‘They Found Something’ – Reality TV Star Kris Jenner, 68, Says Her Ovaries Are ‘Sacred’ But Willing to Have Them Taken Out Amid Cancer Scare

“The Kardashians” reality TV show follows the Kardashian family as they navigate everyday life, careers, relationships, and motherhood. Jenner’s health update occurred while she vacationed with her family in Aspen.

“Dr. A. said, I’ve got to have my ovaries taken out (which is called an oophorectomy), and I’m emotional about it because they came in handy with you guys,” Jenner explained to her children.

“That’s where all my kids were conceived, and that’s where they were grown, in my tummy. So, this is a very sacred place to me,” an emotional Jenner continued.

Her children reassured her everything would be okay and offered the family matriarch much support. They even quipped they would throw a farewell ovaries party.

At this time, specific details on whether the tumor is cancerous or not, but if a tumor is found on an ovary, removing the organ can be an effective cancer prevention method. Upcoming episodes will likely reveal how Jenner’s surgery went and if the tumor was cancerous or not.

What Goes Into Removing Ovaries

Women may have their ovaries removed for a few reasons, such as a tumor discovered on the organ. However, for women at higher risk of breast and ovarian cancer, an oophorectomy may also be helpful.

“Surgically removing the ovaries induces a drop in estrogen levels similar to what occurs in menopause,” which affects cancers that feed on the estrogen hormone, the National Cancer Institute says.

While the surgery is relatively safe with a low complication rate, it is a serious procedure. As with any surgery, it’s important to go in with an idea of what to expect during and after recovery.

“We could do it through small incisions,”  Dr. Amanika Kumar, a gynecologic oncologist at the Mayo Clinic, explains to SurvivorNet.

“Other times, it’s through a larger incision. Depends on the patient, depends on the ovaries, depends on the surgeon.”

Recovery time tends to be the shortest for women with small ovaries that can be removed through minimally invasive laparoscopic incisions. With laparoscopic incisions, you may be able to leave the hospital on the same day as your surgery.

Pain and discomfort will likely last several days, but Dr. Kumar says most women will return to their usual selves in a week or two, albeit with some lingering fatigue.

If, on the other hand, your surgery requires a single, longer incision, called a laparotomy, which Dr. Kumar says is sometimes necessary to remove the ovaries safely, you can expect a slightly longer recovery time.

Building Support Helps Your Health Journey

If you were recently diagnosed with cancer, you likely know about the wide range of emotions that news can bring. This is one of the most difficult phases of the cancer journey to overcome.

However, a team of supporters can be most useful during these early stages. Your supporters can be close family members and friends or people from outside your inner circle.

“Some people don’t need to go outside of their family and friends circle. They feel like they have enough support there,” New York-based psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik tells SurvivorNet.

“But for people who feel like they need a little bit more, it is important to reach out to a mental health professional,” she added.

One benefit of having supporters is that they can help alleviate stress and anxiety following your diagnosis and advocate for you during treatment.

Sometimes, it is not always easy to share news you have cancer, even among loved ones. In such instances, you can seek a trained professional to center your support group around. Mental health professionals can help fill this space because many are trained to help you navigate your cancer treatment.

“Make sure that the mental health professional that you work with is reaching out with your consent to the rest of your team, to the oncologist, to the surgeon it can also be helpful to reach out to family, friends, and any other caretakers that may be involved in the person’s treatment,” Dr. Plutchik said.

WATCH: Seeking support after a diagnosis.

Dr. Plutchki recommends cancer patients consider the following three steps to get the help they need after a diagnosis:

• Step #1: Seek additional support if you need it (this could mean speaking to a mental health professional or seeking out a support group)
• Step #2: Look for a mental health professional with experience helping people in your situation.
• Step #3: Keep your care team connected. This may include your friends and loved ones, your therapist, and the doctors who are treating your cancer.

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

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