Interval debulking

Hi
I have 2 very large masses on each ovary, one was 17 x 16 x 11cm 3 weeks ago and as my belly is bigger now I am sure it's grown.  I saw a gyno/oncologist 2 weeks ago and he said he would operate but wouldn't know until he opens me up if the growths are benign or malignant.  My operation is scheduled for next week and when I got the pre admission form it says that the operation to be performed is Interval Debulking!  From what I've read this is used for stages 2 to 4 Ovarian Cancer only.  So it appears that he's already made up his mind which way the op will go and I feel cheated and lied to now.  For me all hope of it being benign has gone and I know that I'm definitely going to need chemo and may only have as little as 2 years left.  I won't see him again until the day prior to the op so don't have a chance to ask him anything.

[HVAC]

The latest literature on Ovarian Cancer says debulking gives the patient the best chance over all. I think a good surgeon is aggressive from the beginning. Mine was. The two years life expectancy is an old statistic. Plus people are not statistics. I should have not made it through chemo but I am now in remission. I have met so many women who were stage 3-4 who are 10-15 years out of the diagnosis.

You can always get a second opinion. I wish I had not because of the Cancer but because my first Doctor and I did not get a long and I ended up switching after my third chemo.

I know you are scared. I was but it is survivable. It is not fun, I will not lie. I have forgotten about the surgery and chemo. It is like it was someone else.

I am 10 months out from diagnosis and I have my life back. I ride horses, dance, do yoga, and paint beautiful paintings. My hair is back. Life is good.

Alex

[nyc lady]

Sometimes the doctors write the worst possible on forms etc so that they don't have to fight on the back end if the surgery is more than just a simple look and see.   ALSO, in this day and age and with the laws being what they are, if the doctor truly suspected cancer, he would say it.  Technically, ovarian cancer cannot be diagnosed without a biopsy, so he doesn't know.  

And Alex is correct, 2 years....nah, old stat, I personally knew a 9 year stage 4 survivor who had a great quality of life until the very end, I know someone else, stage 4 going on 7 years, I also have a friend, stage 3B 27 years!! Stats are just numbers, we are people!!!  Remember that!!!!

AND....call your doctor if you have questions!!!!  I can remember my GYN/Oncologist once saying to me after I said that I had a question and I didn't want to bother him....he said "I am your doctor, you call me with any questions"!!!!

Good luck and keep in touch!!!
Pam

[abrite1]

The doctor must write all possible procedures on the surgical consent form.  Otherwise, if they do find cancer, they would not have your permission to debulk.

I understand how scary this can be, but I want to encourage you. I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer stage 3C Sept. 2005. The cancer was in ovary, fallopian tube, colon, bladder, omentum and lymph nodes. I thought for sure I would not live long, yet here I am today 7 1/2 years later. Still doing chemo but very much enjoying life.

Please let us know what happens!