I had a hysterectomy that I did not need. Yes, I had a mass on my ovary. I could have had just my ovaries removed had the endocrinology department done a better job of differential diagnosis. I am still hacked off about the whole thing. My adrenal glands are the problem.
The only way I can reconcile what happened is to think I might have eventually developed cancer since it does run in my family.
IF Endocrinology had done their job I ponder would I have had a radical hysterectomy knowing I did have a mass, a relative died of ovarian cancer, and I had blood work that indicated there was a problem. The answer is I would have only had my ovaries removed.
I had a hysterectomy when I was only 28, due to second degree uterine prolapse. I got to keep my ovaries, though. Thankfully, I’d already had my two children, but I was pretty sad for awhile that we’d never be able to have more.
It irks me how hyper-specialization has fragmented medicine, and our approach to treating the body in general. We are integrated, interconnected wholes— *especially* the female body. Gynos and Endocrinologists should be much more collaborative and cooperative in their approach to patient care.
Angelina Jolie’s mother, aunt, and maternal grandmother all died very young from ovarian and breast cancer. She famously had a preventative mastectomy and radical hysterectomy due to carrying the brca gene. It’s quite the decision to make but I can’t imagine the grief and pain she’s experienced and would want to spare her children by any means necessary with whatever tools she feels is at her disposal.