Ovaries removal

Hi there

Glad to hear your wife has been treated and recovering well I hope.

I had my ovaries removed in May this year, I was diagnosed and treated for breast cancer 3 years ago and the reason I needed my ovaries removed is because of one of the medications (tamoxifen) which I had been taking for 2 years had caused a pre cancer condition of the uterus but also a large cyst on one ovary.

Not sure where abouts you live, but where I am, a scan can clearly see the condition of the ovaries which is what I had and was found my cyst wasn't cancerous.

How old is your wife?

It is a big decision to have them removed when young, I'm in my 30s so its early for me and I have to have bone density scans to make sure bones aren't thinning. I have hot flushes, especially at night and I have a foggy brain at times!!

I suggest you get a second opinion, mine wasn't done lightly and its still early days but feel it was the right thing for me.

I wish you both well.

I had to have my overies switched of as my cancer was hormone receptive stage 2 breast cancer so my hormones would of given me cancer again, I had the choice removal or a blast of radiotherapy that takes 30 seconds, I opted for later as I was having enough ops as it was, good luck to you both

Hi I had mine removed in April of this year I am 49 so for me the menopause was coming. Also I had mine removed for 2 reasons I also have PCOS and I also didn’t get on with tamoxifen for different reasons so had to have them removed to be able to take anastrazole. They actually wanted me to have a hysterectomy but gynaecologist thought I wasn’t up to it as only finished active treatment in Jan. I do get hot flushes but not too bad. For me it was the best decision. Good luck

I had Stage 3 BC Hormone Positive with 11 out of 12 lymph nodes affected and 4 tumours including one over 5cm. I am now 7 years recovered with no recurrence or problems since. I had chemo, mastectomy and recon, and 5 weeks radiotherapy, which was intense. I was on Tamoxifen for 5 years and am now on Anastrozole. At no stage did the doctors advise removal of ovaries as the drugs blocked the oestrogen. A friend of mine chose to have elective ovary removal and has had very bad problems as a result. You are no more likely to get ovarian cancer after a BC diagnosis than any other cancer - is my understanding, unless you have the BRCA gene. But your oncologist will know. Take expert advice and wishing you all the very best. xxxxx

Hi Hayder. The medical specialists are the best people to advise you in this respect as they have access to huge amounts of data which will tell you the best course of action. Wishing you all the very best xxx

I had my ovaries removed after breast cancer too. I did test BRCA positive so my chances of getting ovarian cancer was higher. Ovarian cancer is hard to detect and usually by the time we know it's there it's too late. My Doc only removed the ovaries. It was an outpatient surgery. Pain wasn't bad at all. She may want to weigh the options of full hysterectomy vs only ovaries. Stay strong.

I will be 50 soon. I suppose in a way it wasn't as bad for me because I was already past menopause and having children wasn't going to happen anyway. I do sweat terribly now but haven't noticed any other side affect. I think even if I was younger I would have done the same thing. If I kept my ovaries and had a baby then ended up with cancer the baby might lose me as a mother. Am I making sense?

Hi,

I am 43 years old BRCA1 positive. I was diagnosed breast cancer in march 2017. I finished my treatment end of last year. I did everything what Dr suggested BMX and ovary removal. Dr suggested same as there is no scan that detect ovarian cancer early, I shouldn't wait and watch. I too was scared about ovary removal and side effects. But I had to chose it because it would give me safer future ! I am 9 weeks postop of total hysterectomy and oophrectomy. So far no side effects, but don't know about future. Both my genetic counselor and onco repeatedly asked me to do oophorectomy first then BMX. I did lumpectomy first then after diagnosis of BRCA I went for BMX . It's so frustrating that for BRCA people it's another burden, it's not only just breast cancer treatment. Because of BRCA , I have been going under knife every 6 months. I know it's fir safer future but it's so frustrating.

I understand your wife's situation. I am sending her hug and best wishes. Hope she will finish all her treatment very soon and go back to normal life. I am waiting to start normal life too.

Dear Arumana

Thanks for your reply , hope you'll be very well soon.

Did you have just your ovaries removad or fallopian as well?

What do you mean by BMX.

Regards

Did you ask your onco if your wife can wait for some time? As she is only 30 , may be she has some time. Genetic counselor can suggest better. They have data about this.

I know I may get some side effects but if I live longerfor these prevention surgery ,I am ready to bear it. This is my mantra now.

You definitely will live longer.

Yes my genetic counselor recommends to remove both ovaries and breast, but we the most important things are ovaries as she doesn't take any medicine to prevent the cancer while for breasr she takes to kill estrogen.

Thank you so much for your help