Borderline LMP Tumor

[ThunderGulch]

I just had surgery almost three weeks ago. The doctor took everything out, uterus, ovaries, appendix because it looked scarred, some of the omentum and two lymph nodes. They can only find it being borderline, but he wants to start chemo. I just want to have some more information on this. Is it bad that he took all those things out of me, or was it probably just a precaution. We had said before the surgery that he would take what was needed, and that the uterus really isn't worth anything if the ovaries aren't there. I'm just worried, and would like some more advice on it.

[Tybear]

Hi there. First off, let me say how sorry I am that you've had to go through all of this, especially if you were not expecting to have a total hysterectomy. It's a lot to wrap your head around. Borderline tumors are a very grey area when it comes to cancer. Some doctors consider it to be cancer, and other's do not. I have the true cancerous version of a borderline tumor, called Micropapillary Serous Carcinoma. What stage were you diagnosed at? Did a gyne/oncologist do your surgery? My only concern that I hope you take back to your doctor, is that LMP tumors are a grade one tumor, which means they are slow growing. Chemo only works on actively dividing cells, therefore slow growing tumors tend to not respond to chemo as well as grade three tumors. I would also suggest to you, that you get a second opinion done on your pathology slides. Because bordeline tumors are so odd, it's best to make sure you have been diagnosed correctly before starting any sort of treatment. I'm sure your doctor would agree with this one. I wish you luck and want to remind you to take everything you read on the internet with a grain of salt. There's a lot of **** out there! This is a great forum in which to ask questions, so feel free to ask as many as you need to...
Becky

[ThunderGulch]

Becky,

Thanks. So LMP are only stage 1 tumors? That's nice to hear. Honestly I don't know quite what kind of tumor it is. I'm going in for a follow up on Wednesday. I had them fax everything over to another doctor for a second opinion. I'm assuming since he wants to do chemo it probably is one of the more serious tumors. Although he did have to send the labs to Boston for a second opinion on them.

Cynthia

[Tybear]

LMP tumors are grade 1 tumors, which means slow growing as opposed to grade three tumors which are more aggressive. The stage of a tumor has to do with how far spread it is. Stage one is usually confined to one ovary while stage 4 has spread to the liver/stomach lining. There are so many sub-stages within Stage1 - 4 - your best to look it up somewhere. I was diagnosed Stage 3c, grade 1. A stage cannot be given until after surgery. Did you have a gyne/oncologist do your surgery? If you haven't been seeing on as of yet, I strongly suggest you do. I'm glad they are getting a second opinion on your pathology...you can never be to cautious. If your doctor is strongly suggesting chemo, it's probably because you were a higher than stage 1, (I'm thinking you are if he went ahead and removed everything) You'll have to talk to him about all this. I know there's a lot to take in right now and your head must be spinning a little...if you ever have any other questions or just want to vent, come here - there's lot's of us who have been down the road your about to travel!

Becky

[ThunderGulch]

So is that a bad thing if it was higher than stage 1? And yes I'm seeing an onocologist.