Need advice -Leave ovaries in?

I am 44, recently recovering from breast cancer and have endo.
My doctors tell me to have my ovaries removed along with
my uterus for precautionary measures. I don't feel
comfortable just taking "it all" out. I've had endo for
about 8 years and finally can't take it. However after
having a mastectomy and viewing the other options of
menopause. Quality of life sure sounds better. My dr
is saying it is up to me to take the ovaries or leave them
the damage is in the uterus. I've done extensive research
over the years and can't seem to see any other alternatives.
Any advice?
Thanks
M.Torres

Hi M. Torres,

This is a tough issue. There really is no right or wrong answer. I had a TAH/BSO five months ago, primarily due to stage 4 endo. I'm 46. After reading a lot about endo, posting lots of messages here, discussions with my surgeons, I decided to have my ovaries removed. I have no family history of ovarian cancer, but with stage 4 endo and one ovary that was stuck to the ureter and the whole mass stuck to my peritoneum, I decided it was a reasonable choice. My gyn and the gyn oncologist who assisted with my surgery both recommended removal of my ovaries, as did my family doc. I also stayed off all estrogen for 12 weeks post op and now take low dose estrogen (0.3 mg) along with Megace, a progestin. My gyn plans to increase the estrogen in another month and I'll continue taking a combination of estrogen and progestin for the next six months. At 1 year post op, the plan is for me to switch to estrogen only. All of this is being done to be extra conservative and try to prevent a recurrance of endo.

If you choose to keep your ovaries and they cause problems later, you can always have them removed then and laparoscopic surgery is often an option in that situation.

Best of luck with this tough decision. Please discuss this with your gyn, get another opinion if that helps. Keep reading and posting and let us know what you decide.

Beth

Torres,
My endometriosis was so bad that it had messed up my ovaries. Both of my ovaries were removed. I did not start HRT immediately because any remaining endo in there that's microscopic in size needs time to die off. Endometriosis feeds on estrogen.

Now I'm feeling great 15 months post-op. My quality of life has made a huge turn-around! Please keep us posted on your decisions as only you will be able to decide what you are comfortable doing.