Cancerous morcellated ovarian tumor

[Kellykil]

I had an ovarian tumor removed via morcellation and laparoscopoy. Pathology said the tumor was cancerous (papillary serous adenocarcinoma). My question is this: Because this tumor was morcellated during removal, does this mean the cancer is in a worse staging because of exposure to the pelvic area (assuming it had not already broken through the ovary)? Also, the pathology report didn't include the stage or grade. I assume this is because the tumor was cut up (morcellated). How then, would the doctor determine the stage/grade of my cancer? Thank you to whoever may be able to help me with these questions. I really appreciate your time.

[dian07]

Kelly...are you telling us your surgeon removed your tumor after he resected it in pieces.....he intentionally removed the tumor via morcellation?  When will you see a gyn/oncolgist?  Staging will be difficult because there were no other biopsies done....or were there biopsies done laparoscopicallly?  You need to see a gyn/oncologist...please do that....if you haven't already....get a referral to a gyn/oncologist to decide what you need to do next.  Please do keep us posted.
Peace.
dian

[Kellykil]

Yes Diane, the gyno removed the tumor by cutting it up to remove during a laparoscopy. After reading how important it is to have an oncologist/gyno do this procedure, it makes me nervous as ever that it was not done the right way. Yet the doc who did this is not really to blame, if not for him I'd still have the darn thing in me today and in the same excruciating pain. My original doc put me off for 4-6 weeks thinking I just had a cyst that was on its way out (through draining). Even after my elevated CA 125 test (105) she thought I could wait 3 weeks to have a second sonogram. Which by the way, never found that I had a mass. I'm very sad that women are having to be misdiagnosed by docs who minimize symptoms. In my case, I told the original doc twice that I had all the symptoms of ovarian cancer and she just ignored me. My doc appt with an oncologist/gyno is this Thursday. I really want to move on this to know where I'm at so we can get the treatment started. Please let me know what you think is the worst case scenario for what's been done so far. I'd rather know bad news than no news. That's worse. Thanks for you time.

Okay, one more thing. Does anyone have an opinion about Cancer Treatment Center of America? They combine alternative/medical treatment and it all sounds so good, almost too good to be true. Thanks!

[Kellykil]

Sorry, forgot to answer your second question. No, no biopsies were done during my surgery. My doc thought the tumor looked benign and was just as shocked as I to find that it wasn't. It's not the greatest experience being the one to teach these docs what NOT to do. :-(

[dian07]

Hey there kiddo...let's not look for a worse case scenario....what you need to do is what you are already doing.....pick the ball up and run with it.....the first thing for you to do is to see a gyn/oncologist.....I don't know if he will want to do some biopsies or just get started with chemo as soon as you are able....a plan of action will be created by you and your gyn/oncologist....be ready with questions......take am extra pair of ears as it is very difficult to remember all that was said at any appt....write your questions down and take your list with you.....ask for and get copies of all reports on exams, blood work, your surgical report, the pathology report.....get copies of everything.....this is a battle that won't be easy and it won't be fun but you are going to fight it anyway......you are a strong and positive person and we will fight along side of you if you will allow us to be there.....I am two years out from a diagnosis of ovarian cancer....I was lucky...mine was caught at IC......I finished my chemo in Oct. of '05.....my last check up showed no indication of cancer.....I will return in Nov for my next testing.   Stay in touch.
Peace.
dian

[SimplyStar]

As bad as it may seem to you,  after all this, I think when I see the onocologist I would ask for a second surgery, a laperotomy, to look for any thing that was not removed,  for a doctor to resect and remove by pieces a ovarian tumor is in my mind irresponsible.  I would think a possible staging could be done then, when they can freely look around,  you need to find out if it had spread and if so have the Onocol clean it up  and then decide if chemo is necessary. What size was given for your tumor?,  If the tumor was too large to remove  by scope then the laperotomy should have been done in the first place.  I truly am furious at this, you had the symptoms and an elevated CA125,  Get all your test results and any surgical reports and take them with you. This surgeon that did your surgery needs to be educated in proper surgical procedures. Sorry if I sounded off like this, but I cannot tolerate poor medical judgement when it comes to something like OVCA.  Good Luck and please keep us posted .

[Kellykil]

Both of you ladies are awesome, thank you for your encouragement, advise, and support. I am a strong, warrior woman type person (aren't all women usually?). And I really know in my heart that this thing is going to be conquered, I think you "just know." It's kind of like when I "just knew" that I had the darn disease. I kept telling my first doc, and she kept humoring me. Some of the problem was that the sonogram didn't notice the 5-6 cm mass. I'm lost for figuring that one out. They did the belly and vaginal procedure, but only reported cysts. Very strange indeed.

As for the second doc, he was totally taken off guard. I don't blame him, but just wish I'd have done more research before letting him go in. My bad, as they say, although aren't docs supposed to be smarter than us? Whatever.

Dian, with regards to your comment,  I would be honored to have your and other's support along the way. And from SimplyStar's comments, I am finding very quickly that cancerous women are serious scrappers (my kind of friend for sure). In all cases to date, and that's been about a whopping two weeks, every woman who has written seems to have just as much love and compassion as she does spirit. Thanks to you all very much. Although this problem is one of the worst experiences I could imagine having, such support and caring is surely a benefit of going through it. I promise to be there for all of you as well, and others that may ask for help. Thankyou so much, I'll keep you posted.

Kelly

[Kellykil]

Just an update, I saw my Onc/gyno and surgery is scheduled for this Wednesday to remove uterus and remaining ovary/tube, stage my cancer, and insert chemo ports (1 in side, 1 in arm). I will be getting IP and IV chemo after I recover from the surgery. Until he verifies my stage on Wednesday, I'm a IC. Will update more after next week. Thank you for your continued support.
Kelly

[SimplyStar]

wonder if you would want to ask about the heated chemo through the abd port, from what I have been reading it sure raises the percentages of cleaning up after surgical removal.  Just a thought , wish we had known about it when they opened my daughter up the first time. Take care and keep us posted .

[Colene]

Hello,
I am in the beginning of this process.  I am 54 years old, menopause, overweight and was told I have a mass in my uterus, thickening in the lining...the day I was to have the polyp/mass removed I had an elevated HCG level...only 5.1 but elevated enough to say I was pregnant which I was not.  Well Friday they went in with a hystescope and d @ c ...they removed the polyp but because of its size had to resection it to get it out in pieces.  We have no idea if I have cancer or not....the biospys were preformed with this procedure.  Does anyone know if it is cancer by resecting the mass to remove it could it spread cancer cells if cancer?  We were told it would be removed in one solid removal.  I also have cyst on my ovaries and one enlarged ovary.  Nothing of signifcate size or concern at this time.  Would any of you recomend switching to a GYN onocolgy specialist?  I have been recommend I should do this by a good friend who's ex husband is doctor and her daughter specializes on cancer research.  Any information would be greatly appreciated..  The doctor would not give my husband a clue if he thought it was cancer or not...all he said we need to wait for the pathology report..

[Colene]

Hello,
I am in the beginning of this process.  I am 54 years old, menopause, overweight and was told I have a mass in my uterus, thickening in the lining...the day I was to have the polyp/mass removed I had an elevated HCG level...only 5.1 but elevated enough to say I was pregnant which I was not.  Well Friday they went in with a hystescope and d @ c ...they removed the polyp but because of its size had to resection it to get it out in pieces.  We have no idea if I have cancer or not....the biospys were preformed with this procedure.  Does anyone know if it is cancer by resecting the mass to remove it could it spread cancer cells if cancer?  We were told it would be removed in one solid removal.  I also have cyst on my ovaries and one enlarged ovary.  Nothing of signifcate size or concern at this time.  Would any of you recomend switching to a GYN onocolgy specialist?  I have been recommend I should do this by a good friend who's ex husband is doctor and her daughter specializes on cancer research.  Any information would be greatly appreciated..  The doctor would not give my husband a clue if he thought it was cancer or not...all he said we need to wait for the pathology report..

[Raynbow]

Make sure that the original doc (that put you off) gets a copy of the report of what stage your at for their knowledge and for your medical record. Take care,
((( Raynbow

[lucymullis]

Thought you might all like to know that Kellykil had her surgery this week...12 hours long.  She's doing ok but her body is going thru so much.  I will let her tell you about it but know you all care so I wanted you to know.  Unfortunately, she was staged IIIC.  Please keep her in your prayers.

[freshair]

Thanks for telling us. I just read this and can't believe it. I'll be praying for Kelly.

I hope she really makes the first doc aware of her BIG mistake. Also the second doc.

[Jorjina]

I am 55, on 7/7/7 went to E.R. due to G.I. bleed after diarrhea and vomiting. They did a CT scan, thought I had a uterine fibroid pressing on the sigmoid colon causing Ischemia Colitis. On 7/9 @8:30 a.m. did a colonoscopy, said colon was clean of any problems just inflammation from pressure of mass. Doctor says I need a T.H. to remove the uterine fibroid. I asked if an MRI could give more info and detail, I asked if a CA125 test would be a good idea to do. He said either way it would be sent to pathology upon removal. Surgery started at 3 p.m and was over by 5:35 p.m. But dr. did not send anyone out to tell husband what they found. Instead of UF it was on top of the uterus, encompased all of the ovarian and tubal organs, Clear Cell Carcinoma Ovarian Cyst/Tumor, that broke apart as he tried to remove it. They took everything out that could possibly cause any other problem, including the omentum, did washings, sent all to pathology, and fixed a hernia. Last week I went to see a Gyn/Oncologist and he wants to reopen me to do a proper staging surgery. The Gyn felt I should just get Chemo treatments for stage IIC. I am going to see two other oncologists this week. Hope to get some clarity on this.  Why are we constantly making medical history? When are they going to get THEIR ACTS IN GEAR and get all of them on the same page?  Gee Whizzes!!!!!    

[Kimchi]

Now that I have extinguished my anger flames, I have to put in my 2 cents. These incidences sound like malpractice to me.  It seems to me that a lot of doctors are taking reproductive organ issues too casually!! Unbelievable

[freshair]

Jorjina,
Oh, how sorry to hear you have to have more surgery. If only a gyn/onc did it in the first place. That is why I encourage women on this site to get a second opinion with a Gyn/Onc. I don't ever want to be an alarmist but it happens as with you and Kelly. Most are cysts but now you are another in this awful disease. I wish you well in your next surgery and please keep us updated.
All my best,
Helen

[Kellykil]

Thank you so much for your loving thoughts on my status, and please accept my apology for not writing back sooner. It's been a hell of a ride since my 12-hour surgery, where yes, sadly, I have been diagnosed with Stage IIIC OVCA. In total, I had an ovarian tumor, and two cancerou nodules, one on the omentum and the other on a lymph node. Since the staging/hysterectory surgery I've had two more, one to install a shoulder chemo port (had an abdomen port installed during the 12-hour surgery) and one more surgery to re-stitch my vagina where hysterectomy stiches broke loose along with an artery. The latter was a very scary ordeal, but here I am to talk about it (thank goodness). Whatever you do, DON'T try to return to work too early following surgery.

At any rate, I'm gearing up mentally, emotionally, pbysically, and spiritually to undergo my first chemo treatment this coming Tuesday (August 28th). I am braving the IP/IV combination therapy, which means the first treatment will be chemo direct into the abdomen the first week, IV chemo the second week, and then one week off. That will be repeated 6x for a total of 18 weeks. I am nervous as one might expect, but with the loving friends and family that I have praying and supporting my emotional ordeal, I am also empowered to kick this bugger out of my body! Wish me luck, it surely can't hurt! :-)

Thanks for all your input on my original question, and again, so sorry to have been this late in getting back to post. My head and mind and soul have been elsewhere lately. Love and wellness to you all!

Kelly

[Kellykil]

One more thing, I agree that we have to take action in our health. We CANNOT rely on doctors to do that best thing for us, we have to MAKE SURE we get the best thing for us. The only way I've been able to feel this has occured has been to not listen idly to idiots who minimize my concerns and/or symptoms. I have gone on to find other doctors who can give me answers and although they may have not been perfect, I've continued to trudge on to find those who can do better. I guess for me the answer to finding good help with my health was to get educated through Internet research and to stay in my head as much as possible. Although I allowed myself to feel my pain also, emotional pain that is, I also kept trying to stay focussed on my treatment planning efforts. I also took supplements that I researched and found to be helpful to my immune system health, and eat the best foods I can think of (NO MORE ****!). A few slips is okay and promotes good mental health, but trying to be nice to your health means trying to eat well too. By staying focussed, I stay distracted. Talking with others like you ladies out there is also a MAJOR source of help during this difficult time. I have every reason to sue the pants off some docs, but now is not the time. Now is the time to funnel my energy on my health. Spreading the news of bad doctors is a way to help others and surely letting the bad ones know where they've erred by way of written letter is also good. You can also forge a formal complaint to the local state board too.

[wdlnds gal]

I am reading the postings on this site and feel that my concern is so minor to some of yours.  I do wish and pray for the recovery of you all that are fighting cancer.  I have been the caretaker for my sister and my mother in the final stages of their battles with cancer and I have the deepest respect for the fighting spirit you all have.  I have only one ovary that is causing discomfort in my pelvic region.  The dr. did a trans/vag ultra sound and saw two cysts.  Because I am post menopausal he did the CA125 and I found out today that it was not elevated.  Because of the cancer in my family and that there is some pain (not bad but disconcerting) he has suggested I remove the ovary.  And I am very glad.  It is the last of my reproductive organs to go and hopefully I can stop worrying about cancer.  From some of your experiences it sounds like my dr.(he is a new one for me) is thorough and sympathetic to the fear that I have.  I will check this website again and pray for the speedy recovery of those that are in the battle of their lives.  Leslie