Radical hysterectomy and menopausal symtoms.

[RayRay]

Hi, I'm new to this site but just wanted some advise/support. I was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer in March and have just had my 4th round of carboplatin. On 25th July I'll be having a radical hysterectomy, debulking, removal of 2 large cysts on my ovaries (which they say look borderline) and a secondary tumour above my cervix. Chemo has shrunk things but another chemo round should make surgery more successful. My concern is the post op recovery with a 2 year old to look after and the dreaded menopause. I do not want HRT due to links with breast cancer and have been looking at herbal alternatives. Does anyone have any suggestions? Also, is OC oestrogen driven - it seems to be hard to get an answer to this question. My oncologist said it was not but people I have met though a holistic support service said that it is??! it's a mind-field all of this!!

[wendydee]

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis but it seems that you're getting good treatment. I had ovaries, womb, tubes, omentum taken out nearly 9 years ago and was still perimenopausal at the time. There were borderline tumours in both ovaries and they have been removed with no ill effects since. I didn't even need chemo, but the treatment has changed since then, with chemo often being given before an operation. I believe there are some ovarian cancers that are oestrogen driven and some are not. I know this isn't a help, really as you will have to wait until the analysis on anything they find after your op to know what sort of tumour you have.

My post op recovery was good, with very little pain. i followed the advice of the hospital rehabilitation notes and was able to do a little short walk about 2 weeks after the op. I started swimming after about 6 weeks and was getting back to normal after that. I went back to work after 4 months. However, for the first 2 or 3 months I was more tired than usual and found a short afternoon doze helped. However, we're all different, you will be younger than I was and probably much more energetic. I just enjoyed feeling really well again after my op. I hadn't realised how ill I'd been feeling before. I just kept on plodding on, thinking it was my age! As for the menopause, I had HRT implants for a year then went without. I take soy isoflavones and use a Ladycare magnet for the hot flushes that I still get. However, I feel better now than I've felt since my 30's and take care with eating healthy food and exercise as much as I can. The Penny Brohn website may help as well. It's full of interesting factsheets and info for supporting conventional treatment with complementary ideas.

All the best with the op. I have to say mine wasn't anywhere near as bad as I expected and certainly much better than the worrying about "what if ..."

Keep in touch

Love, Wendy xx

[Hidden]

Interesting question, isn't it? I've had the same discrepancy of answers to this question from my Oncologist and my GP, who is a female, specialises in the menopause, and says 'we are not sure how hormones drive o. c.' Interestingly, she has always advised against HRT, or any hormonal creams, etc. Not that she needed to. It seems obvious to me that o.c that occurs at menopause or peri-menopause, especially when there is not family history, is likely to be hormonally associated.

Post op recovery was much easier than I dared to hope, but I didn't have young children around to look after. You will need help with that as characteristically you have times when your energy just drains away and you have to sleep. The worst thing about the aggressive menopause brought on by surgery is the disruption to sleep 0 which can also leave you v tired, You are also likely to find everything aches for several months! Sorry if that's not helpful.

Best wishes,

Isadora

[Lupatria]

i had a radical hysterectomy in 1995 at the age of 47 and immediately had menopausal symptoms [the day after my op!]. i looked at all the information available for and against hrt and decided that, on balance, i preferred being protected against osteoporosis rather than breast cancer and immediately started using patches.

unfortunately i soon found out that i was allergic to these when i ended up with a ring of red circles so changed to a twice-yearly implant starting in early 1996.

i am still having my implants as i find i feel so much better and more energetic even though i have severe arthritis in my knees and cannot exercise properly. there has been no suggestion that i come off the hrt and i take advantage of the breast screening which is offered to women over 50.

my research on the internet as to the side effects of hrt have led me to the opinion that oral hrt have more side effects than transdermal hrt [implants] and i am happy to continue my implants for as long as they are offered.

a friend of mine who was on hrt and came off it has developed osteoporosis and is now on medication for this. however it will never get better and will, in time, cause her many problems.

i know that i am a lot older than you and don't have children to look after, but i do remember that i was very tired after the operation - as you are after any major operation - and i feel that my recovery was enhanced by hrt.

good luck with your recovery.

pat

poole

[Ruby]

Hi Ray Ray,

Have a look at the "Ladycare Magnet" available Boots etc. I usually embrace science 100% and medical model, but gave it a go. I don't care if it's placebo effect, I feel it helps me with symptoms 1 year post op. I, too, had 4 chemo and then op for grade 3, then 4 more chemo. Currently fit, well and happy, so please know there is an "after all this". Wishing you best.

[wendydee in reply to Ruby]

I use a Ladycare magnet too. I think it's brill! When I wear my swimsuit on the beach I don't wear it and get hot flushes after about two hours. I don't think it's a placebo effect! I was told by the doctor at the menopuse clinic that I ought to leave off the implants although I felt really well when I was having them. I do gym work, walking and tai chi to try and guard against osteoporosis. I don't know yet if it's working, though! And yes, there is an "after all this", RayRay. Good luck

[RayRay]

Thank you all so much for your helpful replies. I'm so pleased to read that recovery is not as bad as I am probably anticipating.... scary but having had a c-section in 2009 I know the body can heal well given time and rest. I will def buy a Ladycare magnet to use immediately. On balance, I feel that OC must have some sort of hormonal drive from oestrogen and will steer clear of HRT - at least until I get a full diagnosis/staging after the op. Thanks again x

[Eleni]

Hi

I had debaulking surgery in February followed by chemotherapy which I am still having. I've not been sure whether the hot flashes I've had are menopausal or chemotherapy related but they aren't pleasant. I have discussed HRT with the oncology team who tell me I can't have anything to ease symptoms until after the chemo finishes and I suspect you may be told the same...

I did invest in an inflatable camping pillow which I have filled with water. It sits in the fridge and goes on top of my pillow at night to helps me sleep - and it is blissful! I also walk as often as my energy allows and do relaxation exercises.

My recovery from surgery was hampered by having an infection which you won't get! I am still healing now as chemotherapy prevents it to some extent but am getting there.

Not sure about OC being oestrogen induced; my oncologist also said no. I suspect that if there was a clear reason why/how it occured, medical science would be some way towards understanding how to help prevent it!

Good luck with your surgery and recovery.

[dundeegirl]

Hi Rayray

It seems key to me to find out whether your particular tumours are oestrogen receptive (on the HRT question). After my ovarian tumours were removed (which were borderline) at age 33, they were analysed by pathology and found to have oestrogen receptors - so I can't have HRT. For me, not being able to have it is unfortunate as I do experience several symptoms, but that's definitely not true for everyone, so please don't let that scare you. However, perhaps it is the case that different people's diseases are more or less dependant on oestrogen - and that only a pathology analysis will tell? Your doctors should have some answers on this.

Thinking of you,

Cat xxx

[RuthPOvacome]

I am one of the support line nurses at Ovacome and if you would like to give us a ring to discuss things further do please feel free to do so 08457319554. As far as oestrogen dependence is concerned I understand that about 20% of ovarian tumours have oestrogen receptors on them making them receptive to oestrogen. This is a smaller number than breast cancer tumours which are much more likely to be oestrogen dependant. - it maybe possible to ask your surgeon to get this analysed after surgery.

Do hope all goes well and that you make a speedy recovery

Best Wishes

Ruth

[ScardyCat40]

I'm 41 never had children and currently recovering from a TAH-BSO and a omentumectomy that I had 2 weeks ago. So far I've just had some hot flushes and night sweats nothing too bad. I think each woman is very individual so you may not need HRT.

I have an appointment to talk about chemotherapy on Thursday. I had my debulking operation first as my diagnosis was proving challenging