KEEP OVARIES ? cervical 1b1

My head is spinning,esp since surgery is 3 days away. I am very fit(yoga + massage therapist) and usually feel if it isn't broken don't fix it. If I was to leave one ovary in,is there a preference to left over right? and what does cervical cancer have to do with ovarian cancer? I am perimenopausal but worry about sacrificing quality of life now and my health later, as I'm scared of HRT too. Has anyone taken dong quai or heard of it? Lots of love and thanks for feedback...
Best wishes to all women who walk together with love
if we speake kind words we'll hear kind echo
s

There's always a lot to think about, isn't there?

There is no known link between cervical cancer and ovarian cancer. Some women do opt to have their ovaries out, though, to reduce their risk of ovarian cancer. I kept mine and they are still working great 5 years later. Is there a reason you're thinking of keeping only 1 ovary?

I do want to let you know, though, that if there is chemo or radiation in your future, the ovaries could be damaged if left in and then rendered non-functional. Some women with 1b1 cervical cancer have chemo/radiation, others do not. Sometimes they don't know for sure until the surgery is complete and the final pathology report is back.

I don't know anything about dong quai, but perhaps someone will be along soon with some information.

Good luck! Let us know how your surgery goes!

I was in perimenopause and sick of the shifting hormones so I asked my dr. to take my ovaries out. He did, and now I am 7 weeks postop and taking HRT. My Dr. said the lastest study says that the study that scared everyone away from HRT was found to be done only on older women who were at higher risk for heart attack/strok anyway. Who knows? It seems to change all the time. I just figured you have to consider your quality of life. I couldn't stand the night sweats, hot flashes, and mood swings anymore. Plus, I was having bad migraines alot. I'll take my chances with the HRT, thank you very much! I feel much better now on the HRT.

Sherry

Sherry,
I glad to hear your feeling better now! I really don't have and terrible complaints. Some night sweats, but it also depends what i eat it seems.Spicy food or wine seems to bring them on. Mood swings and fragile emotionally though. I'll talk to dr. on monday and see if he'll agree on leaving ovaries. I was thinking leaving only one would lessen the risk of anything later.As far as i know he hasn't even done blood work on my estrogen levels. I am so grateful to have found this site!!

Jeannie,
I wanted to asked if you have heard of a radical trachelectomy? also, if the ovaries are non functioning in the body, is there a risk of any other complications? Thanks and more thanks!

Hi there - we must really be "hyster" sisters, as mine is schedule on Jan. 10th. finally decided to join the site today, as I've been checking it out before. I hope everything goes well for you!

My Dr. said that of the women who leave their ovaries in only 3% ever have to go back in to deal with ovary problems later. I am asking that my Dr. leave mine unless they are diseased...

Interesting...I had a Dr. tell me that %50 of ovaries left go kaput within 3 years....course this was the Dr. that I DIDN"T end up going with. It's difficult to know who or what posted info to believe.....I think in the end you must trust your physicians reccomendation, and then believe with all your heart that you made the right choice because regrets are a waste of energy. On another note, I too am a massage therapist and will be having a TAH on Jan 31. My clients are complaining, but I refuse to book (even 2 months from now) ahead not knowing how recovery will be. Hope all goes well for you. Karen

When I mentioned my hysterectomy and ovary removal to my regular doctor he was relieved that I was keeping the healthy organ. He said good choice.

My Gyn also recommended keeping my healthy organ. He said it will take up the slack in hormone production from the loss of my right ovary.

I did not have cervical cancer though. I had irregular bleeding and a complex cyst on my right ovary.

Every situation is different, so of course your doctor would recommend what is best for your health. My doctor had to warn me that if my left was diseased he would remove it too. Thankfully that was not the case.

Hi Patrice

I don't have any knowledge of cervical cancer, however I had a mass on one of my ovaries that they thought might be cancer, it turned out to be benign, luckily I had the the sense to say please leave the other ovary if it's not cancer (I wish I had said to leave the uterus as well) but my other ovary is working perfectly, my hormone levels are all normal. Most people I ask who have left their ovaries have had no problems, they have worked right up til menopause. I would get a second opinon while you still have the chance because there's no going back once it's done .

One of the ladies at work had cervical cancer 25 years ago and they left her ovaries and she is fine, she didn't need any other treatment and her ovaries functioned normally until the menopause.
Wishing you all the best