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
