Posted by Jrova on 22 Jan 2012, 10:39PM
Well, my oncologist and I decided it was best I have my ovaries removed and I'm booked in to have it done this Wednesday. My surgeon's office is next to my oncologists because they are husband and wife! Very convenient for me. He told me a lot of girls have their ovaries removed to help prevent new cancers. He has even had a patient who had breast cancer cells in her ovaries!! I didn't know that was even possible. Anyway, I've asked him to take my fallopian tubes as well, and he said I should be out of hospital the following day. Fingers crossed there's no complications.
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Hi Jane
great news that you've made this decision..and getting it done this Wednesday...so quick! I've heard its quite a simple operation and recovery time is short. Here's hoping it all goes smoothly for you (I'm sure it will). Another step to taking some control over this 'monster'...well done! Take care, Celeste♥
Thanks Celeste. Just another thing to take care of along the way. How is everything going with you?
going well Jane, can't complain..chemo was Tuesday but all is good!
Good on you Celeste. Complaining won't get us anywhere anyway!! Haha. My ovaries are out now and I'm chilling on the couch. Next stop will be reconstruction. x Jane
Hysterectomy?
Are you having a full hysterectomy? I'm booked in on the 16th Feb to have my ovaries and womb removed by abdominal surgery.
I'm wondering of anyone else's has had this done and what is the recovery period. I'm booked to go on a trip 7 wks after surgery. Dr says 6 wks but I've heard more....
All the best for your op!
Hi Diane, can you have your full hysterectomy vaginally? They often do them this way, and repair the vagina and prolapses along the way. This would preserve your stomach for future reconstructive options. Love Chris xx
No, just the ovaries and fallopian tubes. He said it would be better in my case to leave the uterus alone. He also said that taking the ovaries will stop me getting polyps in the uterus (I've had two removed in 2009 & 2011). My poor Mum died of cervical cancer though, so maybe a hysterectomy would have been better. But my main priority is reducing the eostogen permanently and quickly, so I guess this is best just for now. All the best for your operation too. x Jane
Hi Jane
I have been thinking about doing that too. I had a hysterectomy 7 years ago but kept my ovaries, and have been wondering if it would be a good thing.
Hope all goes well for you.
Penny xx
Hi Penny. They never suggested this option the first time I had cancer. I think the Tamoxifen was meant to do the trick. But having a ER positive tumour only 4 years after finishing Tamoxifen meant I needed something a bit more drastic! Fine by me, because since the chemo put me into menopause 4 months ago, I'm no longer anaemic from waterfall like periods!! Even better news, he said I shouldn't get any worse menopause symptoms than I've already been having (which is nothing more than a couple of 'warm' flushes a day.) Brilliant!! How is the taxotere treating you?
Day 13 and feeling okay now, it's tough!
Xxx
Good luck Jane!
Good luck with your op this Wednesday. I hope it all goes well. I'm sure it will. That's very handy having the surgeon and oncologist next door! Having my ovaries out was also offered to me as an option later on but I'll see how I go after this treatment. ( Herceptin finishes in Oct)
Thinking of you and fingers crossed for a complication-free op
Take care
Love Alison
Thanks Alison, I'll let you know how it goes. Hopefully we'll still be able to catch up for a coffee during these holidays if time doesn't get away from us! My hair is growing back really dark, but last week, all my lower lashes fell out all of a sudden! Very weird; I thought I had gotten away with keeping them. x Jane
Dark hair! Lucky you!
Mines growing back very white or at least very light grey!!! Sniff!! I suppose that is my new natural.. I did colour it for the last 30 years! My lashes are quite sparse as well - I look like a true chemo patient without mascara!
Good luck on Wed and yes would be great to catch. Time may be running out though. I go back to work on Monday and I have so many appointment ( sure you can relate!!) this week. It's fitting everything in and also trying not to overdo it! Easier said than done! Let me know how you feel on Friday. I'm in Subi on Friday at St John of God for doctor's appointment at 8.30 but free until 11.30 when I have herceptin.
Take care,
Love Alison xx
Hi Jane
Best wishes for Wednesday.No doubt it's keyhole surgery and should be no problems.I had an ovarian cyst removed this way and had a bit of bloating and pain for a day or two afterwards.In hindsight I should have had them both out but who can predict breast cancer.Well it'll be 2 less worries for you after Wednesday-take it easy for a day or two.
love Tonya xx
ovaries
All the best for a quick recovery, let me know how you go and hope also there are no complications. Am going to have mine out after the chemo is finished, the surgeon will organise it when my body is up to it, as have had a few reactions to treatment, Kerri
Hi Kerri, I'll definitely tell you how it goes. It sounds like it will be fairly simple (hopefully) x Jane
Thanks everyone. You're right Tonya, it will be two less things to worry about but I hope it will also mean no more primary tumours. After I have the other boob off and reconstruction, I'll know I've done everything I possibly can to prevent a third cancer. The surgeon says it's rare to have two primary cancers with different pathology 9 years apart, so I hope it's even rarer to have a third!! And yes, it's keyhole surgery with 3 small cuts. Only painful for about a week he reckons. We'll see!!
Hysterectomy
The surgeon said its more complicated to remove the fallopian tubes and ovaries vaginally as they have to be cut up for easy removal! Hence a 4" incision along top of pubic line. He says it won't interfere with future reconstruction as they would cut along the same line, but I'm thinking I might have a chat with my GP about it all anyway thanks Chris. (just in case...)
I'm nervous about it all, as it's only risk reducing surgery. I've been getting cervical polyps for a few years and with two different types of breast cancer in two years I'm prepared to do anything!
Good luck Jane!
Diane
Hi Jane
Good luck with the operation on Wednesday. I am going to have the same operation but not sure when yet. I see my oncologist in March and will tell her I have decided to go ahead with it then.
Someone else recommended taking fallopian tubes at the same time - do you know what the benefit of doing this is?
Amy x
hi
wishing you all the best. i had the same proceedure in october and had no issues. all being well you will be home the next day. i started arimidex after 2 weeks and have had no side effects other than a few hot flushes regards jenny
Thanks Jenny. It's good to hear it went well for you. I'm still in a bit of pain, but the op went well. He said my ovaries looked 'active' and that they may have kick started themselves back into action if I hadn't had them removed!!
hi i had my surgery laproscopically and i had my tubes removed as well. I have a gyne oncologist who stated that the cancer is more likely to come back in the fallopean tubes that why they take them. i was all clear regards jenny
Removing ovaries also removes the supply of Oestrogen.....
My eyelashes and eyebrows seemed to hang in there until after chemo ended then fell out too! Now my hair is coming back quite grey (salt and pepper) but eyelashes and eyebrows have come back normally thank God!
So glad to hear your eyelashes came back; I want mine back ASAP!!
Eyelashes and eyebrows
Yes, they seemed to hang in there until weeks after chemo ended and then fell out! It's awful isn't it! Eyebrows can be drawn on, but eyelashes!?
I've decided to see another surgeon who can do my hysterectomy laparoscopily so I've cancelled the Feb surgery with the Onc Gyno. He only does it abdominally. I'm just seeing a Gyno next.
Thanks for all the comments ladies. Helped me make my decision.
Diane
Recomendation to remove ovaries
Hi Jrova,
I know its a year after your surgery but today the doctor has recomended that I have my ovaries removed. My cancer was hormone receptive and as a preventative measure this ahs been recommmended.
How did your surgery go and how have you faired since?
cheers
Donna
Ovary removal
I haven't had it done yet, sorry. I deferred it as I decided to go ahead with reconstruction in 2012 instead. One operation was enough. It was a biggie!
I'll probably go ahead later this year.
Perhaps other ladies can advise?
ovaries
hello Donna, i had mine removed and fallopian tubes as well, due to the second cancer being hormone receptive in August last year, only in for 24 hours, tired when out, but did okay, much better than when i had the reconstruction. hope all goes well for you, Kerri
Are there advantages of removing the ovaries if you are already menopausal? I thought the adavantages would be much greater if younger. My cancer was heavily hormone positive, but ovary removal was never suggested, so assumed it not necessary if they have stopped producing hormones. Can anyone enlighten me please. Chris xx
HI Chris,
I believe the main reason for the removal of my ovaries is that my mother and sister both had ovarian cancer.
Also even though I have been through menopause the ovaries still produce small amount of hormones, so its purely precautionary for me.
Donna