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6 days and counting, and ? keeping ovaries
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11-05-2010, 02:56 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 9
Hysterectomy: November 11th, 2010
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Undecided
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6 days and counting, and ? keeping ovaries
Been trying to keep busy getting things done around house. I don't want to be tempted to dust, sweep, etc. during recovery. Still undecided about keeping ovaries. Does anyone know about family history and oavarian cancer, my g-mother had ovarian cancer and they only caught it when they did her hyster.
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11-05-2010, 07:21 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 8,185
Hysterectomy: November 1st, 2010
Surgery Type: SAH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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Re: 6 days and counting, and ? keeping ovaries
I kept my ovaries because there was no history of cancer. I am sure I wouldn't have done so if I had a history of ovarian cancer in my family.
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11-06-2010, 07:05 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 43
Hysterectomy: October 28th, 2010
Surgery Type: LAVH
Ovaries: Undecided
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Re: 6 days and counting, and ? keeping ovaries
My grandmother passed away from ovarian cancer, 6 months after they found it and when it came time for my decision I was going crazy.
I'm only 37 and didn't want HRT, so I had to do some soul searching and I put it in the hands of GOD. I told my doctor that if they looked bad, at all, to take them. When she got in there 9 days ago, she said they looked okay.
I had a&p repair also done and I figured that if that fails again in a couple of years, I will have my ovaries rechecked again. (was told that the reoccurance with that kind of surgery usually is high)
In the mean time, I will get the brca test and keep doing the CA-125 blood test also. Have you heard of that? It's important for people like us with a family history. I have 6 sisters who are also going to check it out.
My family seems to think that my grandmother got ovarian cancer from using a lot of powder down there, which is a true problem, I looked it up. There is no other family history of it either.
Hope this helps you, I know kinda sounds crazy, but I am in the hands of GOD so I'm ok with my decision.
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11-06-2010, 10:41 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 7
Hysterectomy: April 13th, 2011
Surgery Type: LAVH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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Re: 6 days and counting, and ? keeping ovaries
I too had a maternal grandmother with ovarian cancer. My Mother is one of 4 girls and only one of those 4 still has her ovaries. All of them had hysterectomies; all had them between 26-35 yrs of age. 3 of the girls didn't have a choice as to whether they were keeping their ovaries as the doctors wouldn't risk leaving them in because Grams was diagnosed before 50.
The one who has her ovaries had her hysterectomy prior to my grandmother initially being diagnosed. She is now 53, a smoker and in relatively perfect health. Although accident prone and struggling with menopause, she is the only one who isn't riddled with osteoperosis (spelling).
Granted, my mother and one aunt refused HRT.
Mum noted that she wished she'd made them leave her ovaries as she felt as though she was wheeled in young and wheeled out old. I remarked that she was offered HRT and she refused it because it was right at the time when the breast cancer - HRT link was found and made mass-media history.
The youngest sister is now into her 40s and has been doing great on HRT. She will remain on it until she is in her early 50's and they will ween her off to mimic the natural shut-down of the ovaries.
I am getting ready to go to my OB/GYN Monday, and we are getting me an OR date. The choice was given to me: keep the ovaries or remove. I am 32 now and I am keeping mine. Why? Because I am once removed from my Grandmother; I have my father's DNA as well as my mum's; and although it appears I have inherited my mother's girl parts, I am 32 years old and want to keep the natural hormones as long as I can.
It is a very personal decision and I am no-one to offer advice as I am just as scared, lonely and freaked out as others on this forum. However, what I can say is this... you were blessed with a natural intuition that sends your "spidy-senses" into overdrive when you know something is wrong. So, I ask this, what is your intuition telling you? I firmly believe you will be happier if you listen to that red flag in the back of your head.
When it comes to ovarian... intuition is really all you have... For me, I'd rather another 5 years of natural horomones than without.
I to am getting the BRCA testing done and with regular visits... I know I will be OK. I have faith that my life choices and destiny mean that once I get the bleeding, bloating, cramping and other misery out of the way... I am going to be a free-spirit once again... being single is supposed to be fun in your 30s and so far 30-32 has sucked! I just want me MoJo back!
You will be fine as long as you make the right choice for you!
Cheers!
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11-06-2010, 11:53 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 1,424
Hysterectomy: September 20th, 2010
Surgery Type: SAH
Ovaries: Removed both
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Re: 6 days and counting, and ? keeping ovaries
My Grandma had ovarian cancer. I'm 48, so Dr said I only had a couple of years left on the ovaries, so I told him to get them. I had already started into menopause, so the hot flashes & everything was going into full swing.
Most likely, I won't be doing HRT because a bunch of the issues I have outside of the periods were triggered by birth control pills. Those issues are slowly settling out.
Lay out your family & medical history with your Dr, & work as a team to make the decision.
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11-08-2010, 10:38 AM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 2
Hysterectomy: January 11th, 2011
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Re: 6 days and counting, and ? keeping ovaries
I am 51 and have some symptoms of menopause - so ovary removal seems an easy choice, but maybe I am just naive?
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11-08-2010, 10:57 AM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 83
Hysterectomy: December 2nd, 2010
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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Re: 6 days and counting, and ? keeping ovaries
I based my decision to keep my ovaries based on family history and my age. I am 37 and I have a few years before natural menopause would take place. My grandmother's sister had ovarian cancer but she also refused to go to a doctor. I will continue to have all the test that are required to detect any changes but at this point for me keeping my ovaries is the best. I have suffered with blood clots in the pass so HRT is not an option for me. However, if they find that my ovaries are not in good shape I have given permission to take them out.
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11-08-2010, 12:02 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 8,185
Hysterectomy: November 1st, 2010
Surgery Type: SAH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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Re: 6 days and counting, and ? keeping ovaries
I am 52 and have been peri-menopausal for 2 years. I have mentioned before that I chose to keep my ovaries. Ovaries do continue to produce hormones at much reduced level after menopause and that was one of my reasons for keeping them. The other was that I wanted as little disruption inside of me to keep scarring and adhesions to a minimum. My doctor found stage 1 endometriosis on both ovaries and he discussed removing them with his resident. Because I was so adamant in keeping them, he cauterized the endo and left them in. I am very happy that I still have them once I got over the shock of finding I had endo. I am so close to menopause that the endo shouldn't be a problem in the future (fingers crossed).
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11-08-2010, 01:23 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 181
Hysterectomy: September 28th, 2010
Surgery Type: TVH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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Re: 6 days and counting, and ? keeping ovaries
My mum had ovarian cancer at 37. She was told she wouldn't live to see 40 - she is 58 this year :-)
Because I am only 28 and my ovaries are currently looking ok, I decided to keep hold of them for now. I'm all for my body having natural hormones for as long as I can.
My doctor said that he would be more concerned if two close family members had experienced ovarian cancer - that's when the risk increases. As we only think my mum has had it, that helped make me feel a little easier about the decision to keep them. But, I am going to ask for my ovaries to be regularly monitored from now on - blood test, scans or whatever.
However - I understand your uncertainty and it would be a good idea maybe to try and have another talk with your doctor before surgery? Make sure you are completely comfortable with your decision - either way - before you go in.
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11-08-2010, 04:52 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 79
Hysterectomy: December 22nd, 2009
Ovaries: Removed both
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Re: 6 days and counting, and ? keeping ovaries
I am 52 and last December when I had my hysterectomy they discovered ovarian cancer. I went into surgery knowing I had precancer and a small spot of cancer cells in my uterus, but no idea that it was actually much worse. I don't have any family history of ovarian cancer that I know of.
My type of cancer is hormone fed, so no HRT for me. I had not started menopause before surgery, but it sure hit hard soon after. I am currently taking Effexor and that has almost totally stopped the hot flashes. I have not had much trouble with mood swings, but I never had too much of that with PMS either.
I am at a much higher risk of osteoporosis now, so while my doctors are watching for signs of a cancer recurrance they are also watching for signs of osteoporosis.
My sister is 54 and her doctors have recommended she have her ovaries removed because of my diagnosis. Her surgery is scheduled for Dec 6th and they are only removing her ovaries. I don't really agree with her decision because I think she should have everything removed, but because of recovery time she has opted to just do the ovaries for now.
My GYN Oncologist and my Medical Oncologist are pretty adamant that leaving only ovaries is asking for trouble, especially if there is family history or if there are any signs of cancer or precancer. Not all types of ovarian cancers show-up on the CA-125 tests, and not every woman with ovarian cancer has an elivated CA-125 so you can't rely on this test to let you know if ovarian cancer has developed.
You have a really tough decision to make. Because of my experience I am totally on the side of having the ovaries removed. Statistacally I have a 29% chance to survive more than 5-years. If my cancer had been discovered at stage 1 my survival chances for more than 5-years would be more like 95%. If my ovaries were gone before cancer I would not know those stats. To me it isn't worth the risk, especially if you are right around menopause age.
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