Farewell Ovaries

Farewell ovaries and fallopian tubes. You have served me well and have played a large role in giving me two beautiful children but the time has come when we must part.  On December 22nd, I will have laparoscopic surgery to remove my ovaries and fallopian tubes.  I've decided to do this surgery first because of the high percentage of getting ovarian cancer and how it is hard to detect.  I am done with having babies so that part of the decision wasn't difficult for me but I am a little worried about the lack of hormones in my body and how that will affect me after the surgery.  I was thinking I wouldn’t have to deal with menopause for 10 more years from now. My doctor tells me that she can put me on a low dose of hormones short term if necessary.  It is my understanding that post menopausal woman taking estrogen and progestin long term, were at a greater risk of developing breast cancer so short term in low dose is how I would approach it- again if necessary.  

When I first spoke to the oncolagy surgen he recommend me to remove my uterus too.  He said in an abrupt and matter fact tone (and I am paraphrasing), "You don't need it   anyway and since you are so petit and pushed a large baby out, your uterus will most likely be hanging out of your vagina like a penis later in life. Why not have me take it now rather than later."  I just stared at him in disbelief.  I asked him why my mother and sister's surgeon back in Boston recommended me NOT to have my uterus removed being that I have never had uterine bleeding, endometriosis or family history of uterine cancer.  (The Brca1 mutation does not put me at a risk of uterine cancer unless cancer is already found in the fallopian tubes or ovaries.)  His answer was so that the other surgeons could make more money doing two surgeries rather than one, insinuating that eventually I would need my uterus out. Needless to say, I left his office saying to my husband Alan that there is no way that man is doing my surgery. I didn't listen to gut and scheduled the surgery with him after doing a background check. My mother booked her flight from Boston to come and help me and everything was a go. I called to see why I hadn't received my pre-operation appointment and the surgeon’s scheduler nonchalantly said I was not scheduled for the surgery and that he couldn't do the date I asked for after all. I was frustrated, mad and hurt and felt neglected. I gave the scheduler a piece of my mind as she continued to not take any responsibility for dropping the ball.  Moral of the story-if you have a bad feeling about something or someone-follow your gut.

I am now having my gynecologist do the surgery and I feel much better about that. If no cancer is apparent while doing the surgery, which I highly doubt there will be, then I can go home that day. The surgeon sends samples to pathology to check for cancer cells and after a day or so I get the results.

So there it is!  Goodbye tampons, Goodbye Aunt Flo, Goodbye ovaries and tubes- you’ve been good to me but it’s now time to go.