43. Goodbye, Lady Parts. Doreen is Here Too.
November 2, 2022
Update. Warning: long post. Bottom line: please send prayers and good vibes for successful surgery and recovery 
Admitted to the hospital today (Nov 2nd, Wedensday), for tomorrow’s laparoscopic total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (LTHBSO). Long fancy words describing the surgical procedure to remove the uterus and ovaries. Doreen is here too.
There’s a troublesome, bleeding, anemia-causing myoma (also known as a fibroid; benign growth of uterine muscle tissue) that has to come out. It’s probably been there since at least 2018, but its presence was confirmed on ultrasound in 2020. My gynecologist and I were already discussing possible surgical removal in early 2022, but the mammogram and breast ultrasound from around that time unfortunately had concerning findings… and we all know what happened after that: Doreen got desginated as “breast cancer mascot”.
Since the breast tumor has hormone receptors for estrogen and progesterone, the presence of these hormones could potentially encourage growth of future cancer tissue elsewhere in the body (for example, if some rogue cells had escaped chemotherapy and radiation therapy). The hormones are produced by the ovaries. One could stop the ovaries from producing hormones through medication (a monthly injection – and the most “conservative” way to do it, because this is reversible: stopping the medication will “wake up” the ovaries and make them produce hormones again). Alternatively, other more permanent options are radiation (zapping the ovaries), or removing them from the body altogether through surgery are other options.
Since the uterus needs to be surgically removed, might as well remove the ovaries along with it. Yes this puts me into menopause earlier than having it occur naturally. Which means bone mineral density needs to be monitored and addressed (osteoporosis), among other lovely things that happen to people after menopause.
So if you are so inclined – please say some prayers and send good vibes to me and the medical staff tomorrow (Thursday)! Hoping for an uneventful recovery. Best case scenario would be for me to go home Friday morning.
