammy46's avatar
    Pammy46
    Member
    9 years ago
    Hi zoffiel,
    do you still have to go on some form of tablet? My oncologist said I may not yet we will wait and see she said
  • Zoffiel's avatar
    Zoffiel
    Member
    9 years ago

    I did it just before Xmas and started chemo two weeks later. I was 53 and peri menopausal. I was stuck in nowhere land waiting for a seroma to stop draining so thought I'd get it over and done with rather than waiting until after radiotherapy.

    My rationale was that:

    a) It got rid of heaps of pesky oestrogen. Though not all of it, pays to remember that.

    b) If they weren't there I didn't have to worry about them exploding

    c) It will simplify my upcoming hormone therapy as I won't need Zolodex to menopause me.

    Both my oncologist and gyno warned me that I would be parachuted straight into full on menopause but I figured it was worth it. My oncologist, who I'm becoming quite fond of, ended up saying, 'Oh well, you might as well feel terrible all at the same time.'

    I haven't really noticed much difference, but then I am having chemo so you'd have to wonder how much more horrible the lack of ovaries is actually making things. Not much, I expect.