Is a yearly pelvic ultrasound sufficient to protect against uterine/ ovarian cancer?

[Anonymous]

No. They would be good at DETECTING those cancers earlier than if you didn’t but they can’t prevent your cells from mutating and becoming cancerous

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. They would be good at DETECTING those cancers earlier than if you didn’t but they can’t prevent your cells from mutating and becoming cancerous

Op - that’s what I mean

[Anonymous]

Get the yearly pelvic ultrasound. Get your tubes removed. Get hysterectomy if there is an actual problem. You do not understand that hysterectomy is a major surgery that can have serious complications. Ovary removal pre-menopause is also a bad idea if there is no problem with the ovaries. Accept your mortality in general and get a yearly checkup. That’s the best you can do now. You didn’t say what kind of cancer you had. Get a genetic cancer risk panel done. Stop worrying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My MIL just died from uterine cancer. Her pap smears were negative btw. The best prevention is a hysterectomy. I imagine an ultrasound may pick up nodules/masses. MIL regularly had her CA125 blood level tested after diagnosis. I guess this kind of test might be helpful too.

A Pap smear is for cervical cancer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s also removing the Fallopian tubes to reduce ovarian cancer risk. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/salpingectomy

I asked about this since I have PCOS and history of complex cysts, I worry about ovarian cancer. my OB was supportive about tubal removal, I asked to have it done during my last birth (planned C). Insurance wouldn’t pay for it at the same time as a C-section bc of unspecified risks but would pay if I went back separately. So that is kind of disappointing.

Anyone out here had a salpingectomy for preventative reasons?

My SIL is BRCA positive and had her tubes removed preventatively in addition to a mastectomy. But then a few years later she had her ovaries out as well. I’m not close with her so I don’t know the reason why it was spaced out like that.

Probably because a mastectomy is a big surgery. Did she just have her tubes removed or did she have her ovaries removed? Ovary removal is also a big surgery in terms of outcome as it is pretty dramatic to immediately enter menopause.

[Anonymous]

I am in my early 40s and have had breast cancer. I take tamoxifen which increases my risk for uterine cancer. I still don’t don’t any extra screening (I would if I had any symptoms). I had genetic testing and tested negative for all of the known genes that increase risk. At some point, you just have to accept that no one is getting out of life alive and you cannot go shooting around in the dark hoping you uncover something super early. It probably doesn’t really change your risk or it would be the standard of care for women who have had cancer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. They would be good at DETECTING those cancers earlier than if you didn’t but they can’t prevent your cells from mutating and becoming cancerous

Maybe. I have my doubts whether it actually would do this until the cancer is far along.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am in my early 40s and have had breast cancer. I take tamoxifen which increases my risk for uterine cancer. I still don’t don’t any extra screening (I would if I had any symptoms). I had genetic testing and tested negative for all of the known genes that increase risk. At some point, you just have to accept that no one is getting out of life alive and you cannot go shooting around in the dark hoping you uncover something super early. It probably doesn’t really change your risk or it would be the standard of care for women who have had cancer.

OP - me again. You say you are very anxious. I would work on getting that addressed, with therapy if necessary. It is robbing you of your time now. And I am very sympathetic to why you are anxious. Cancer at our age sucks. It really does. But 2 things will happen. You will never have to deal with cancer again and the worry will have been for nothing. Or you do get cancer again and the worry did nothing. In either event, it is affecting your quality of life today. Do what is recommended by doctors but don’t go on fishing expeditions. They are crazy making and often just introduce more uncertainty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My mother died as a result of ovarian cancer. I have yearly pelvic ultrasounds. It's not a silver bullet, but it's the best option there is right now for early detection.

Who orders this? Your gyn or your GP?

[Anonymous]

I had a hysterectomy and the dr. recommended fallopian tube removal as, he said, fallopian tubes are often the trouble makers in gynecological related cancers. We left the ovaries.

I am so glad I had a hysterectomy and glad I did it while relatively young, for a speedy recovery. Highly recommend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s also removing the Fallopian tubes to reduce ovarian cancer risk. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/salpingectomy

I asked about this since I have PCOS and history of complex cysts, I worry about ovarian cancer. my OB was supportive about tubal removal, I asked to have it done during my last birth (planned C). Insurance wouldn’t pay for it at the same time as a C-section bc of unspecified risks but would pay if I went back separately. So that is kind of disappointing.

Anyone out here had a salpingectomy for preventative reasons?

My SIL is BRCA positive and had her tubes removed preventatively in addition to a mastectomy. But then a few years later she had her ovaries out as well. I’m not close with her so I don’t know the reason why it was spaced out like that.

Probably because a mastectomy is a big surgery. Did she just have her tubes removed or did she have her ovaries removed? Ovary removal is also a big surgery in terms of outcome as it is pretty dramatic to immediately enter menopause.

What I meant is, she got rid of the tubes and then a few years later her ovaries. That’s what I didn’t quite get - why do it in two steps instead of one - maybe there was a reason to keep the ovaries a few more years. Mastectomy was a separate surgery so she’s had 3 total and if definitely makes sense as a separate step.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s also removing the Fallopian tubes to reduce ovarian cancer risk. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/salpingectomy

I asked about this since I have PCOS and history of complex cysts, I worry about ovarian cancer. my OB was supportive about tubal removal, I asked to have it done during my last birth (planned C). Insurance wouldn’t pay for it at the same time as a C-section bc of unspecified risks but would pay if I went back separately. So that is kind of disappointing.

Anyone out here had a salpingectomy for preventative reasons?

My SIL is BRCA positive and had her tubes removed preventatively in addition to a mastectomy. But then a few years later she had her ovaries out as well. I’m not close with her so I don’t know the reason why it was spaced out like that.

Probably because a mastectomy is a big surgery. Did she just have her tubes removed or did she have her ovaries removed? Ovary removal is also a big surgery in terms of outcome as it is pretty dramatic to immediately enter menopause.

What I meant is, she got rid of the tubes and then a few years later her ovaries. That’s what I didn’t quite get - why do it in two steps instead of one - maybe there was a reason to keep the ovaries a few more years. Mastectomy was a separate surgery so she’s had 3 total and if definitely makes sense as a separate step.

Removal of the ovaries is associated with a higher risk of cardiac issues and cognitive decline. That risk is higher when you are younger and goes down as you get older. That’s probably why they did it in steps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s also removing the Fallopian tubes to reduce ovarian cancer risk. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/salpingectomy

I asked about this since I have PCOS and history of complex cysts, I worry about ovarian cancer. my OB was supportive about tubal removal, I asked to have it done during my last birth (planned C). Insurance wouldn’t pay for it at the same time as a C-section bc of unspecified risks but would pay if I went back separately. So that is kind of disappointing.

Anyone out here had a salpingectomy for preventative reasons?

My SIL is BRCA positive and had her tubes removed preventatively in addition to a mastectomy. But then a few years later she had her ovaries out as well. I’m not close with her so I don’t know the reason why it was spaced out like that.

Probably because a mastectomy is a big surgery. Did she just have her tubes removed or did she have her ovaries removed? Ovary removal is also a big surgery in terms of outcome as it is pretty dramatic to immediately enter menopause.

What I meant is, she got rid of the tubes and then a few years later her ovaries. That’s what I didn’t quite get - why do it in two steps instead of one - maybe there was a reason to keep the ovaries a few more years. Mastectomy was a separate surgery so she’s had 3 total and if definitely makes sense as a separate step.

Oh I see. I misread what you wrote. According to the data, removing the tubes reduces risk of ovarian cancer by half. And it isn’t a big surgery. She probably wanted to keep her ovaries longer since it is such an abrupt loss of estrogen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m curious why you think ovarian and uterine cancers are “quite common”? That wasn’t my understanding at all, and doing a quick google search says both of these are rare. Do you mean you’re at a higher risk because of the other cancer you had? Not trying to be difficult here, just trying to understand where you’re getting your stats from.

??
Ovarian cancer alone is 5th most common cancer

Not to mention, by the time you have real symptoms for most people you are already stage 3/4. Many doctors write off those symptoms as typical "female issues". Ultrasound yearly is a decent way to find any issues earlier than normal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m curious why you think ovarian and uterine cancers are “quite common”? That wasn’t my understanding at all, and doing a quick google search says both of these are rare. Do you mean you’re at a higher risk because of the other cancer you had? Not trying to be difficult here, just trying to understand where you’re getting your stats from.

??
Ovarian cancer alone is 5th most common cancer

Not to mention, by the time you have real symptoms for most people you are already stage 3/4. Many doctors write off those symptoms as typical "female issues". Ultrasound yearly is a decent way to find any issues earlier than normal.

Why do you say this? What data do you have that suggests a yearly ultrasound improves outcomes?