removal of ovaries question

[catlin]

I am er and pr negative. Undergoing chemo after double mastectomy stage 2, no nodes, post menopause. Is there any benefit to having ovaries removed if you are hormone negative or any higher risk of ovarian cancer?
Catlin

[Becky]

I am not sure but I would think not. I am having my ovaries removed next Monday (8/29). However, I am 50% ER and 5% PR. I also just got my menses back and have several cysts on the left ovary. Although my genetic testing came back negative for BRCA 1 & 2, my paternal grandmother and her sister died of ovarian cancer (my mother's side including my mom, 3 of her 5 sisters, my maternal grandmother and maternal great grandmother all have bc - for the record - only my great grandmother and one of my mom's sisters died of the disease - everyone else is going strong. My Aunt who died was a "triple negative" pathology (ie: not ER, not PR , not HER2). Because of having ovarian cancer in the family as well, my gyno wants to remove them and feels the cysts may become troublesome in the future. Also, if your bc is hormone dependent, it is always a better prognosis if you can get yourself in menopause by ovary removal or Lupron/Zoladex.

This decision requires discussion with your gyno and other risk factors like family history

[Kristen]

Hi Becky,
I am not playing devil's advocate or anything and wish you the best for your surgery. I just wonder, because I honestly don't know with your family history, why not a full hyst?
I am curious, because my aunt died of ovca and her 2 daughters have bc and I tested neg for brca and I too started menses after 16 months and have dermoid cysts alternating on each side each month and then pop. The last cyst was 5-6 cm. Any help or advice I would appreciate. I am getting a second opinion on Tues. Thanks and best to you next week. K

[Becky]

Kristen

My cysts didn't pop. If they did, my gyno wouldn't be so eager to take out the ovaries. (Then, of course, I got my period on 8/7). Gyno isn't doing a full hysterectomy because it is not needed and the recovery is much, much longer. Just the ovaries and tubes are coming out. (I can't get a hyst without full surgery - cannot be done on me thru the vagina because I had 2 of my kids C/section and there could be adhesions between the uterus and bladder).

I agree with this decision because there is a huge genetic difference between ovarian and uterine cancer (which are not linked like ovarian and breast cancer).

Becky