My Breakthrough
Oophorectomy
Oophorectomy is an operation to remove both your ovaries so that you will permanently stop making the hormone, oestrogen, which may be helping your cancer to grow and spread.
Your doctor will only recommend this operation if you have had a receptor test which showed that your cancer is oestrogen receptor positive, and your ovaries are still producing oestrogen (i.e: you haven't had your menopause yet).
When you get to theatre, you'll have a general anaesthetic, so you'll be asleep during your operation and won't know anything about it.
Be sure to tell your doctor or nurse. They can give you anti-sickness drugs and/or painkillers. Everyone feels pain differently; some people need more painkilling drugs than others. There's no need to be in pain. Taking painkillers regularly, before the pain comes back, will help you recover more quickly.
You can start eating and drinking as soon as you recover from the anaesthetic.
After your operation you will probably have a drip in your arm to give you fluids so that you don't get dehydrated. You'll probably have one or two tubes coming out of your abdomen. These will drain stale blood and excess fluid out of your wound.
Losing your ovaries will probably make you feel emotional too, perhaps a bit tearful. As you are no longer making oestrogen, you may get some menopausal symptoms, such as hot flushes, vaginal dryness and mood swings. Your doctor or cancer nurse may be able to recommend things that can help you.
Take your time and don't feel pressured into pretending everything's fine if it isn't. You may find it helpful to talk to someone about how you feel - either at the hospital where you are being treated, through your GP, or through a support organisation such as Breast Cancer Care.
Before your operation
Procedures vary from hospital to hospital. But you'll probably go into hospital the day before your operation, especially if you are having surgery in the morning. You won't have anything to eat or drink before your operation. Before you go to theatre, you'll be asked to empty your bladder and bowels. A doctor or nurse will check your temperature, blood pressure and heartbeat, and you may be given a drug to help you relax.When you get to theatre, you'll have a general anaesthetic, so you'll be asleep during your operation and won't know anything about it.
After the operation
When you wake up, you may:- Feel sick from the anaesthetic.
- Feel sore in the lower part of your abdomen.
Be sure to tell your doctor or nurse. They can give you anti-sickness drugs and/or painkillers. Everyone feels pain differently; some people need more painkilling drugs than others. There's no need to be in pain. Taking painkillers regularly, before the pain comes back, will help you recover more quickly.
You can start eating and drinking as soon as you recover from the anaesthetic.
After your operation you will probably have a drip in your arm to give you fluids so that you don't get dehydrated. You'll probably have one or two tubes coming out of your abdomen. These will drain stale blood and excess fluid out of your wound.
Your recovery
Remember that oophorectomy is a big operation, and it will take you time to feel fully fit again.Losing your ovaries will probably make you feel emotional too, perhaps a bit tearful. As you are no longer making oestrogen, you may get some menopausal symptoms, such as hot flushes, vaginal dryness and mood swings. Your doctor or cancer nurse may be able to recommend things that can help you.
Take your time and don't feel pressured into pretending everything's fine if it isn't. You may find it helpful to talk to someone about how you feel - either at the hospital where you are being treated, through your GP, or through a support organisation such as Breast Cancer Care.
Also within "Secondary breast cancer"
