Ovary Removal

Thanks so much for your reply Jel.  Im seriously thinking about both ovaries- I get horrendous periods these days- very, very heavy and painful.  Ive always been really regular and I think the main think stopping me from going right to this point (removing both) is the finality of knowing that I will not be ever able to have children.  Im not planning on having kids obviously but its the psychological side I guess.  The idea of having less oestrogen kicking around is a good thing though.  Ive got time to think about this- a week I guess.  What I really want to know though is how you go about getting your oestrogen/hormone levels checked out/monitored?  How do I find out if my oestrogen is sky high or maybe only just a little excessive, but then this really dosnt matter that much from what I understand as it all has to do with the receptors.  So confusing- I hate all of this :-(

Hi Vanessa, I have had my right ivary removed in 2012 due to a bery large dermoid (not BC related) and I had to have it done as a traditional surgery r ather than as a "keyhole type". Mine took a few months to recover but overall due to my abdomen being sliced open completely...

I am 44 yo now (was 40 backnrhen) and while I deperately wanted to remove both they refused to assuring me.menopaise would kick in soon enough) - well 4 years later (plus post 3 AC Chemo sessions) the damn 2nd ovary is working like clockwork... The so called menopause is just not coming and is driving me nuts...

My Gyno who is also a reproductive endocrinologist is suggesting maybe they should now take the other ovary out to reduce the neex to hormonal treatment as my BC is also hormone receptive to the max which adds to my frustration seeing that I wanted it all gone back in 2012...

I guess I am mainly saying this as you mentioned your BC was hormone receptive and that you were looking at just having 1 removed...

Unless you are considering having kids in thebfuture seeing you are undergoing this already you may as well consider having noth yanked out as it changes the need for hormone treatment post BC.  Yes throws you into premature menopause but then the hormone suppresants are also meds with tbeir own sideffects and releated risks so worth considering if it means avoiding or minimising them... Or maybe just food for thought with your Oncologist and Gyno...

A friend post her BC surgery (age 42) had both her ovaries removed and is lovong it... She, somilarly post my 1 being removed) did have some nausea to deal with the 1st week and hot flushes for the following few weeks but that was 1 year ago and now while she reckons she gets ocassional hot flush at night they are very rare and is just loving the period free life...

Best of luck for your coming surgery...

Hugs

Jel

Im due to have my right ovary removed on July 14 as I have a large cyst on it.  I don't mind as I look at it as helping lower my oestrogen supply as my BC was ER+.  Can I ask, the oestrogen numbers you quoted- how did you get tested for them?  This is something I have wanted to know/get tested.  Im sure that not everyone has the same levels etc.

I hope you are doing ok.  

Lots of love,  Vanessa 

- See more at: https://www.bcna.org.au/online-network/groups/young-women-online-support/blog/ovary-removal-1#sthash.rf8bXmRv.dpuf

Im due to have my right ovary removed on July 14 as I have a large cyst on it.  I don't mind as I look at it as helping lower my oestrogen supply as my BC was ER+.  Can I ask, the oestrogen numbers you quoted- how did you get tested for them?  This is something I have wanted to know/get tested.  Im sure that not everyone has the same levels etc.

I hope you are doing ok.  

Lots of love,  Vanessa 

I have had 1 ovary removed the old fashioned way few years back (not BC) rekated so unfortunately still have 1 that functions a bit too well.

Unrelated to BC I questioned my Gyno who is also a reproductive Endocrinologist how I could stop my periods ovulation etc as they cause serious problems for me and his advice was a 2nd surgery as he reckons it is far less risky and easier long term than tablets. As I cannot have laparoscopy and cannot handle the thought of a 2nd major surgery and needing months and months to recover so soon I decided to keep it (for now) but I guess if I was able to have a laparoscopy I would have the damn thing out in a heartbeat.

A friend of mine did have her ovaries out post being diagnosed with BC 16 months ago and she is super happy with having done it. She was 42 at the time and onitially she did have about 2 weeks of heavy duty night sweats  due to hot flushes but that was the worst off it... She absolutely loves not having to deal with periods and additional meds and hardly ever now has any hot flushes to deal with. She reckons it no longer happens more than couple of nights per month and highly recommends it for anyone in this situation.

Hi Sara,

Im not much help to you as I'm in the same  position. 

I have finished chemo, rads, mast and recon - cancer treatment finished - now the hormone therapy. Oncology want to do the Zoladex injections with Aromatose Inhibitor - problem is I've just seen the size of that needle on the reconstruction site, plus it feels too much like cancer treatment again going back to the cancer centre every month until I'm 50. I can't bear being back on that 'wagon'.

So thinking about ovary removal too. Tamoxifen is my other option but Oncology say I was a high risk so better to go with Aromatose.

Will be interested to see other ladies experiences with ovary removal. 

Wishing you all the best with your path. 

Kym

Xx

Hello Sara, I'm not going to be too much help but I'm 40, I started my first chemo today. So far I ve had lumpectomy with aux clearance and had 16 nodes involved . I then underwent a bi lateral mastectomy. I have to also radation and everything else including ovary removal. I have the other option as well however my understanding was that this was the most effective way to go, removing the risk all together, I would be interested in others that have done it or have opinion as well.  I wish you really well in your journey and I hope your are positive and have support. Thinking of you.. Selena :-)