Miss Kitty
Meow
I am sorry to hear this. I should and will ask my dr., but is there any wisdom to having ovaries removed after menopause?
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Bad news for women
- Thread starter Beach Runner
- Start date
I am sorry to hear this. I should and will ask my dr., but is there any wisdom to having ovaries removed after menopause?
My sister-in-law died of ovarian cancer last year at the age of 56. Her mother died of ovarian cancer at age 52. Because my sister-in-law was at high risk she was put in a screening program at the University of Kentucky which was basically just a yearly ultrasound. Needless to say the screening program did not work.
My sister-in-law's oncologist suggested genetic counseling to see if the reason she got ovarian cancer was due to a faulty gene which was passed from her mother to her. If she tested positive for this gene (I believe it was Braca1) then her two daughters would also be tested. She agreed to the testing and it was confirmed that she had the gene. My two nieces were then tested and it was determined that they also have the gene. My nieces are age 30 and 26. The 30 year old is married and had already had all the children she wanted so she elected to have an complete hysterectomy 4 months ago to reduce her chances of getting ovarian cancer (you can still get ovarian cancer even if your ovaries are removed). She was stunned when she went in for what she thought was going to be a routine follow up from her surgery to be told that she had stage 1 ovarian cancer. She immediately started chemotherapy (last round will be in August) and her survival chances are 95%. Needless to say - if it had not been for the genetic counseling and her quick action she would have also died from this disease.
If ovarian cancer has been diagnosed in your family - I woud urge you to get genetic testing. It can save lives but only if you are willing to take what some would call "radical steps" Many people thought that my niece was over-reacting. Because of this gene she was also at risk for breast cancer and both of my niece's have had complete mastectomys followed by reconstructive surgery.
My niece has started a non-profit organization to help women get genetic testing who might otherwise not be able to afford it. Please go to her web site and read her story at www.NGTF.org.
There are some promising trials underway (blood tests) that will be able to predict ovarian cancer in its earliest (and most curable) stage. I am hoping that they will be available soon. In the meantime Beach Runner is right - no good way to diagnose this awful disease.
My sister-in-law's oncologist suggested genetic counseling to see if the reason she got ovarian cancer was due to a faulty gene which was passed from her mother to her. If she tested positive for this gene (I believe it was Braca1) then her two daughters would also be tested. She agreed to the testing and it was confirmed that she had the gene. My two nieces were then tested and it was determined that they also have the gene. My nieces are age 30 and 26. The 30 year old is married and had already had all the children she wanted so she elected to have an complete hysterectomy 4 months ago to reduce her chances of getting ovarian cancer (you can still get ovarian cancer even if your ovaries are removed). She was stunned when she went in for what she thought was going to be a routine follow up from her surgery to be told that she had stage 1 ovarian cancer. She immediately started chemotherapy (last round will be in August) and her survival chances are 95%. Needless to say - if it had not been for the genetic counseling and her quick action she would have also died from this disease.
If ovarian cancer has been diagnosed in your family - I woud urge you to get genetic testing. It can save lives but only if you are willing to take what some would call "radical steps" Many people thought that my niece was over-reacting. Because of this gene she was also at risk for breast cancer and both of my niece's have had complete mastectomys followed by reconstructive surgery.
My niece has started a non-profit organization to help women get genetic testing who might otherwise not be able to afford it. Please go to her web site and read her story at www.NGTF.org.
There are some promising trials underway (blood tests) that will be able to predict ovarian cancer in its earliest (and most curable) stage. I am hoping that they will be available soon. In the meantime Beach Runner is right - no good way to diagnose this awful disease.
I have ask my doctor this same question and her answer was yes. I am trying to decide whether or not to have this done.
Anybody else in your family with either breast or ovarian cancer? Even if your sister has been the only one I would urge other family members to look into gene testing. I am so sorry to hear about your sister - it is an awful disease and you are right - nothing to fool around with.
greenroomsurfer
Beach Fanatic
Take good care of Mom!
Oh yes, we are all very thankful. She's a beautiful person.
Cheering472
SoWal Insider
I am very sorry for the loss of your sister. I agree that cancer is an insidious disease. It's hit my family very hard. My daddy's cancer was also Stage 1 at discovery. After surgery to remove the tumor he took chemo and radiation. He still lived less than a year. My Aunt was dignosed at Stage 4 and outlasted daddy by several years. So I know cancer doesn't follow rules.
I have yet to make sense of it all, but help me understand something if you can. You mentioned you can still get ovarian cancer even if your ovaries are removed. How is this?
I have yet to make sense of it all, but help me understand something if you can. You mentioned you can still get ovarian cancer even if your ovaries are removed. How is this?
30A Skunkape
Skunky
Great discussion. Just a quick comment on genetic screening, it is an area of debate in the sense that if this becomes part of your medical record, you could be discriminated against by all manner of insurance companies...some legislative measures have been taken to fight this, but just be careful to consider this when genetic screening is considered. Also, genetic screening is not a panacea, it has to be taken in context with the entire health history of a patient and probably more often than not shouldn't be performed (in my opinion).