Keep ovaries or not?

[snolan]

I have read on several posts that people have chosen to have their ovaries taken out. I have discussed this with my onc and she is in no hurry to take them out. I have had a partial hysterectomy at 39, I was dx w DCIS/Her2+ stage I, ER+ at 41 not showing any signs of menopause prior to dx. Dr. said they would eventually have to be taken out but maybe more towards the end of my tamoxifen. Is this because I am younger and was not showing signs of menopause or because I was only stage I?

It would seem to me that if I have to have them out why not just do it now. I would perfer not to have to worry about ovarian cancer.

Has anyone else waited to have them out?

[tricia keegan]

I was forty six when diagnosed so the following year I asked about an ooph as my periods had stopped with chemo and I preferred to take an A1 rather than Tamoxifen. My onc agreed saying I was so highly positive it was best to have them removed, I'd guess in your case your onc is considering your age in his decision not to do one right now and wait a while.

[Jackie07]

Have you had genetic testing? Do you know if you (and/or family member/relatives) carry the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes? Below is a link provided by the Mayo Clinic about Oophorectomy from which you can see why your doctor is hesitant about the procedure. Plus keeping the ovaries will enable you to stay on Tamoxifen instead of Aromatase Inhibitors which have more severe side effects compared to Tamoxifen.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/breast-cancer/WO00095

Please talk to a genetic counselor who will chart/review your family/personal cancer history as well as your genetic information before giving her recommendations.

My genetic testing only found a BRCA1 - VUS (Variant of Unknown Significance) in early 2009. And the genetic counselor and I agreed there's no need to have the prophylactic procedure done. But later that year my 2nd Brother was diagnosed with colon cancer at 59. I did some research and found a cluster called HNPCC which seemed to fit my family profile (Mother is a 13-year Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma survivor, and I'd had brain tumor surgeries before the breast cancer treatments.) My insurance company approved the procedure based on 'personal/family cancer history and genetic testing result'.

[snolan]

I did have genetic test and was neg, I unfortunally don't know much about my family history as I was adopted. But what you said makes sence about being able to stay on Tamoxifen if I keep them, that may be why Dr. is doing it.