So scared! Ovaries removal.. yes or no! Please help

Pink 22 days ago

6 replies
283 subscribers
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Hi everyone

I'm really hoping I can get advice here.

A little about me, I'm 46 and in Nov 2021 I was diagnosed with Stage 3 HER2+ breast cancer. The lump was removed and 2022 was taken up with chemo and radiotherapy. I’ve been Tamoxifen since October 2022 and was due to be on it for ten years.

October 2024 a period returned after having nothing since my third chemo treatment in May 2022, it was a very unwelcome shock.

I was straight in with my oncologist who said I needed to have my ovaries suppressed and we spoke through the options.

I was so against the injections. The thought of seeing a date in the diary yet again each and every month reminding me about cancer wasn't an option.

So I opted to have my ovaries out and I'm now on the waiting list (due to be done by April).

I am now starting to panic that I've made the right decision. So many scary stories and side effects. How are we supposed to know we are making the right choice.

I've not had a period since, so I'm tempted to just put everything on hold, but am I risking my life in doing that.

Would love to hear from ladies who have gone down these routes and their experiences.

Please help

Daisy53 20 days ago

Hi Pink

I'm Daisy53 one of the Community Champions on this forum. While I don't have an answer for you I noticed that you haven't had any replies yet so I thought I'd reply to you to move you to the top of the discussion. Hopefully someone will be along shortly with an answer for you. The one thing that I can suggest is to ring your breast care nurse and have a chat with them and they should be able to reassure you.

Best of luck with the operation if you do decide to go ahead with it.

Best wishes

Daisy53

SKC8 18 days ago

Hi pink, I had my ovaries out - really glad I did it - firstly, because my breast surgeon told me it improved prognosis and secondly I don’t have any hormonal ups/downs I used to get when I had ovaries. Although my surgeon put me on Zoladex first to ensure that I could cope with ovarian suppression. The op was key hole and recovered very quickly x

Pink 18 days ago in reply to SKC8

Thank you, do you mind me asking how old you were when you had them out?

SKC8 18 days ago in reply to Pink

42 - last September x

Belle123 17 days ago

Hi Pink,

I am 47, diagnosed last year with Her2 positive stage 2. My oncologist has also suggested I have my ovaries removed I am currently having Zoladex injections so I can take Letrozole as opposed to Tamoxifen. I was thinking I would probably opt for having my ovaries removed but haven't really thought too much about what to expect!!! So similar to you it's really helpful to hear other experiences from it!!!

Langkawi22 14 days ago in reply to Belle123

Hi i was 52 when diagnosed with her -ve ER8 PR8 stage 2 invasive ductal carcinoma 20mm with 2 positive lymph nodes. My diagnosis is nearly a year ago. I had a lumpectomy and a total axillary node clearance. My oncotype score was 8 so i had radiotherapy and i was put on tamoxifen . I was still having periods so had my ovaries out 3 weeks after finishing radiotherapy. I had this done by keyhole and the only symptoms i initially had was hot flushes, but then i was put on letrazole and i have joint and muscular pain in my shoulders and arms. My recovery following my ovary op was quick

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So scared! Ovaries removal.. yes or no! Please help