Giant Ovarian Tumor

I have just found out that I might have the largest tumor in this forum.  It is 25cm but it is pressed up against my rectum and it is also crushing my colon against my diaphram.  It also is pressed against my spine and is about 21 cm deep.  The funny part is that it doesn't hurt and I was in perfect health before it. I am 37 years old and I felt just fine until very recently.  Of course they found it and are scheduling emergency surgery on the 5/30/07.  My CA-125 levels are at 230.  It is a very complex and nasty tumor, with hardened matter in it and a ton of fluid.  The surgeon will try to remove it intact and then test it for cancer while I am still open.  But he has decided to do exploratory surgery from the get go while he removes it.  I guess because it is so huge.  Either way, my incision should be very large.(fun!) It would be nice to know if it is cancer right now, but I know I have to wait.  

My question is . . . should I allow them to remove my ovaries if it is benign and the ovaries can be saved.  Or should I let them remove both ovaries, so I don't have to go thru this again?

[alanpvegas]

Wow that's a big one!

The answer to your question is complex even though it should be simple.  Do you want to have kids?  That will make a difference.  Also is there any metastasis (spreading of the cancer)...they will find out when they do the surgery.  Having the ovaries (and such) removed does not always mean you will be 'free' from having ovarian cancer, although odds are in favor of not having it.

Do you have a gynecologic oncologist performing your surgery?  It is *vital* that you have one that does this in 'high volume'.  Some only do one or two a month or a year!  Those who do several per month have patients with the highest success rate.

So...it's a difficult question to answer your oncologist/surgeon is the better one to discuss the pros and cons of this.

Alan

------------
Ovarian Cancer Research Website
http://cancer.alanpeto.com/

[gah_70]

I, too, had a large mass.  Mine was 44 cm (yes, I was in some severe denial).  With large tumors such as ours, saving the ovary can be nearly impossible.  I didn't have the option to keep either ovary because the mass was malignant.  But even if yours is not, having a mass so large probably means there is some damage in there.  I agree with Alan about asking your doctor what the chances of saving your other ovary are.  There has been lots of discussion in the past on this forum about having your ovaries removed "no matter what", but it boils down to whether you are willing to go through surgical menopause vs. keeping an ovary that may develop a cyst, and you find yourself going though another surgery.  Those are questions we cannot answer for you.  But we are here to listen to you talk things out so you can make the best decision for you.  Whatever you decide, I am sending you best wishes.  Please come back and let us know how it turns out.  I will be thinking about you.  

Gail :)  

[Anna-maria74]

I am part of the huge mass club too! Ok not everyone agrees with this but according to my surgeon and a few others the Massive tumours are unlikely to be cancerous. Mainly because at that size you would be riddled. Now this is just one opinion other surgeons say there is no correlation between size and cancer. Good news is though my cut is below the belly button - only slightly but below none the less. My money is on a mucinous cystadenoma!

Good luck babe and welcome to the huge mass club

Anna X

[nyc lady]

My mass was close to the same size as yours and they had to take the ovary and tube....the frozen section came back benign,the finaly biopsy did show cancer cells within the tumor. I was 38 at the time.  They also removed a large cyst from the left ovary, that was benign.  I kept my left ovary until I was 43 when I started to develop masses.

Lots of things to consider....BUT....the most important thing is, are you being seen by a GYN/ONC???  and no not because I think you have cancer, most cysts are benign, over 95 percent are benign.  Ovarian Cancer is a pretty rare disease.  I am suggesting a GYN/ONC because they have 3 years additional training in gynocological issues and this is what they work on day in and day out, not delivering babies.

Please let us know how everything goes.  If you have any questions, we are here to help.
Pam

[shaneekirk]

Why can't they perform a needle biopsy first to determine if it is cancer and if so, what type.  (As there is more than one type of ovarian cancer).  If it is cancer, and you are wanting your ovaries b/c you want children, you should talk to your doc about remission durations (my understanding is that remissions for ovarian cancer are not "long").

As someone mentioned, even if you take your ovaries out, it doesn't mean that the cancer won't return elsewhere.  My mother was just in remission for 1 1/2 years (a  long remission), and she had a recurrance on her colon.  More surgery, more chemo.

Sounds like you should ask more questions before you do anything at this point.

Good luck!  Glad you are doing your research!!

Shanee

[crstina]

I had a 20 cm cyst removed almost 5 weeks ago.  They had to take an ovary and fallopian tube but she would have saved them if she could.  I'm 28 so it was very important that I keep at least one ovary as I would like to have kids and I was not ready to experience menopause.  The other ovary kicks in and my period has been normal.  Of course there is a risk that a cyst will grow on the other ovary but there is also a chance that I'll develop a tumor on my breast but I'm not removing those.  If you have the option to keep an ovary definitely discuss the pros and cons with your doctor before you go in.  GOOD LUCK!