2 different types of cancer

Hi,
I recently was diagnosed with ovarian cancer stage 2c.  I had my first chemo appointment last week and my doctor gave me the pathology report.  It said that the tumor was a serous with a minor focus of clear cell, grade 2-3.   Has anyone seen a mix of two different types of cancer?  I know that the prognosis for clear cell cancer is poorer than for other cancers, so do I assume that I have a poorer prognosis than if it was just serous?  My doctor would not really give me any specifics other than that it is good that the clear cell had the smaller volume of the two.   Also, it is typical to give a grade of 2-3 rather than just one or the other?
Thanks,Katie

[Annekathryn Goodman, M.D.]

Dear Katie
it is not rare to have some combinations of cell type in a ovarian cancer.
Grade 2-3 is good. Most women have grade 3 cancers  which are more aggressive.
It is not clear that a small amount of clear cell in a predominantly serous tumor makes any difference in the behavior.

one question to ask is where was the clear cell component located?
You said you have a stage II c cancer. That would mean there was no travel of cancer into the lymph nodes or the upper abdomen.
it means there was spread off the ovary into the pelvic tissues

was the clear cell part confined to the ovary? if so, there is no chance in risk over having a serous tumor.
take care. good luck with your chemo!