oophorectomy after 5 years hormone therapy

Hello, i was diagnosed with DCIS Nov 2004 (stage 3).at age 38 > lumpectomy, chemo, mastectomy, radiotherapy, hormone therapy (SOFT trial - examestane + triptorelin - oestrogen suppressors. Almost completed 5 years), bilateral DIEP reconstruction. So far no known secondaries. I am contemplating elective oophorectomy to keep my body in menopause rather than let it start menstruating again. How high are the likely risks that oestrogen would cause secondaries to commence or flare up? I am now 44 and find my current life without menstruation totally ok. I cannot stay on the trial medications longer than the 5 years. Thanks.

[Cleveland Clinic]

Dear ali8un, The purpose of the SOFT trial (suppression of ovarian function trial) is to help to answer the question that you raise.  We know that treatment with hormones suppression therapies has been shown to help prevent breast cancer from coming back after they have been removed by surgery if the breast cancer has hormone receptors (is hormone receptor positive). The hormone therapy generally used is tamoxifen, and is usually given for five years.   It has also been shown that suppressing the ovaries (which stops them from making hormones such as estrogen) helps prevent breast cancers from coming back in women who are premenopausal.  The SOFT trial is being done to see if shutting down the ovaries plus giving tamoxifen is better at preventing the return of breast cancer than just giving tamoxifen alone in premenopausal women.  The study is also testing whether the newer hormone suppression drug exemestane plus suppression of the ovaries is better than tamoxifen plus suppression of the ovaries.  

The reason for having the oopherectomy would be to be sure that your ovaries do not continue to produce estrogen once the medication to induce suppression is stopped.  Have a discussion with your oncologist they would be better able to discuss the risks and benefits of this procedure in context of your individual situation.

[Diane1981]

A related discussion, oophorectomy for breast cancer was started.