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Breast Cancer (Expert Forum)
ovary removal?
Questions posted in the Breast Cancer Forum are answered by medical professionals from The Cleveland Clinic. Topics include Breast Biopsy, Chemotherapy, Hormone Therapy, Lumps, Lumpectomy, Lymph node dissection, Lymphedema, Mammograms, Mastectomy, Radiation Therapy, Reconstruction, Self Breast Exam, and Surgery.
ovary removal?
by Uncle Fester, Aug 27, 2004 12:00AM
I'm just finishing 4 rounds of AC after a lumpectomy with clear margins for stage2A invasive ductal BC. Nodes were completely free and tumor is ER negative, PR slightly positive. I will undergo radiation next month. I am 47 years old and premenopausal. My doctor is recommending that I have my ovaries removed instead of taking tamoxifen for countless years, which is the standard treatment. I think this is overkill for an ER negative case. What do you think?
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-RN,MSN-JS, Aug 27, 2004 12:00AM
Dear Uncle Fester, The decision to recommend adjuvant hormonal therapy should be based on the presence of hormone receptors. There is some data indicating that women whose tumors lack estrogen receptor protein but contain progesterone receptors also appear to benefit from hormonal therapy. Tamoxifen is the most commonly used form of hormonal therapy and the standard length of time for use is 5 years (there is no convincing data that justifies the use for longer than 5 years).
In regards to combining ovarian ablation (removal of the ovaries) with chemotherapy this has not been shown to provide an additional advantage to date. Also the value of combining hormonal therapies has not yet been adequately explored.
In regards to combining ovarian ablation (removal of the ovaries) with chemotherapy this has not been shown to provide an additional advantage to date. Also the value of combining hormonal therapies has not yet been adequately explored.
