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Becky · 04-24-2008, 05:54 PM

Dear Ruth

I found out the stats on oophorectomy by chance. My case is very different for a couple of reasons. These include that I am ER+ but PR negative. Therefore, tamoxifen would probably do little good for me but an AI would be better (but you have to be postmenopausal to take one). Another was that my paternal grandmother died from ovarian cancer. When I had a baseline ultrasound of the reproductive tract post bc treatment, there were 2 "objects" on my left ovary that they could not identify (they were unovulated follicles) and I was nearing age 47 so menopause was nearing (although I did get my menses back 7 months postchemo).

My reasons were plentiful and I did not even know how it benefits not developing bc (but that kind of seems intuitive). Also, my dcis was both ER+ and PR+ (and not Her2), unlike the invasive cancer.

So for me, it ended up being part of my treatment plan in a way whereas for you (and you were younger when diagnosed and are younger still), and having negative hormone receptors, it would take thought and several different consultations (onc, gyn and others) before turning off the spigot (so to speak).

04-24-2008, 05:54 PM	#5
Becky Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Stockton, NJ Posts: 4,179	Dear Ruth I found out the stats on oophorectomy by chance. My case is very different for a couple of reasons. These include that I am ER+ but PR negative. Therefore, tamoxifen would probably do little good for me but an AI would be better (but you have to be postmenopausal to take one). Another was that my paternal grandmother died from ovarian cancer. When I had a baseline ultrasound of the reproductive tract post bc treatment, there were 2 "objects" on my left ovary that they could not identify (they were unovulated follicles) and I was nearing age 47 so menopause was nearing (although I did get my menses back 7 months postchemo). My reasons were plentiful and I did not even know how it benefits not developing bc (but that kind of seems intuitive). Also, my dcis was both ER+ and PR+ (and not Her2), unlike the invasive cancer. So for me, it ended up being part of my treatment plan in a way whereas for you (and you were younger when diagnosed and are younger still), and having negative hormone receptors, it would take thought and several different consultations (onc, gyn and others) before turning off the spigot (so to speak). __________________ Kind regards Becky Found lump via BSE Diagnosed 8/04 at age 45 1.9cm tumor, ER+PR-, Her2 3+(rt side) 2 micromets to sentinel node Stage 2A left 3mm DCIS - low grade ER+PR+Her2 neg lumpectomies 9/7/04 4DD AC followed by 4 DD taxol Used Leukine instead of Neulasta 35 rads on right side only 4/05 started Tamoxifen Started Herceptin 4 months after last Taxol due to trial results and 2005 ASCO meeting & recommendations Oophorectomy 8/05 Started Arimidex 9/05 Finished Herceptin (16 months) 9/06 Arimidex Only Prolia every 6 months for osteopenia NED 18 years! Said Christopher Robin to Pooh: "You must remember this: You're braver than you believe and stronger than you seem and smarter than you think"