removal of ovaries?

I have not had a period since the first chemo treatment two years ago. I am 51 now, and I guess enough post menopausal that my oncologist urged me to switch from Tamoxifen to one of the Aromatose Inhibitors. I have tried Arimidex, Femara and  recently Aromasin and I am absolutely unable to take them, the severe Depression being the worst of it. My oncologist says he does not want to take me off Prozac and that is why he doesn't want me on Tamoxifen and which I took for a year and got used to. (I mean I was able to tolerate it even if it crippled my fingers and I had to have surgery for that, etc.) But I don't think that is the real reason but more because I am at such high risk for recurrence and he thinks the AI work better.

Now he wants me to have my ovaries removed, and I am wondering how much at this point they are still producing estrogen? my question being that I understand it makes sense when you are 40 but I am in menopause now, if maybe not completely post menopausal.

Thanks, kat

[SueYoung55]

Kat,

You can have your FSH and estradiol levels run with simple blood tests.

Besides your ovaries, estrogren is also produced by the adrenal glands.

I personally am looking into an ooph and hyst for myself to reduce my risk of ovarian cancer which also runs in my family. I don't need them anymore so anything I can do is well worth my effort.

Best wishes.

[katarina777]

Thanks, SueYoung55. I had my FSH and other levels tested a few months ago but then forgot to ask about the results and the oncologist never mentioned them. A couple of days ago I called the nurse and asked her about the results and she said she could not find them. Well.....and did not know.

[bluebutterfly2222]

Hi Kat,

Your doctor's office should be able to get another copy from the lab, if it never got the results, or got them and misplaced them.

Warm regards,
bluebutterfly