GRANULOSA CELL TUMOR

Please help!  I am 43 single mom. I am purposely including the "mom".  I truly believe stress and my emotional "not" well being have finally contributed to my cancer.    Primacare sent me to hospital emergency room. They tried to do vaginal exam and pap smear but were unable to do so.  My cervix and uterus were completely tilted and shifted upward making impossible .  Diagnostic CT scan revealved large pelvic mass.  I am unemlployed at present and no insurance.   Finally found a gynecologist see me, refer me to school chum who was gyno/oncologist.  
I was hospitalized in interim for acute pelvic pain and adema.  Baylor Dallas along with oncologist  I had an appointment with agreed to do my surgery as soon as possible, April 20th.  I had 23.5 x 15 X 13 cm granulosa cell tumor on my right ovary and had full hysterectomy. Now I have no ovaries and feel like I have been hit by a freight train emotionally. I am having horrible emotional ups and downs, mostly downs!   I need to know if I should be on any types of supplements, vitamins or anti-depressants. I am to be followed closely having exams every 6 months. I haven't asked oncologist who did my surgery if he would keep me on as patient but where else can I go for medical follow-up and what kinds of blood test should be done?  I also would like to know how to read my pathology report .  What are medical terms indicative of future concern?  Baylor Dallas made me a case study and presented facts to their round table to see if there's anything else I should be doing because...tumor was so big, seemed to be aggressive and I am young with no prior history.  I do not feel like myself and I am in danger of losing it!  I have to find a job and I am on this emotional roller coaster.  My family is perpetually upset with me and I am in real trouble!  I am debkaylyn on this forum.  My email address is ***@****  Someone please help me!  Thank  you very much!

[Annekathryn Goodman, M.D.]

Hi Debkaylyn,
thank you for sharing your story.
Granulosa cell tumors are slow growing malignancies of the ovary that  are usually cured by surgical removal. There is a small chance of recurrence. The check ups every six months with blood work sound just right. In general the two blood tests that are checked include estrogen and inhibin. These are hormones that granulosa cell tumors can secrete.

I suspect that you are having alot of trouble with an abrupt entry into menopause.
There is no reason why you cannot go on estrogen replacement therapy for a few years .
Even on estrogen replacement therapy, it is still possible to follow estrogen levels to check for a recurrence of the granulosa cell tumor. For women on a steady low dose of estrogen their blood estrogen level will be at a certain stable level. So then one just checks to be sure the level does not go up ( which would reflect a recurrence of the granulosa cell tumor) Estrogen does not cause a recurrence.


You should ask your doctor about that. In general, your gyn oncologist should follow you over time or share in your follow up with a regular gynecologist.
good luck with everything. It sounds like a very stressful time.