complete hysterectomy and bc

bleedpink
bleedpink Member Posts: 11
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I was 38 yrs old when dx with bc. estrogen positive. Onocologist said, chemo would put me into menopause and later I could take tamoxifen to keep my body from absorbing estrogen. After a little research though I decided to have complete hysterectomy. That way I can make sure my ovaries will no longer produce estrogen. Your body does however produce small amounts of estrogen from other glands so I will have to take arimidex for that. Yet I found out that in Europe most newly dx breast cancer patients do have hysterectomies. I guess they are finding links between ovaries and breast cancer. So all four of my doctors agreed that having a hysterectomy was a good idea for my age. So I had it done this past December, it was a breeze compared to chemo and rads. I'm curious has anyone else made this choice?

Comments

  • sparky72156
    sparky72156 Member Posts: 61
    #2
    I wish that I had my uterus
    I wish that I had my uterus taken out when I had my mastectomy. I am discovering now that Tamoxifen can cause uterine cancer and I live in fear daily that my breast cancer will be replaced with uterine cancer.
  • Sher43009
    Sher43009 Member Posts: 602 Member
    #3
    sparky72156 said:

    I wish that I had my uterus
    I wish that I had my uterus taken out when I had my mastectomy. I am discovering now that Tamoxifen can cause uterine cancer and I live in fear daily that my breast cancer will be replaced with uterine cancer.

    I'm also on Tamoxifen and
    I'm also on Tamoxifen and had a long talk with my oncol. before going on it. Uterine cancer happens in less than 1% of all who take it. I also saw my gyn. and she said of all her years of treating women on tamoxifen she has had only 1 patient get uterine cancer from it. The signs of trouble are unexpected bleeding, or discharge. My gyn wants to see me every 6 months to make sure all is well so I feel I'm covered.
  • Kat11
    Kat11 Member Posts: 1,931 Member
    #4
    I am her2 pos and I had a
    I am her2 pos and I had a hysterectomy that left the ovaries years ago. Now that I have BC I asked about the ovaries and was told the the chemo and tamoxifen will or is killing them so no need to remove them. I am also 55, so that may have something to do with it. I sure hope there right. I would have no problem having surgery for that.
  • rene9
    rene9 Member Posts: 214
    #5
    Kat11 said:

    I am her2 pos and I had a
    I am her2 pos and I had a hysterectomy that left the ovaries years ago. Now that I have BC I asked about the ovaries and was told the the chemo and tamoxifen will or is killing them so no need to remove them. I am also 55, so that may have something to do with it. I sure hope there right. I would have no problem having surgery for that.

    Kept ovaries
    I am 39 yrs old and had a hysterectomy last summer and my ovaries were left beacuse they were fine. I have not asked my Oncologist, but I will add this to my questions when I go for my 2nd treatment Friday. Though, my Gyn and Breast Specialist didn't think I should have them removed. I will repost what she said after the visit.


    rene9
  • teresa41
    teresa41 Member Posts: 471
    #6
    rene9 said:

    Kept ovaries
    I am 39 yrs old and had a hysterectomy last summer and my ovaries were left beacuse they were fine. I have not asked my Oncologist, but I will add this to my questions when I go for my 2nd treatment Friday. Though, my Gyn and Breast Specialist didn't think I should have them removed. I will repost what she said after the visit.


    rene9

    i have my ovaries
    i had a hysterectomy in 2005 i am 42 they left my ovaries in also. i started tamoxifen in dec .i also asked my oncoligist about removing my ovaries he said there is no reason to remove them. they are staying in.

    teresa
  • pitt
    pitt Member Posts: 387
    #7
    Yes. I am 38 years old and
    Yes. I am 38 years old and uterine cancer runs in my family. I had stage I IDC; completed chemo; currently in radiation; and will have a hysterectomy next month. Instead of doing tamoxifen I am going straight to aromasin. I will be participating in a clinical trial that is designed to compare results of tamoxifen then AIs vs. going straight to the AIs. What has been your experience post hysterectomy? What drug are you on? How long has it been since your BC diagnosis and hysterectomy? All the best, Pitt
  • bleedpink
    bleedpink Member Posts: 11
    #8
    pitt said:

    Yes. I am 38 years old and
    Yes. I am 38 years old and uterine cancer runs in my family. I had stage I IDC; completed chemo; currently in radiation; and will have a hysterectomy next month. Instead of doing tamoxifen I am going straight to aromasin. I will be participating in a clinical trial that is designed to compare results of tamoxifen then AIs vs. going straight to the AIs. What has been your experience post hysterectomy? What drug are you on? How long has it been since your BC diagnosis and hysterectomy? All the best, Pitt

    hysterectomy of bc
    I recovered great from my hysterectomy. I recieved my BC diagnosis last may 09. My last chemo was Nov. 2 Had surgery now I'm on my last 7 boost radiation. I have to say radiation is kicking my butt, more so than anything else. I thought radiation would be the easiest, that's what you get from thinking.
  • pitt
    pitt Member Posts: 387
    #9
    bleedpink said:

    hysterectomy of bc
    I recovered great from my hysterectomy. I recieved my BC diagnosis last may 09. My last chemo was Nov. 2 Had surgery now I'm on my last 7 boost radiation. I have to say radiation is kicking my butt, more so than anything else. I thought radiation would be the easiest, that's what you get from thinking.

    I agree about radiation.
    I agree about radiation. This is much harder for me mentally than the chemo. Every day for 7 1/2 weeks!!! UGH!!! I'm almost done. I will finish next Tuesday and I cannot wait. Then I rest for two weeks for the hysterectomy. What has been your experience with the hysterectomy side? What drugs are they putting you on post-treatment?
  • pitt
    pitt Member Posts: 387
    #10
    bleedpink said:

    hysterectomy of bc
    I recovered great from my hysterectomy. I recieved my BC diagnosis last may 09. My last chemo was Nov. 2 Had surgery now I'm on my last 7 boost radiation. I have to say radiation is kicking my butt, more so than anything else. I thought radiation would be the easiest, that's what you get from thinking.

    I agree about radiation.
    double post sorry
  • pitt
    pitt Member Posts: 387
    #11
    bleedpink said:

    hysterectomy of bc
    I recovered great from my hysterectomy. I recieved my BC diagnosis last may 09. My last chemo was Nov. 2 Had surgery now I'm on my last 7 boost radiation. I have to say radiation is kicking my butt, more so than anything else. I thought radiation would be the easiest, that's what you get from thinking.

    I agree about radiation.
    triple post weird
  • BunnyJane
    BunnyJane Member Posts: 213
    #12
    pitt said:

    I agree about radiation.
    I agree about radiation. This is much harder for me mentally than the chemo. Every day for 7 1/2 weeks!!! UGH!!! I'm almost done. I will finish next Tuesday and I cannot wait. Then I rest for two weeks for the hysterectomy. What has been your experience with the hysterectomy side? What drugs are they putting you on post-treatment?

    Complete Hysterectomy
    Hi Bleedpink and others:

    I found this post interesting as I have read quite a bit about ovary removal and reduced risk for BC. I had a total hysterectomy in 2006 at age 45(for cervical ca in-situ) and was dxed with BC in 2009. However, my doc pointed out that the BC tumor had probably started developing about 7 years earlier (prior to the hysterectomy). Long story short, my oncologist indicated that if I hadn't already had a total hysterectomy that she would strongly recommend that I have the ovaries removed.

    I wanted to share the above for those of you facing this decision. I had chemo. and a bilateral mastectomy and I think that the total hysterectomy was quite a bit easier and les traumatic that the BC treatments. I do think that the combination of ovary removal, chemo., and hormonal therapy should help to minimize any chance of distant recurrence.

    Best to luck to all of you facing this decision. Jane
  • pdv
    pdv Member Posts: 56
    #13
    I had a...
    I had a complete hysterectomy (everything removed)seven years ago on my 50th birthday. (I didn't want to be conscencious when I turned 50 so I scheduled it for that day.) So, I'm not sure one has anything to do with the other since I was diagnosed with bc just this week.

    Pat
  • bleedpink
    bleedpink Member Posts: 11
    #14
    pitt said:

    I agree about radiation.
    I agree about radiation. This is much harder for me mentally than the chemo. Every day for 7 1/2 weeks!!! UGH!!! I'm almost done. I will finish next Tuesday and I cannot wait. Then I rest for two weeks for the hysterectomy. What has been your experience with the hysterectomy side? What drugs are they putting you on post-treatment?

    No real bad effects from hysterectomy
    I don't know what chemo you were on, I was on adriamycin/cytoxen and then taxol. This chemo made me go through menapause, hot flashes moodiness the whole nine yards. So after the hysterectomy I really didn't have any problems. I healed well and was back to work in two weeks. I am having more pain with radiation, I'm really burning bad under my arm, I finish next Thursday. I'm not sure which medication my onocologist is going to put me on I think arimadex maybe.
  • rene9
    rene9 Member Posts: 214
    #15
    rene9 said:

    Kept ovaries
    I am 39 yrs old and had a hysterectomy last summer and my ovaries were left beacuse they were fine. I have not asked my Oncologist, but I will add this to my questions when I go for my 2nd treatment Friday. Though, my Gyn and Breast Specialist didn't think I should have them removed. I will repost what she said after the visit.


    rene9

    Still don't know
    I had my 2nd of 6th treatment yesterday n asked my oncologist about having kept my ovaries after my hysterectomy n minimizing possibility of recurrence n having a possible mastecomy of the right breast. She said she would send me for a test I think she called a (Brc test)? So, hopefully this test will come back in my favor!

    rene9
  • ms_independent
    ms_independent Member Posts: 214
    #16
    getting my ovaries removed
    I had my uterus removed at 40 for fibroids. I'm 52 now. I had bilateral mastectomy in december for DCIS in one breast (strong family history). My breast surgeon/oncologist wanted me to talk with my GYN about reducing my risk of ovarian cancer. Apparently the newest research is indicating a link between breast and ovarian cancers (ie female cancers). My GYN sent me to a GYN oncologist who recommends I have my ovaries removed. Because they can never get all of the breast tissue and ovarian tissue removed there is always a risk of recurrance of either-even if you have everything removed. He said if I have my ovaries removed it will bring my risk of ovarian cancer down to the level of the average population (1%). The recommendation had little to do with decreasing estrogen production-at 52 I'm not doing too much producing. Though he did say that because I was strongly ER and PR positive it was another reason to get rid of the ovaries. There is only so much I can do to decrease my risk. At least with this I have some control and feel I will have done all I can. That's one regret I can live without. We all have to forge our own paths. I appreciate hearing everyone's perspective, it helps me to make my decisions.
    Thanks, El
  • Katz77
    Katz77 Member Posts: 598
    #17
    Mmmmm
    I had a partial hyst 7 yr ago. Left the ovaries. My cancer was ER positive, so chemo and now tamoxifen to kill the ovaries. Really only one ovary surviving. The other one atrophy years ago from nonuse. Soo getting to my point slowly. LOL They placed me on tamoxifen, but will recheck this march to see if my hormones show if it's working. We had discussed the posibility of surgically removing the ovary. Guess I'll be waiting to hear. Had to have rads bc of 18/20 positive nodes. Good luck. gayla
  • bjmom1
    bjmom1 Member Posts: 152
    #18
    hysterectomy
    I too had a hysterectomy in April 2009. Because I fear it would comeback into my ovaries. And my doctors agree that it was the right decision for me. I had the procedure done. I would like to suggest do your reseach and decide what you feel is right for you.
  • Angel_4_James
    Angel_4_James Member Posts: 73
    #19
    I did.
    I was dx with BC on Oct. 14, 2009. I had a lumpectomy and 1 lymphnode removed on the 29th of Oct. My mom died of ovarian cancer in 95, so my doctor told me that since I was close to starting menopause and knew I was not going to have any more kids. (I am 46 and have 6 children, 25, 24, 19, 13, 11, 7. I have done my part of repopulating the world!) LOL So a complete hysterectomy was the most logicial thing for me to do. My onco said that I had time to do this before I started chemo. I had the surgery on Dec 16 and then started chemo the 12th of Jan.

    Hugs
    Angel
  • pahera11
    pahera11 Member Posts: 1
    #20
    Kat11 said:

    I am her2 pos and I had a
    I am her2 pos and I had a hysterectomy that left the ovaries years ago. Now that I have BC I asked about the ovaries and was told the the chemo and tamoxifen will or is killing them so no need to remove them. I am also 55, so that may have something to do with it. I sure hope there right. I would have no problem having surgery for that.

    HER2+ and ovaries
    Hi Kat11, I see you posted this over a year ago-how are you doing? I'm newly diagnosed DCIS with HER2+, and am having a mastectomy in three days, with chemo and herceptin to begin about 3 weeks after that. I also had a hysterectomy (6 years ago) that left in my ovaries, and am having the same doubts you seemed to. I haven't yet talked to my surgeon about it(everything has happened in the course of 2 weeks and trying to get info, work, etc, it can get overwhelming, as I'm sure you know!)and wanted to know if you feel you made the right decision. If I could get my ovaries out at the time of my mastectomy, I would.

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