September: Endometrial Cancer Awareness Month #4

Ovaries.  I know it’s supposed to be about the endometrium this month but… bear with me.  I am amazed by the number of women who I have met over the past few months who believe ovaries are just good enough for making babies.  When they are done, they are perfectly fine with throwing them out.  I met a woman at a gathering recently who was upset about her friend’s cancer diagnosis and then she was scared.  Her period has been iffy as of late.  She said that she wanted to ask her doctor to take them out because she did not need them anymore.  She had two children already.  I had to stop her right there and told them… those are not just for babies.   Ovaries are so instrumental in maintaining your hormonal balance.  Yes, maybe some days you feel like your hormones are getting out of control but it’s all part of the ride as a woman. 

Ovaries also keep you healthy.  Keeping your ovaries significantly reduces the risk of osteoporosis and heart disease.  Sadly, many doctors do rush into removing ovaries.  And women follow along.  A friend’s friend was about to undergo hysterectomy recently.  She was about to have both of her ovaries removed.  I begged her to tell her friend to fight to keep at least ONE ovary.  One ovary was bad… but the other one can be saved.  I was relieved to learn the good ovary was saved. 

Surgical menopause is a difficult process as well.  Women who experience menopause naturally go through changes gradually.  Imagine the gradual process that spans about one-two years all squeezed into an overnight process.   Some women have to undergo surgical menopause.  Many do not need to undergo that.  Women who have endometrial cancer are often urged to do a full hysterectomy removing their ovaries.  Dr. Jewell has been practicing for almost ten years.  In this time period, she has only seen TWO women who had endometrial cancer who kept their ovaries get ovarian cancer later in their lives.  The odds are very low, making it worthwhile to keep the ovaries.  The benefits of keeping ovaries outweigh the risks for sure.

Ladies, hold on to your golden eggs!