Zoladex injection versus Oophorectomy.

[Louisejr]

Just wanted some advice if there is any one on here who has had ovary removal as opposed to having forced menopause with zoladex.

I am really struggling with the side effects from the injection 5 months in, and wondering if losing my ovaries would be a better option. I know having another op is not my favourite option but I am feeling so very low at the moment. I am 52, so having any more children is not an issue.

I know so many of you are on more challenging journeys than me - which makes my problems pale compared to some, and I do feel like a moaner at the mo which is so not me. Any advice would be good.

Louise 😘

[CancerkickerKathy]

I had my ovaries removed last year. I was already post menopause so having children wasn't an option for me either. I wasn't told anything about shots. My only gripe is that's all they took was ovaries and tubes. I thought uterus should have been taken too as long as I was under. For me I really only had a high level of pain that day and to be honest it wasn't like a number 10 but I felt every bump in the road coming home. The hardest part is the prep the day before. The cleanse and running to bathroom in a hotel. Good luck.

[Louisejr in reply to CancerkickerKathy]

Thank you - I am pre menopause apparently with extremely high levels of oestrogen which is why I've had to have the injections - but after researching the side effects another option is to lose the ovaries. So thank you for your reply - I have an app with my oncologist in a couple of weeks and is something I want to discuss with him.

Xx

[minaptl]

Hi, hope this helps, I was 52 when I was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, I opted for mastectomy and being hormone receptive and premenopausal, had the option of going on to Letrozole and Zoladex. My menopause had not kicked in yet, so I opted for oopherectomy. It was pretty straightforward, keyhole, home the next day, just having to be careful for 4 weeks with lifting and bending. The most difficult thing with having the oopherectomy was that the oestrogen levels drop abruptly and menopause kicks in immediately. Also I started my Letrozole the very next day, so any side effects also started. So I have sweats, fatigue, some pain and discomfort, difficulty sleeping, weight gain etc, not sure if Letrozole or menopause, either way I am now three months in and the idea is to let my body get used to all the changes and persevere with pacing my day according to how I am feeling. Good luck to all the ladies on here, Thank you all for all the support!

[Louisejr in reply to minaptl]

Sounds just like me - apart from I wasn't offered an oopherectomy, just the Zoladex combined with Letrozole. I am thinking that I would prefer to have the menopause naturally rather than being chemically forced into it, and coping with the side effects of the Letrozole rather than both.

Thank you for your reply it has definitely given me something to think about, and I agree the support from the ladies on here is fab 😘

[moseypowell in reply to minaptl]

Hi minapti, how are you getting on with Letrozole after all these months. I am still struggling and thinking of changing. All the best Marina

[minaptl in reply to moseypowell]

Hi, coming up to 10 months on letrozol ,

Struggling in terms of aches and pains , muscle and joints

Seems to be getting worse, the advice is to come of letrozol for a month , see if feel better, then switch to tamoxifen and see what happens

How about you?

[moseypowell in reply to minaptl]

I can cope with aches but struggling with fatigue and lack of motivation. Considering coming off totally and taking my chances xx

[minaptl in reply to moseypowell]

what options have you tried so far?

[fredster8]

Hi, I had my ovaries and fallopian tubes removed as a preventative measure at the end of October. It was keyhole surgery and was fine. I'm 45 and the hard part for me was going into the menopause very quickly afterwards. My gynaecologist put me on a low dose of HRT, but that was short lived and had to come straight off it when I got my breast cancer diagnosis in January. But having my ovaries removed was a straight forward procedure, hope this helps.

[Louisejr in reply to fredster8]

Thank you - that does help. Not really looking forward to another op but would be better in the long run I think xxx

[Debster2016]

Hi Louise - thanks for asking this. I haven't been offered this as an option but I have come across it so I will ask my oncologist on Thursday when I see her next.

I am sorry to hear the injections are still causing you trouble. It's so hard to know what to do for the best but you are doing a great job in actively looking for alternatives so well done for thinking of it.

I doubt that anyone reading your post will think you a moaner, we are all in this Together! This is a place where we are free to moan, ask, vent, as much as we need, seems to me the ideal place to do so. This is a very hard journey, no matter the specifics, and no 2 journeys are the same so they cannot be compared and so one is not worse or better than another.

I hope you can get on top of this somehow, I wish I could help more.

All the best with this 🙏😌xx

[Louisejr in reply to Debster2016]

Hi Debs, thank you and yes it is good being able to rant on here. I have a wonderful support network of family and friends, but sometimes it's difficult to explain to them what's in my head, and what's going on with my body.

I would just love to have one day without the aches and pains and feeling rough. I know it's early days and I am truly thankful to be here - but it sure is one hell of a roller coaster of emotions.

Thank you for listening it means a lot.

Louise 😘xx

[mags4]

Hi louise,

Just wondering have you considered removing your ovaries i am onthe same journey as you ,pre menopausal on tamoxifen but also need to stop estrogen as erpositive trying to weigh up the pros and cons kind of vering towards ovary removal .i am starting zoladex this week for a month to see how i get on!!

[Louisejr in reply to mags4]

Hi Mags

My oncologist has taken me off the injection for a month as I have had really bad side effects - he wants my body to get back to normal then try something different - he said removing my ovaries would be a last resort.

Let me know how you get on with the injection.

Louise xx 😘

[mags4]

Hi Louise,

Thanks for reply i have to go to my own doctor to get it this week not looking forward to it !!i dont know which will be better ,i will let you know how i get on .My oncologist gave me 2 options injection or ovary removal And basically which ever suits its so difficult to try and make the right decision.

Marguerite 💗

[Louisejr in reply to mags4]

Hi Marguerite

I found the side effects really bad - I had joint pain, problems with my vision and incredible fatigue. I have felt so much better this last week of not being on the meds. My cousin had her ovaries out and she said apart from a couple of weeks recovering she was fine.

As I said my oncologist said ovary removal would be the last resort for me - but given the choice I would definitely have opted for that instead of the Zoladex. Obviously everyone is different - so you may be okay with it.

The injection itself was okay - there was only one occasion when it was a little painful and I ended up with a bruise. It is more uncomfortable than painful and is over with in seconds.

Hope it goes okay for you.

Louise 😘xx

[Hidden in reply to Louisejr]

I have the zolodex and just wondered if you apply a topical anaesthetic cream prior to

yr injection or use ice to numb it? i use the cream 1hr before and have no problem. So just wondered for you?

[Louisejr in reply to Hidden]

Hi Belinda

I found it wasn’t too bad, I didn’t have anything to numb it. There was just a small amount of bruising. My nurse alternated the side which she did it each month xx

[TurquoiseSteph]

Hi Louise I am in the same position did you go ahead with the overies removal? Do the aches and headaches and hotflushes and chest pain and lack of libido go?

[Louisejr in reply to TurquoiseSteph]

Hi my Oncologist switched me to Tamoxifen as I couldn’t cope with the injection and Letrozole. Still have a few side effects but nowhere near as bad as before xx

[Jt72]

Im waiting for appointment with gynaecologist to get my ovaries removed. I've had 4 injections and I just think it will be better for me to have them removed, regarding pain and reduce chance of cancer going there. This was a recommendation by my consultant. Go with what is right for you x hope all goes well x

[Louisejr in reply to Jt72]

My oncologist switched me onto Tamoxifen. So still have my ovaries. The side effects are nowhere near as bad as before XX

[Jt72 in reply to Louisejr]

I was on Tamoxifen for my first BC because I've had a reoccurrence and I'm premenopausal. I now have injections of zoladex and amastain (think that's the correct spelling)☺️. Glad to hear you are feeling better x

[Louisejr in reply to Jt72]

Thank you 3 years in just waiting for the results of my 3rd mammogram. So have everything crossed. 🤞xx

[Jt72 in reply to Louisejr]

🤞💓