Poll - Who Had Ovaries Removed?

Me! Me! Pick me!
Total hyster during bowel resect...but I'm 50, so I hadn't used those organs for...humm....over 20 years...hehehe.
Also, my mom had endometrial cancer, and mine was squamous cell...same type as in that area. I didn't want to take a chance, I was peri-menopausal before this whole mess started, anyway.
My beau, who is a fertility specialist, put it very short and sweet...my eggs were already dust...uncaring brute (sob, sob). (hehehehe)
Hugs,
Kathi

Hi Maria -

No one even suggested to me having my ovaries removed - you guys are scaring me!

I had my colon tumor removed last June and that's all.

I cant help you with your decision, but I am sure wondering if this is an option that should have been proposed to me and plan to ask my oncologist when I see her in two weeks.

Betsy

When I spoke to my radiologist he did mention that there was every probabilitiy that I would be infertile after treatment. Since I'm 60 I didn't get too upset with this prognosis.

On a more serious note I wonder why the surgeon didn't just get rid of these organs?

It never entered my mind that colon cancer can met to the overies...it wouldn't have caused me any problems to just remove them for safety.

markatger said:

Thanks Gals for your all your quick, informative (and humorful) responses so far!

I just got back from seeing my oncologist. (By the way, got PET scan result - NED!!) He said a couple things...There are some women who may have more risk of colon and ovarian cancer link based on genetics. Also, he said even without a genetic disposition, that it is a possible site for metastasis.

I'm having my ileostomy reversed in May. I'm considering having the ovaries taken out then. I guess the only thing holding me back is the miniscule chance that they could produce some amount of estrogen that I very much need at age 34.

Betsy and anyone else, sorry! I don't mean to cause alarm...When I originally asked the doctors about this it was because I had rectal cancer that had broken throught the bowel wall. I was concerned about the proximity to my reproductive organs. My oncologist said then that it was by no means standard procedure to remove women's ovaries when they have a colon cancer diagnosis. But on the other hand my liver surgeon seemed to highly recomend that I have it done. Who do you trust? I made the decision to use the oncologist advice since he IS the cancer doctor.. and also people told me jokingly that surgeons are too eager to cut stuff out of you...HA! (I think my liver surgeon was excellent though).

I think I may need to talk to gynecologist about the chance of my ovaries functioning at all ever again.

Thanks ladies!
Maria

I had just turned 27 when I was diagnosed and it was never even mentioned by any of my team of doctors.

I have an appointment Monday for a CT and blood work so I'll pose the question to my Onc now.

My treating Onc mentioned that I would be about 40% less fertile but never once suggested I take the ovaries.

Maybe it has to do with how the cancer started (mine from a juvenile polyp), whether we had radiation (no), and if / how much the cancer had chance to spread (yes, to one lymph node directly outside of bowel wall)?

Interesting topic.

BTW, congrats on the NED status again, Maria.

Tricia

Hi Maria!!!
I had my ovaries, tubes, and uterus removed because my cancer (in the cecum) spread to all of these organs. I went into menopause at once. It was rough, but I did it!!! Now I am dealing with a recurrence located in my pelvic wall. My situation was already advanced and we had to get the cancer out. I was 51 at the time of the operation. I also had a positive wash. Sometimes the cancer will spread to the ovaries. This disease is so bizarre you don't know where it will be headed. My gut feeling is to take them out. Terri

Hi Maria,
First congrats on the NED news and hope it continues.
Now for the bad news; I didnt have my ovaries removed during my colon surgery because my surgeon didn't think it was necessary even though I told him it was okay with me to remove all my female organs if anything looked suspicious. I did have multiple cyst on both ovaries and fibroid tumors on my uterus. He decided not to take any of them, but did do biopsies and found all benign. I was 54 then and hadn't started menopause yet; the chemo immediately started menopause and it continued for 6 months after completing chemo. When I went for my 6 month checkup post chemo, I got the bad news of a rise in the CEA. Petscan showed a spot in the left abdomen. Cat scan showed a small mass thought to be a lymph node. My oncologist and surgeon decided to surgically remove it and I had that done 3 weeks ago. It was in the left ovary and it was recurrent colon cancer. I also had another tumor between the rectum and vagina that was cancer. My surgeon was going to do a total hysterectomy, but changed his mind and only took both ovaries and tubes and removed one of the fibroids from the uterus. I'm really hoping I don't end up with uterine cancer next year. I don't mean to scare you with this news, but if you are having surgery soon, you may want to have the ovaries removed. I sure wish I had last year. This now makes me Stage 4 and facing another regimen of chemo soon. Best of luck to you. Kandy

Good topic. I was diagnosed with low rectal cancer at age 44. I had radiation pre-surgery. That fried my ovaries and put me into instant menopause. Removing the ovaries at the time of surgery wasn't discussed (altho of course they had a good look at all close-by organs). When I had a recurrence, it was in my lung (treated now). Since I went into early menopause, I decided to do hormone replament therapy for a few years. I know this is a controversial topic, and it was certainly one which I investigated thoroughly. Anyway -- that was what I decided. Best wishes.

I kept my ovaries, they said there was no reason to remove them. They were fried during radiation and I went into instant menopause.

Maureen

Wow-this has really opened the floodgates on a variety of experiences. My surgeon asked me if I would like to have my ovaries out and I declined. At the time I thought my tumor was confined to the sigmoid colon and I was a healthy 47 year old having pretty regular periods still. After I found out I had spread to 13 nodes I was a little more concerned. Then when my follow up CT's showed enlarged ovaries I ended up having transvaginal ultrasounds to diagnose cystic ovaries-1 ultrasound to diagnose, 1 to follow up-anyway at this point I wish they were out. I also now have a polyp in my uterus they want to do a DNC for-in retospect I would tell you to get those ovaries out. We have enough follow up for our cancer without throwing in all these extra tests and procedures. Good luck!