Treatment of Breast Cancer - B.)Shutting off the Ovaries: Ovarian Suppression and Ablation


As stated in front, this method only suitable for premenopausal women who are still having period. Several studies strongly suggest that purposefully quiteting the ovaries can improve survival in women with early-stage. 

There are two ways to shut off the ovaries from producing the estrogen, first is through medications (known as ovarian suppression) while second is through surgical (known as ovarian ablation).

 

a.)    Ovarian Suppression with Medication

There are some medicines called luteinizing hormones - releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists which able to temporarily shutting off the ovaries from producing estrogen. This can significantly reduce the level of estrogen in the body and thus suppress the growth of breast cancer cells.

One advantage to choose drugs alone rather than ovarian ablation via surgery is their temporary nature. Same as surgically removing the ovaries, the ovarian suppression drugs also cause menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, a crimp in sex drive, and vaginal dryness.

However, there is a concern that medication to suppress the ovaries may not decrease the estrogen level in body as well as ovarian ablation through surgery.

b.)    Ovarian Ablation with Surgery

Different from ovarian suppression which involve the use of medication, ovarian ablation directly inhibit the production of estrogen by ovaries by removing the ovaries through surgery. The ovaries can be surgically removed through small incisions (cuts) in the belly. The removal of ovaries may remove most of the estrogen hormone in the body. This technique is permanent and triggers an abrupt menopause in the patient. Although there are some other tissues, such as adrenal glands will still produce small amounts of estrogen, the early menopause still will causes many symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, loss of sex drive, bone loss due to lack of estrogen, and other menopausal issues.






 
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About the authors

We are a group of four students who are from School of Pharmacy, University Sains Malaysia. We are trying our best in developing a website which is all about breast cancer. We have referred to a few books in order to organize the latest useful information about breast cancer treatment for readers. We are Ong Zhi Ying,Tan Poh Ching,Tan Yin Yean and Wong Yung Huei


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