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Ovarian Cancer (Expert Forum)
6"x6"x3" Pelvic Mass to be Removed, Scheduled to Take Ovary Out.
Answered by
Annekathryn Goodman, M.D. - Gynecologic Cancers, Complex Gynecologic, Surgeries, Palliative Care, Acupuncture
Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center
Boston - MA
This forum is for questions and support regarding ovarian cancer issues, such as: Biopsy, Chemotherapy, Clinical Trials, Genetics, Hysterectomy,Immunotherapy, Ovarian Cancer Types, Radiation Therapy, Risk Factors, Screening, Staging, Surgery.
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6"x6"x3" Pelvic Mass to be Removed, Scheduled to Take Ovary Out.
by zoe26 , Jul 14, 2007 12:00AM
I am 26 year old who recently had a 2 week hospital stay due to large pelvic mass found
(W 6"xH 6"xD3"). I do NOT have a personal/family history of cancer/tumors, extremely heathly medical history. No children & would like to. After many tests/proposed hypotheses from varying surgical teams, the tumor markers came back to say it was Ovarian. I have been scheduled to have the mass removed. Doctor is also removing 1 ovary & possible staging. During my hospital stay it was unclear if the mass was attached to anything, let alone an ovary. Ultrasound showed both ovaries while CAT scan only showed one, other than that it was too large to have a clear picture. The increadible size of this mass & the physical feelings, I am under the impression that it could have shifted/moved between the times of the ultrasound & CAT scans. I am concerned that an ovary is being removed without proper reasoning. Is it possible to have a tumor marker come back that dipicts high levels in the ovarian region and not have the mass actually attached to the ovary? If yes, what are possible reasons behind removing the ovary? The doctors are unable to tell me if its benign or malignant until after the surgery. I am also concerned that the mass may cause damage to the surrounding organs upon removal. Just recently I have started to get low horizontal cramps that are comparible to a contraction. Overall I am uneasy about this situation.
(W 6"xH 6"xD3"). I do NOT have a personal/family history of cancer/tumors, extremely heathly medical history. No children & would like to. After many tests/proposed hypotheses from varying surgical teams, the tumor markers came back to say it was Ovarian. I have been scheduled to have the mass removed. Doctor is also removing 1 ovary & possible staging. During my hospital stay it was unclear if the mass was attached to anything, let alone an ovary. Ultrasound showed both ovaries while CAT scan only showed one, other than that it was too large to have a clear picture. The increadible size of this mass & the physical feelings, I am under the impression that it could have shifted/moved between the times of the ultrasound & CAT scans. I am concerned that an ovary is being removed without proper reasoning. Is it possible to have a tumor marker come back that dipicts high levels in the ovarian region and not have the mass actually attached to the ovary? If yes, what are possible reasons behind removing the ovary? The doctors are unable to tell me if its benign or malignant until after the surgery. I am also concerned that the mass may cause damage to the surrounding organs upon removal. Just recently I have started to get low horizontal cramps that are comparible to a contraction. Overall I am uneasy about this situation.
Doctor's Answer
by Annekathryn Goodman, M.D., Jul 18, 2007 12:00AM
, Jul 18, 2007 12:00AM
Dear Zoe,
Thank you for your complete information. It sounds like you have had a very complete evaluation. At some point, you just have to say, ok I have enough information to know that I need surgery. The rest of the details will be clear at the time of surgery.
I think you are at that point.
Ultimately, xrays are just 2 dimensional shadows. Whether this mass involves the ovary, fallopian tube, uterus, bladder, or bowel will be discovered at surgery. Most likely it is an ovarian mass but sometimes it is not possible to be completely certain by xrays alone.
What you need to do is to have a good preoperative discussion about what you are willing to have done.
for instance with my own patients I will go over the possible things we could find at surgery and the possible intervention and make sure that my patient is comfortable with the plan. if there is any part of the plan that she is not comfortble with, then we just would not do that. For instance, I get permission to do a laparoscopy and look but nothing more. The I will talk to my patient after the surgery and tell her that I saw - say - an ovarian tumor and I would rec the removal of that ovary and nothing more. And with her permission , we set up a second surgery to do this. Or, I have other patients who give me permission at the first surgery to go ahead and remove the ovary if I feel it is necessary and not to wake them up first .
You have to decide what you are comfortable with and how much you trust your surgeon. Spelling out all the possibilities helps
take care
Thank you for your complete information. It sounds like you have had a very complete evaluation. At some point, you just have to say, ok I have enough information to know that I need surgery. The rest of the details will be clear at the time of surgery.
I think you are at that point.
Ultimately, xrays are just 2 dimensional shadows. Whether this mass involves the ovary, fallopian tube, uterus, bladder, or bowel will be discovered at surgery. Most likely it is an ovarian mass but sometimes it is not possible to be completely certain by xrays alone.
What you need to do is to have a good preoperative discussion about what you are willing to have done.
for instance with my own patients I will go over the possible things we could find at surgery and the possible intervention and make sure that my patient is comfortable with the plan. if there is any part of the plan that she is not comfortble with, then we just would not do that. For instance, I get permission to do a laparoscopy and look but nothing more. The I will talk to my patient after the surgery and tell her that I saw - say - an ovarian tumor and I would rec the removal of that ovary and nothing more. And with her permission , we set up a second surgery to do this. Or, I have other patients who give me permission at the first surgery to go ahead and remove the ovary if I feel it is necessary and not to wake them up first .
You have to decide what you are comfortable with and how much you trust your surgeon. Spelling out all the possibilities helps
take care
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