Ovarian cancer risk

I was scheduled to have my ovaries and tubes removed, but found information that gave me second thoughts.  An ultrasound last September showed a simple cyst on my right ovary measuring 2.3 x 1.5, and a bilocular cyst on my left ovary, measuring 2.8 x 1.4.  In early February the measurements were 1.9 x 1.5 on the right, and 2.1 x 1.7 on the left.  I was told that the cyst on the left showed a blood clot inside,  an irregular border, and two fluid-filled pockets.

My CA 125 result was 2 both in October and in March, the only times I've ever had the test.

In 1993 I was diagnosed with  ductal carcinoma in situ in one breast and lobular carcinoma in situ  in the other .  I had a bilateral mastectomy and was told that the chance of my ever developing breast cancer (in any remaining tissue) was extremely low.  (I had my uterus removed in

[suzsen]

I have a good friend who was diagnosed with breast cancer.  Other than the actual small tumor, everything else was good -- it hadn't spread and wasn't in her lymph nodes.  BUT because having had breast cancer raises your risk level for ovarian cancer, after a few years when her time on tamoxifen was running out, her doctor recommended removing her ovaries.  She agreed, and sure enough the biopsy found a few cancerous cells in one ovary.  Ovaries make estrogen, and estrogen feeds cancers.  It's up to you of course, and I don't know how old you are, but if it were me I'd take them out.  Why risk it?

[tteggem]

Many thanks to all for your comments.  I'll be speaking with my gynecologist tomorrow and hopefully getting some questions answered.  I certainly haven't ruled out surgery, but the article I cited gave me pause since my situation doesn't seem to fall into any of the areas considered abnormal (at least according to this new study).  My breast cancer was stage 0 and noninvasive, and no doctor I've seen ever until now mentioned that it meant an increased risk for ovarian cancer.  (The issue didn't even arise 8 years ago when I had a hysterectomy for fibroids.)  I had -- and still have -- no symptoms and was sent for an ultrasound only because I was so tense my doctor couldn't easily do a routine pelvic exam.  

I'm 51, but I understand that even after menopause the ovaries continue to produce hormones that protect against heart disease and bone loss.  There's also a new study from Mayo Clinic indicating that removing the ovaries -- at least in younger woemn -- can increase the risk of dementia.  This is my strongest reason for wanting to avoid unnecessary surgery --dementia is a huge fear of mine.

[kah22]

I AGREE WITH SUZSEN - DON'T TAKE ANY CHANCES - YOU ALREADY HAD BREAST CANCER AND YOUR CHANCES ARE GREATER FOR OVARIAN CANCER- FORGET THE STUDIES- THE DOCTOR WATCHED MY MOM'S CYST IN HER BREAST FOR A YEAR- THEN DECIDED TO HAVE IT REMOVED- IT WAS CANCEROUS- AND SPREAD TO HER LYMPH NODES- SHE WENT THROUGH 5 YEARS OF HELL - PLEASE DON'T WAIT - KATHY