Laparoscopic treatment of borderline tumor

I am 31 yrs old and had a grapefruit-sized ovarian cyst (initially thought to be a dermoid) removed in a laparoscopic procedure 2 weeks ago (on the left side).  The surgeon performed a cystectomy, preserving my ovary.  It turned out to be mucinous and then the patholgy came back borderline tumor.  The next step is to have a second surgery to remove my ovary, fallopian tube, and appendix, and perform staging (washings, biopsies of my lymph nodes and omentum, examination of other ovary).  The first oncologist I met with says he thinks this can be performed laparoscopically, but he doesn't do such advanced procedures and referred me to another doctor who I am meeting with in a week.  Apparently the omentum part of the procedure may be difficult laparoscopically.  Do you have any advice on what I should consider in choosing laparoscopic surgery vs. laparotomy?  Of course I prefer laparoscopic for the shorter recovery, but do I face any additional risks/complications with that type in this case?  Thanks for your help.

[dian07]

Hello Jen...I was diagnosed stage IC mucinous cell ovarian cancer in May of '05 via laparotomy....I had only one surgery at which time debulking and staging was done.....I can't imagine the surgeon can see as much of what is going on in there via a laproscopic procedure.....I was 55 at the time of the surgery and I recovered just fine.....I can't really advise you but I do think I would do whatever I had to do to avoid another surgery.
Peace.
dian

[nyc lady]

I recently went to a lecture by a GYN/ONC and he spoke about laproscopic surgery for OvCa and it is being done now...but...there are many other GYN/ONCs who perfer to go in and take a "good look".  

I have had two laparotomies done, first in 2000 for stage 1A - they just removed my ovary/tube and in 2004 they took the rest....I was fine both times.  Sure there is a 6 week recovery time, but that is for your body to heal...I never took a pain killer afer I left the hospital...took advil a couple of times...I was uncomfortable and sore, but, the pain is very doable.  And scars heal!!!!

The important thing is that you are comfortable with the doctor and the doctor's decision.  If you find a GYN/ONC that feels doing the surgery laproscopically is okay, and you feel that is the way to go, you will know it....you may also find that another GYN/ONC will not feel it necessary to go in and do another surgery now for a borderline ovarian tumor based on statistics for that diagnosis.  John Hopkins is doing a lot of research on borderlines...you may want to contact them.

Good luck to you.