Benefits of Ovarian Shutdown/Removal
Shutting down or removing the ovaries is a treatment used for pre-menopausal women with hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer. In order to stop the ovaries from producing hormones, you can take medicines to shut the ovaries down. You can also have surgery to have the ovaries removed. (Radiation to the ovaries also stops hormone production, but this is rarely done). All of these methods help stop cancer growth.
Ovarian shutdown or removal has two main benefits:
- It reduces the risk of recurrence. Ovarian shutdown or removal itself can help reduce the risk of the cancer coming back. Another form of hormonal therapy, such as tamoxifen, can be added to give extra benefit.
- It allows you to take an aromatase inhibitor. Pre-menopausal women whose breast cancer has progressed while taking tamoxifen can take an aromatase inhibitor if ovarian shutdown or removal has made them post-menopausal. This is particularly beneficial for those who cannot take tamoxifen because of heart or other medical problems.
Ovarian removal has additional benefits:
- It helps reduce the risk of breast and ovarian cancer in women with gene abnormalities. In women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene abnormalities, removing both ovaries can lower the risk of getting:
- breast cancer, by up to about 50%, and
- ovarian, fallopian tube, and peritoneal (stomach lining) cancers, by up to about 80%.
- It may cost less than some medications. Some women opt for ovary removal or radiation because of serious financial concerns (not by choice). Years of hormonal therapy medication can be very expensive, particularly if you have no insurance to cover medications.
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