Apologies for the blunt title but that is the information I need. My medical oncologist has suggested this or Goserelin implants as options for me accompanied by Tamoxifen. I don't like either option to be truthful! I have done some research into both but would very much like some personal experiences if possible. I would be most grateful to anyone who would share.
Thank you.
Hello Deanne,
Thank you for you reply, I appreciate it very much. I am like you and making sure I eat well and exercise regularly. Having a puppy that needs walking helps with that! Your info has helped and I will also find out more about Femara and the effect on bone health as my bone density test did show some degeneration in the spine and knee regions. Food for thought.
Best wishes to you also. Cheers, kristine
Hello Lyn,
My other option to the ovary removal, is the goserelin injection once a month for 5 years. This would also include having the Tamoxifen as well. I developed a clot post chemo and prior to surgery but that resolved with clexane injections which I am still on until January. Once a day, 100mg, no flashing the belly in bikinis!! The haematologist tells me I will still be taking oral clexane with the Tamoxifen. My research doesn't give any definitive answer to ovary removal benefit and certainly no guarantee, just a reduction in possible return of cancer. My thoughts currently are that given the chemo, surgery (pathology is clear with nil spreading from lump and nodes) and radiation I have much less chance of return with or without my ovaries insitu.
Thank you for replying. Cheers Kristine
Hello,
Thank you for sharing your experience. From my research the ovary removal is further insurance that it doesn't return but there is no guarantee. My medical oncologist is the one who has suggested the removal even though I will be taking the Tamoxifen. So, I am interested in the fact that yours says the removal of body parts is a bit over done.
Best wishes, Kristine
Hi Krissy
I had my ovaries removed just over 2 months ago. My background was diagnosis with Stage 3 Ductal Carcinoma ER and PR positive in May 2013. I was 47 and premenopausal. Chemotherapy eventually put me into menopause and I was told that at my age this was likely to be permenant. I started Tamoxifen in November 2013 and the plan was to switch to Femara if I stayed in menopause after 2 years on Tamoxifen.
March 2015 my periods returned and blood tests showed I was not in menopause. Because of my age (49 now) it was decided that ovary removal would be best. I could then switch to Femara which gives a slightly better result recurrence wise.
Since my diagnosis I have been very into healthy lifestyle and exercise. I believe this may be helping to reduce the side effects from treatment. I have been fortunate to have very few side effects, just a few hot flushes really.
Recovery from the laparoscopic surgery for the removal of ovaries and tubes was good with return to normal full physical activity at about the one month point. Things I have found helpful are exercise and magnesium supplements. I am finishing up my Tamoxifen script before switching to Femara. Hope that this will go smoothly.
I had a bone density test back in May which showed osteopenia. Am due to have that test repeated in May next year to see if Femara and the ovary removal has had too negative an effect on this. Am really stepping up my weight bearing exercise to try and counteract this. Will be interesting to see the result. One option maybe to switch back to Tamoxifen. Will have to wait and see.
I hope that this info might be helpful to you. Good luck with it all. Deanne xxx
Hi Krissy. I'll be watching this with interest. My medical oncologist has also just suggested that I think about ovary removal as one option. My other option would be monthly injections plus arimatase inhibitor for 5 years, as I am pre menopausal & can't take tamoxifen due to history of clots, although only superficial.
looking forward to reading responses
Take care, Lyn
hi there
my picture is breast infiltrating grade 2 20mm
lymph node .8 mm hormone recept, er postiive,pr postive, her2 neg; treatment lumpectomy, radiation and tamaxafin. Removal of ovaries is one of those things i was assuming that would be 'next' in part as it can be seen as 'standard' treatment. i did go to a specialist gyn oncologist and he said removal was done a lot as 'further insurance', however my medical oncologist says --in my case --he is not recommending this --and feels that removing body parts is a bit over done 'what next--how about the spleen?'---although if i didn't take tamoxafin i would be under treated. Im also interested in how removal of these organs does affect my overall health and wellbeing. I went on an american site which had all these women referring to there ovaries and even uterus as 'cancer catchers' so thats probably just a less sophisticated version of 'insurance'.
best wishes
