Confused with mums Ovarain Cancer diagnosis and scared

[carter101]

Hi
Last week we rushed my mum into hospital beacuse she'd felt really sick and ill for 2 days running.  She had orginally been told be her doctor that her symptoms were first IBS (told this for 2 months) then a fibroid .  Mum is 62 and fibroids a rare in women of that age, so Im told.  When we got her to hospital her symptoms, were burping, full of wind, constipation, feeling sick, heartburn and no energy and a bloated belly making her look pregnant but it was also hard.  Long story short they did blood tests, Ct scan and ultrasound and we were told it was ovarian cancer.  Im still in shock as this is so new and all  have in my head is I can't loose my mum I'm 29 and not even marriied or given her grandchildren yet and Im beside myself with worry.  My sister and dad are the same but we are all trying to be positive and not cry infront of mum.  The doctor was so bleak though.

Anyway after what feels like a lifetime the specialists today were going over mums results to decide on next course of action, yet more waiting and worrying and now they have come back with the results are inconclusive and she will need a biopsy so now I don't know what to think, is it cancer, is it something else or what and yet more waiting.   My mum is worried sick as are we all I just thought if it was cancer shouldn't they be getting something done asap or has it spread, I just don't know what to think. Anyone else had similar results and waiting is this the norm, Im so confused.

Not sure how much more my mum can go through she only had her gallbladder removed in May for gallstones, can't get my head round it all.

[carter101]

Thanks again everyone.  I'm swinging from postive to negative days at the moment.  Even getting snappy at my dad which i don't want to and feel really bad about.  Mum didn't eat much yesterday so that always worries me and I was worried she had bad heartburn and trapped wind, every little thing your thinking is this cancer doing it.  Still being strong with mum though, having little laughs about different things at times.

Hi to Kaye, that gives me a bit more hope that you have had good prognosis and these things can grow without meaning the worst.  My mum mentioned her stomach being swollen and hard again last night so was on my mind.  She's having good days and bad days at the moment and I know she is a worrying person so that doesn't help but when my mum feels like it she will chat about things.

Chris and Cath I too am concerened they don't just remove this tumour and then go from there, my dad is good with his questions and finding things out, he actually chased one doctor down the ward to corner him about things, gave mum a laugh!  We keep getting told the team my mum has been handed to is one of the best in the world they are cancer specialists and have doctors and consultants from all round the world looking at test results etc so I'm thinking surely they know what is best then but then I think why can't you just take it out and more worried thoughts of do they think its too advanced to take out.

I appreciate support from you all it is good to get thoughts of other people, am back at work at the moment trying to distract myself but work is quiet at the moment so trying to distract myself from looking things up on the internet and making myself feel worse.

[crecco]

carter101,
   I too am sorry to hear about your mom. Yes a biopsy of some kind is needed before an actual diagnosis can be made. And I understand your concern about waiting. I think if I were you, I would talk to her Dr again and push to have it done as soon as possible. I would also talk to him about whether or not they should just go in and do a hysterctomy now. If and when they do decide on surgery, you need to demand that a gyn/onc perform the surgery as he is more qualified for these types of surgeries. I also feel that if they were not completely sure what it was then they should not have said it was cancer. But the fact that did say that gives you all the more reason to push to get the right tests done and get them done now. There is always some waiting involved and yes, it is very hard. Just try to keep yourself occupied so that you do not let it consume you.
Please let us know what you find out and I hope that everything turns out alright.
    Chris

[cath81]

i'm really sorry to hear about your mum...

have you thought abt discussing with your mum's doctor whether a biopsy or hysterectomy would be better? cos i understand fr my mum's doctor that if it is cancer, the outcome for the patient may be better if the entire tumor is removed without a biopsy.

do stay strong for your mum. if there is anything you are worried about, you can always post on this forum. i'm sure everyone here will be more than willing to lend a listening ear.

best of luck.

[ravewaker]

Hi, and welcome to these forums.  I'm sorry to hear about your mum, but good advice was given in that it's better to see what the results of the biopsy is before you panic.  I too had many of the same symtoms as your mum, with a large, hard cantaloe sized tumor.  Mine turned out to be a borderline mucinous tumor of the ovary, which was surgically removed a cpl of weeks ago, and my prognosis is excellent for recovery from this.  My other ovary had a large cyst 15 yrs ago, which was benign, but alarmingly large, the size of a soccer ball.  No diaganosis can be positvely made until a biopsy is done, so yes I would advocate for your mum's helath, read these forums and the Johns Hopkins site for ovarian cancer and inform yourself about this condition.  This way you'll be armed with the necessary knowledge to make the proper choices for treatment.

Good luck and God bless, and please let us know how your mum is doing!!!
Kaye

[carter101]

Can I just add, mum does have some sort of growth/tumour on the ovary (this is what the dr originally said was a fibroid) her stomach is swollen and hard where this is, I think she is worried its growing whilst nothing is being done or thinking has it grown so much they can't operate.  Would this be the case or are doctors just doing all tests before operating?  I just wish she could have all this taken out asap.  

[carter101]

Thanks for your support everyone.  Its all a bit weird and like its not happening at the moment.  The waiting is a nightmare, it was the doctor at the local hospital that said ovarian cancer and that is something I will never forget hearing my mum cry and say why me, what will happen to me and how long have I got.  Somehow me and my sister stayed strong and didn't break down infront of her.

We had a link nurse out yesterday who explained the process but the biopsy could take up to 2 weeks to do which I feel when someones life and health is on the line then 2 weeks is too long.  Am just confused why a doctor said it is ovarian cancer and then we get told the case is going to a specialist team to decide on treament and they don't know if its cancer, Im praying for good news, even though I keep looking on bleak side of things, everthing I've read is bleak so far, I do feel it is cancer though I hope Im wrong.  My mum seemed more positive yesterday though which was nice she was demanding food cause the nurse said she needed to bulk up and was so nice to see her wanting to eat after days of hardly touching food.

Can I just say Apilarte, I hope you get good news and thank you for thinking about me and my family when you must be worried too, lets keep everything crossed we get some positive news.  Shewrites and gls thank you also its nice to hear of positive stories and you have both been through this and are still enjoying life, think when cancer is mentioned you automatically think the worst.

Thanks everyone x

[shewrites]

gls2824 is correct -- you can't tell for sure without a pathologist's report and you can't know how serious it is until you have staging.  Furthermore, you do want a gyn/onc to be involved.  

I feel for you.  I was just a little younger than your mum, and neither of my daughters were married when I was diagnosed.   Hopeful point:  Even if my cancer had been at a higher stage, I would have made it to my daughter's wedding three months later (wearing an expensive wig, of course).  It's now seven years later and I've been here for lots of wonderful events in my family's life.  

There's hope, you see, and I hope that you and your mum advocate for her health every way you know how.  Joining this forum is a good start in the "getting educated" process, by the way.  Be sure you visit the health pages and the doctor's Q&A section, too.  

Best of luck and please keep in touch.    

[gls2824]

They can't tell if it's cancer without a biopsy.  Have they scheduled something?  You should press to have it done ASAP.  They could go the conservative approach or just go ahead and do a hysterectomy with complete staging, etc.  I just went through this and opted for the full hysterectomy (I'm 55).  Biopsies showed I didn't have cancer (it was APST).

The important things to remember is that she needs a gynecological oncologist, either to do the surgery or to be standing by, it isn't cancer until the biopsy says so, and even if it's cancer, her prognosis depends on the kind and whether or not it has spread.

Try not to worry until you know absolutely.  Good luck!

[apilarte]

Sorry to hear about your mom, i just joined this group yesterday because I am not sure if i have oc, i've been having alot of the symptoms but nothing diagnosed yet.  Just give her lots of love and that will comfort her. I'm a mom so i know that the one thing that can give us hope is for our kids to be around to  give us support and love. I will keep your family in my prayers and hope that she recover from this soon.. if you need an outlet someone to talk to I am hear,although I am very busy but i will check in everyday just to see how your doing..

take care many blessings,
Anna