Ovary shutdown medical surgical or not?

@Dory65 yes answered my questions too...

Thankyou for your story @jintie, you answered a lot of my questions.

I chose to have my ovaries removed rather than have the monthly injections.  I am legally blind and so cannot drive - so for me, it was not as simple as jumping into a car and heading off to my GP once a month.  The injections were taking a bigger chuck out of my day and one day, I ended up spending 90 minutes at the GP just to get the injection.  And that was it.  I figured it out - if I am to have the Zoladex injections for 10 years... it’s going to really add up.  

Thanks for sharing Dory65,

I am also very hormone receprive hence my want to suppress estrogen best way possible. 
What did dr say about hysterectomy? Why medicine over surgery?
Like l said my oncologist wants tı wait 6months to see how my period goes. At this stage l eant it to stop naturally and conrinue wirh Tamox. Which worked good for my mum. Although she got bc at a later age than l did. 

Hi @Sheera,

I'm 7 months into 12 months of Zoladex injections (1 per month) to shut down my ovaries. Very hormone receptive BC. I am 55 but still had my period prior to BC diagnosis (November 2019). Probably why I got BC, plus Mum had it too (but I don't know the pathology of her BC). My Oncotype DX score was 20. No chemo, but I have to do endocrine therapy for sure. Mum had two recurrences and succumbed to BC in 2001, aged 72. She was on Tamoxifen. Aromatase Inhibitors have since been introduced to the treatment options for postmenopausal women. I was diagnosed at around the same age as she was, so I know I have to do what the doctors order, but I can't help being stroppy about it. :|

I tried Tamoxifen but then ended up with endometrial thickening. I had day surgery Hysteroscopy with Dilation and Curettage (D&C) and am seeing the gynecologist soon. I presume the pathology was OK and that they would have called me in sooner if there was anything sinister. I'm now on Letrozole instead of Tamoxifen.

I will be asking the gynecologist - why Zoladex instead of oophorectomy in older or post childbearing women, and why not hysterectomy - one less thing to go wrong and develop cancer in the future?

The Zoladex injections aren't too bad. You get used to it. 

I hope my story helps you with your decision-making. All the best. L x

Yes, that might be a good idea @Sheera. 

Thanks FLClover,

To be honest l am weighing towards beginning with shutdown and taking it from there. Will see about getting a second opinion though. If youdon't mind me asking, what were the main reasons your oncologist suggested a shutdown of ovaries?

@Sheera, I am pre-menopausal and have been taking the injections since August. Every 28 days, as is the menstrual cycle. My body needs to be in artificial menopause so I can take Letrozole, which is another hormone blocker. I haven’t had my period since I started the injections and it feels good, as I had long and heavy periods and bad PMS. I prefer this to having my ovaries removed, as it’s still better for the body to have them, however some women don’t like the hassle of the monthly injections so just have them removed. The injections are quick, only a little painful, and don’t cause any side effects other than occasional hot flushes which are mild. 

I was still having the occasional period and it was one of the options. My first injection was with my Oncologist.  After that he suggested I have my GP give me the injection with check ups and scripts coming from my Oncologist. 
I had to have one every 4 weeks,  important to have them exactly 4 weeks, x 26 = 2 years
Each time I was given a numbing injection and alternate sides. My left side felt like I was due for a period for a couple of days and my right side nothing.
It was easy and my GP always checked blood pressure and kept me in check with blood tests et cetera 

Also, iserbrown...

How did you decide about the injection and how are the side effects?!