Aa
Please tell me the truth.....
My mom has to have a hysterectomy because she has ovarian cancer. They just discovered it from her annual exam. She has absolutely no symptoms with the exception of some slight discharge. The doctor asked if she was sure she is feeling no symptoms.....she said she feels fine. The thing is, the CA-125 was over 500. Does this mean it has spread? The number seems way higher than most of the others Im reading on this forum.
They didnt see anything on her exam last year, so this all has developed within the last year.
Im terrified for my mother. Does this high CA-125 mean she is not in Stage 1? I feel so badly she has to go through this....I feel badly for any woman that has to deal with this.
My mom is post-menopausal...she is in her 70's. Im her son and I love her very much and wish I could help her.
Thank for for listening.
They didnt see anything on her exam last year, so this all has developed within the last year.
Im terrified for my mother. Does this high CA-125 mean she is not in Stage 1? I feel so badly she has to go through this....I feel badly for any woman that has to deal with this.
My mom is post-menopausal...she is in her 70's. Im her son and I love her very much and wish I could help her.
Thank for for listening.
Yes, the normal bloodwork can be a good sign too. Ovca tends to spread in a rather set pattern, from the ovaries to the omentum and then to the intestines or just straight on to the liver, and then to the lungs. Yes, you guessed correctly, the disruption of the liver functions is often the first clue some women have of the disease. In fact, when I was going through my "giant scary cyst ordeal" in 2004, one of my bloodtests showed abnormal liver funtion! Ack! But, the large ovarian mass was still found to be benign, Praise Be to God for that blessing!
If the MRI showed any signs of spread, then the doctors would have informed your mother.
Concerned, I will be honest with you... if your mother is found to have cancer, and her cancer is in the earliest stages (I or II) then she will have six months or so of chemotherapy, and at that point it is possible that she will achieve a status called clinical remission. Basically, if she responds well to the treatment, then the cancer will be pushed down to levels so low that it can no longer be detected. How long this clinical remission lasts is unknown. Some women remain this way for the rest of their lives. Unfortunately, others face a return of the cancer in mere months. There are many factors to consider besides the staging, including which type of ovarian cancer it is, if it is cancer. Some types are so "non-aggressive" that removal is essentially the cure, with the chemotherapy being nothing more than an added precaution. Other cancers are so aggressive in growth that even a strong chemotherapy regimen will not stop it. Until your mother has her surgery, you really do not have enough information to know what to expect. Meanwhile, you and your mother have my prayers for the strength you need to get through the surgery. We can worry about what happens next at that time.
If the MRI showed any signs of spread, then the doctors would have informed your mother.
Concerned, I will be honest with you... if your mother is found to have cancer, and her cancer is in the earliest stages (I or II) then she will have six months or so of chemotherapy, and at that point it is possible that she will achieve a status called clinical remission. Basically, if she responds well to the treatment, then the cancer will be pushed down to levels so low that it can no longer be detected. How long this clinical remission lasts is unknown. Some women remain this way for the rest of their lives. Unfortunately, others face a return of the cancer in mere months. There are many factors to consider besides the staging, including which type of ovarian cancer it is, if it is cancer. Some types are so "non-aggressive" that removal is essentially the cure, with the chemotherapy being nothing more than an added precaution. Other cancers are so aggressive in growth that even a strong chemotherapy regimen will not stop it. Until your mother has her surgery, you really do not have enough information to know what to expect. Meanwhile, you and your mother have my prayers for the strength you need to get through the surgery. We can worry about what happens next at that time.
But if opening the abdomen, the cancers are easily seen.....doesnt it go to follow that the CT scan would also easily pick it up? From this perspective it sounds like my mom can be in an early stage. Also, apart from some discharge, she has no symptoms and has her appetite which is a good sign. Her bloodwork from her family doctor a week or two before the gyncological visit showed nothing out of the ordinary - also a good sign.
But can you be in an early stage and have a CA-125 of over 500? Thats the part thats really throwing me.
Ive never been so worried in my life. Cancer must really suck.
But can you be in an early stage and have a CA-125 of over 500? Thats the part thats really throwing me.
Ive never been so worried in my life. Cancer must really suck.
There is a very common process used by oncologists in these surgeries. The same process was even used for my surgery, and was explained to me in detail prior to my operation.
The first step is that the doctors open the abdomen and then visually inspect the area before doing anything else. I was told by my doctor, as well as by a retired surgical nurse, that cancers are often easily seen, unless the cancer is contained inside the mass itself or in very small implants in the abdomen. After the initial inspection, the next step most commonly involves gently placing the mass in what I will call a "plastic bag." This step is taken so that if cancerous cells are present then these will not be spilled into the abdomen during the removal of the mass. Next, surgeons usually perform a procedure in which they remove small samples of tissues and fluids from the bagged mass in order to study them under the microscope while the patient is on the table. Because of this study, usually referred to as a "frozen section," the surgeons often have a very good idea of the diagnosis before the surgery progresses any further. If the samples appear to be clear, then the surgeons proceed to remove the mass in its bagged state. If the samples appear to contain 'bad cells' (whether malignant or otherwise abnormal) then the surgeons not only remove the mass, but take biopsy samples from the abdominal area. These biopsies allow for a staging of any cancer (degree of spread.) All the tissues and fluids removed during the surgery are usually sent to a pathologist who studies the samples with a trained eye and prepares a report. Often, it can take a week or more for the pathology report to return, but it is likely the surgeon will have an idea of the diagnosis immediately after the surgery.
Yes, Concerned, it does appear from the information that you have regarding your mother's condition that if she does have cancer then it is very likely that it has been caught in an early stage. At least now you know how the surgery should proceed.
The first step is that the doctors open the abdomen and then visually inspect the area before doing anything else. I was told by my doctor, as well as by a retired surgical nurse, that cancers are often easily seen, unless the cancer is contained inside the mass itself or in very small implants in the abdomen. After the initial inspection, the next step most commonly involves gently placing the mass in what I will call a "plastic bag." This step is taken so that if cancerous cells are present then these will not be spilled into the abdomen during the removal of the mass. Next, surgeons usually perform a procedure in which they remove small samples of tissues and fluids from the bagged mass in order to study them under the microscope while the patient is on the table. Because of this study, usually referred to as a "frozen section," the surgeons often have a very good idea of the diagnosis before the surgery progresses any further. If the samples appear to be clear, then the surgeons proceed to remove the mass in its bagged state. If the samples appear to contain 'bad cells' (whether malignant or otherwise abnormal) then the surgeons not only remove the mass, but take biopsy samples from the abdominal area. These biopsies allow for a staging of any cancer (degree of spread.) All the tissues and fluids removed during the surgery are usually sent to a pathologist who studies the samples with a trained eye and prepares a report. Often, it can take a week or more for the pathology report to return, but it is likely the surgeon will have an idea of the diagnosis immediately after the surgery.
Yes, Concerned, it does appear from the information that you have regarding your mother's condition that if she does have cancer then it is very likely that it has been caught in an early stage. At least now you know how the surgery should proceed.
I talked with my brother again...I think it was a CT scan she had done. So since theres no evidence of spread, this is very encouraging, right?
Also, will they be taking tissue samples of the surrounding organs or lymph nodes or whatever? If so do they find out then and there if everything is ok or do we have to wait days to find out.
One of the nurses also told my mom that in older women, it tends not to spread as quickly.
Any thoughts?
Thanks for the responses Mickey - I really appreciate it and its been a comfort to be able to come to this site to get info.
Also, will they be taking tissue samples of the surrounding organs or lymph nodes or whatever? If so do they find out then and there if everything is ok or do we have to wait days to find out.
One of the nurses also told my mom that in older women, it tends not to spread as quickly.
Any thoughts?
Thanks for the responses Mickey - I really appreciate it and its been a comfort to be able to come to this site to get info.
Doctors order an MRI or CT when they believe a patient might have cancer and they want to look for spread. Both are useful when trying to detect solid tissues. The MRI is useful for determining fluids (it can image fluids as well.)
I suppose that it can happen, but I have never heard of read of a patient having the entire omentum cancerous. Usually, the cancer is implanted here and there. That is correct; the omentum is not necessary and can be removed in its entirety. In fact, part of my omentum was removed during my surgery for a benign cyst as the cyst had attached itself to the omentum.
I suppose that it can happen, but I have never heard of read of a patient having the entire omentum cancerous. Usually, the cancer is implanted here and there. That is correct; the omentum is not necessary and can be removed in its entirety. In fact, part of my omentum was removed during my surgery for a benign cyst as the cyst had attached itself to the omentum.
Thanks, Mickey.
I did find out something from my brother. It turns out from the MRI or whatever scans she has done shows no signs that it spread to the surrounding organs...but the doc said he cant guarantee anything until he goes in there.
The only thing that showed on the scan in addition to the ovary problem is that she has a thick omentum. The doc said it could be cancer or it could be just that she has a thick omentum. Either way, he says it isnt a vital organ so its coming out.
How sensitive is the MRI? If it indeed did spread, would it have detected that?
Thank you all for your patience. I will pray for all of us.
Take care.
I did find out something from my brother. It turns out from the MRI or whatever scans she has done shows no signs that it spread to the surrounding organs...but the doc said he cant guarantee anything until he goes in there.
The only thing that showed on the scan in addition to the ovary problem is that she has a thick omentum. The doc said it could be cancer or it could be just that she has a thick omentum. Either way, he says it isnt a vital organ so its coming out.
How sensitive is the MRI? If it indeed did spread, would it have detected that?
Thank you all for your patience. I will pray for all of us.
Take care.
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