Is it Possible that i still have cancerous cells

This november will be two years ago that i was diagnosed with cervical cancer and endometrial cancer i had a radical hysterectomy done  with the doctor leaving both ovarys intact with no chemo or radiation treatments now almost two years later i went to the er  with chronic abdominal pain a ultrasound was done and there were mass on each ovary in the sizes of 5 and 6cm per ovary. I was referred back to my gyn and he tells me that i have no  cyst that this is a reoccurance and referrs me back to the cancer doctor that done my surgeries two yrs ago. the er doctor performing the ultrasound has made a suggestion of me being evaluated for  possible ureterectasis.. my question is what am i possibly looking at when i go back to this doctor ? Is it possible that I have ovarian cancer? and if so what are my chances of recovery for that?

[Annekathryn Goodman, M.D.]

Dear Donna,

cervical cancer and endometrial cancer are very different cancers. So your first question with your doctor is to clarify which cancer you experienced two years ago.

Cervical cancer is usually from the skin of the cervix and is called squamous cell cancer. this is associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. There is a subgroup of cervical cancers that come from the glandular lining of the cervix called adenocarcinomas. These glandular cervical cancers are also associated with HPV.

Women with cervical cancer are at risk for recurrence int he vagina or in the lymph nodes. It is extremely unusual to develop spread to the ovaries. Women with cervical cancer are also at risk for developing new precancerous or cancerous changes to the skin of the vagina and vulva. It is really important to get pap smears and pelvic exams as part of follow up. Now women who have undergone a radical hysterectomy have a common long term problem with benign painful ovarian cysts. Something about the disruption of the blood supply to the ovaries with this kind of surgery puts women at risk for benign cysts. Commonly they will need surgery to remove the ovaries later in life.


Now if you had endometrial cancer, that has a very different behavior and different risks. This cancer is associated with an ovarian cancer about 25% of the time. Nowadays, most gyn oncologists would strongly encourage their patients to have the ovaries and fallopian tubes removed as part of the primary therapy for endometrial cancer.

You probably should have your ovaries removed regardless of which type of cancer you had two years ago because of pain and the development of these cysts. Please let us know what happens

best wishes