Question

Should I remove my ovaries if I'm e+pr+ BRAC 1/2 Negative?  Also, what test are used to check your estrogen levels and should your oncologist do this every three months.


This discussion is related to ovary removal and tamoxifen or arimidex.

[katarina777]

Is that what your doctor has suggested? That you have your ovaries removed? You state that you are estrogen/progesteron  positive, etc, but we know absolutely nothing else about your history, treatment, or even you type of cancer, or your age.

I was also pro/estrogen positive. Do you think I should have my ovaries removed?
They weren't, and maybe that was because I was 48 when diagnosed, but the thought did come up, and then discarded by my oncologist.

This all depends on your specific case and all of the information your doctor has/you have, but none of us.

I think usually it is from a biopsy that it is determined what these receptors are, but estrogen levels itself can also be determined from  a blood test.
After you have been evaluated for all this, in my experience these tests are not repeated unless there is a question about your being premenstrual or postmenstrual, and the information is helpful in determining what estrogen antagonists to chose. i.e. Tamoxien for both pre and post menstrual, and then something like Arimidex, Femara, only for post menstrual status. Sometimes it is not entirely clear where one stands.

Katrin

[Cheerpul]

I have no family history of cancer, so we did not do the BRACA test.  I was having regular periods at the age of 47.  However, when I had chemo, my ovaries shut down immediately.  That was almost 9 mos. ago and we are monitoring them by checking estrogen leels via blood tests, to see if they "wake up." I am currently taking Tamooxifen, but may be switched  to an aromatase inhibitor if they stay inactive.

I asked about ovary removal, and both oncologists and my surgeon thought it would be overkill in my case.