I cannot find a definitive answer in any research. I have used Vagifem for 5 years for vaginal/bladder atrophy. I’m post menopausal by 16 years. I recently had an salpingo-oopherectomy for a 6cm ovarian cyst. Pathology was a 1A serous borderline ovarian tumour. All contained in a bag on removal during laparoscopy. Follow up 3 monthly for 5 yrs re my age 64.
is it safe to still use Vagifem pessaries 10mcg?
I would definitely ask your medical team.
I'm sure that will depend on whether or not your tumour is fed by hormones. (Oestrogen positive). If they don't yet know, then they'll probably say no. I'm OK to take HRT as my tumour wasn't hormone fed, but I am erring on the side of caution to deal with my own vaginal/bladder atropy by using non hormonal pessaries which are helping with my issue. They are from Boots. I can't compare them to hormonal ones as I never took them, but they work for me.
what do the doctors say to this question?
The consultant I saw who is doing the follow ups said it was too low a dose 10mcg 2x a week to worry about. Being 64 my oestrogen levels will be low anyway plus no ovaries anymore. Lining of uterus in MRI was 3mm. No bleeding not even spotting in 16 years so everyone keeps saying it’s ok. Have no idea if tumour was oestrogen positive.
I used it alongside full hrt prior to my cancer diagnosis. I’ve been told my oncologist not to take it now or ever. I’ve got hormone positive oc. Interestingly another in the team said I’d be okay to use it due to its very low dose but I’ve decided to take my oncologist advice and not use it. I’m trying different non hormonal lubricants currently.
Are the non-hormonal moisturizing inserts working to facilitate pain free intercourse, prevent vaginal atrophy and reduce UTIs? Tnx.
They only assist in lubrication, not in helping the atrophy or reducing UTIs sadly. Those things I just have to live with.
Sorry to jump on your post but how does one know if one’s cancer is hormone sensitive? What test determines this? Thanks all 😊
I think in the pathology if they tested for it it will say
They’ve told me it isn’t but I don’t know what they base it on; not seen anything in writing explaining it. Will ask the oncologist next time I meet with her.
I think the tumours have receptors in that can be positive or negative for certain hormones.
Even that doesn’t necessarily indicate hormone dependence/sensitivity.
I asked my oncologist who went back to my biopsies and had them tested for hormone receptors. The results for my LGSOC was hormone positive.
I had the pessaries as well for the same problem. I asked my oncologist about using them and she said 10mcg was a very low dose of oestrogen but maybe best not to use if possible. I think opinions differ depending on what ovarian cancer you have.
I had also been using Vagifem for 5 years when I was diagnosed with Stage 3C ovarian cancer. I don't know whether it was hormone fed but I have always wondered whether the Vagifem contributed, and there was no way I was going to continue with it (but I would have definitely asked my team if I'd been thinking about it).
Dear JustMeOK
Thank you for your post. Last year the British Gynaecological Cancer Society and British Menopause Society published evidence-based guidelines on the Management of menopausal symptoms following treatment of gynaecological cancer, and borderline ovarian tumours were included in these.
You can view and download the guidelines here: bgcs.org.uk/professionals/g...
The overall abstract for the guidelines summarises: "Vaginal estrogens can be very effective for improving urogenital symptoms and are safe for the majority of women, including those for whom systemic HRT is contra-indicated with rare exceptions."
On page six you will see: "HRT should be offered to women who have menopausal symptoms following treatment for borderline ovarian tumours and actively recommended for those with surgical menopause as a result of treatment for early-stage disease."
They give further detail on page eight: "For women over 45 years of age, they found no argument to contraindicate the use of HRT on the basis of the BOT diagnosis alone and recommended that HRT can be prescribed for menopausal symptoms, as part of an individual benefit to risk assessment. However, there should be caution if there is residual disease following surgery, advanced stage or recurrent disease."
I appreciate you weren't asking about systemic HRT but I hope this is useful for further information on hormonal treatment and BOT.
We would always recommend you ask your doctors for individual advice about your own specific risks and benefits but I hope this information from the guidelines is helpful for further discussions with your medical team or GP.
Best wishes
Anna
Ovacome Support
No is the clear answer I had from my gynaecological surgeon post my Total Abdominal Hysterectomy and Bilateral Salpingo-Oopherectomy / radical hysterectomy / full debuting surgery for stage 2 endometrioid adenocarcinoma. You need to avoid all oestrogen.
She recommended Yes vaginal pessaries (and there is a tube of gel too). You can get this on the NHS if oestrogen pessaries are unsuitable for you. I had to get a letter stating that from my surgeon but I now get mine on prescription. They are excellent at addressing vaginal atrophy and easy to use you will be pleased to know!
Your doctor should be able to prescribe our YES WB water based lubricant and our YES VM vaginal moisturiser as both products have been approved by the NHS and are on the drugs tariff and in the medical dictionary. The information to give to your GP is as follows:
YES Water Based intimate lubricant:
75ml tube: Pip code - 345 -5789
Box of 6 x 5ml prefilled applicators: Pip code- 345-5805
YES VM vaginal Moisturiser:
100ml tube: Pip code - 402-3412
Box of 6 x 5ml applicators: Pip code - 402-3420
obviously check with your own Gynae oncologist. But my own experience - bilateral serous BOTs (stage 3c) diagnosed after bilateral salpingo oophorectomy in 2019 (they were thought to be “cysts” originally). My gynae oncologist actually prescribed Vagifem for me (after my completion / debulking surgery I had 8 weeks after the first surgery) due to the vaginal atrophy I had (& associated symptoms). He assured me it was perfectly safe.
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