Sertoli-Leydig

I'm 17 years old and last year I had an extreme pain in my right side. They thought it was an appendicitis, but after many hours of testing they saw a mass on my right ovary. They ended up surgically removing my right ovary, fallopian tube, and the mass. About a month later they came back with the results as a Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor but it was binign. Almost exactly a year later they found that the tumor had grown back in my abdomen. They surgically removed the tumor, my appendix, and the keloids that had grown in my abdomen. Last year my doctor had recommended that I have chemo, but I thought since it was benign, why should I go through treatment. Well, now he is forcing me to get BEP chemotherapy. At first it was hard for me to hear that I might have to repeat senior year and lose my hair and such, but now I have come to terms with it and have learned to accept it. I still don't quite understand why my doctor is making me get chemo a few weks after I just had surgery? And also, my mom isn't taking all of this well at all. She can barely sleep and is completly stressed out. I've tried to show her and tell her I'll be ok, but she just can't accept it. She doesn't want to have to watch me go through this, and I understand that, but I just don't know how to make her realize that I'll make it through this and I'll be ok.


This discussion is related to BEP chemotherapy and side effects for ssteffler.

[kcd86]

I am sorry you have to go threw this it is very stressfull to have this hanging over your head especially at your young age. I hope you have a good support system to help you thru these times.
My wife was recently Dx with granulosa Cell cancer( GCT) Jan 2010 . Granulosa cell cancer and Serti-Leydig are rare cancers that are found from within the ovary. 80% of all ovarian cancers are epithieal cancer which is cells on the outer surface of the ovary. For this response I will call both these types of cancer Sex-cord tumors(SCT)
SCT are  types of ovarian cancer that are hormone driven and depending which form a person has there will be excess symptoms of that specific hormone. SCT cell tumors often produce excessive estrogen/testosterone, and symptoms related to excessive hormone secretion of either are common. For women who are post menopause and have vag bleed it is due to excessive estrogen. When there is a lack of menses then it is probably due to excessive testosterone but with any cancer nothing is written in stone.These group type are called sex cord -stromal tumors. These type of tumors have specific markes that the Dr's use just like ca-125(epithieal) to aide in their dx they are Inhibin A&B and MIS.
Please keep in mind if and only if you have a diagnoses of these form of tumors there is a missconception that these tumors are always benign, which is completely false> They are just slow growing cancerous tumors as opposed to epitheal ovarian cancer. This cancer can possibly never return IF REMOVED FULLY INTACT, nodes are clear and pelvic washings clear along with a low mitotic rate. Or unfortunately it can rear it's ugly head 5,10 and 15 years from now,this will be a life long vigilance.
My wife's Dr's in Sloan Kettering in NYC said she also has nothing to worry about because they removed the ovary fully intact. Removing the ovary fully intact is an indication for possibly no further tumors will develop.(cross our fingers)
Ask your surgeon if your tumor was removed intact. It is very important to find out if this was removed intact because if it was massarated/punctured than seeding of the pelvis is probable. Did the surgeon take any pelvic washings to see if there was any cancer cells in the pelvis. I would immediately get your pathology report from the hospital that did your surgey. It might be worth your while to have a second opinion from a pathologist who is a cancer specialist.
I also would make an appoitment to see a gyn/oncologist surgeon at a big medical center so he/she can re-evaluate you in case you need further surgeyr for staging/debulking. I am sorry to hear that your surgeon took this all too lightly bu that is in the past and now you need to be your own advocate, be aggresive (aggressive) and copies of all your records and tests!!
They also said no further testing is needed. I have her Inhibin A&B done every 6 months. Also important is the mitotic level of the cancer cells being rated on a (1-10) scale, this is an index of how potentially virulent or agressive the cancer cells may be. Dr use that # as a guide to see if they want to do further treatment
Please post if you have any other questions.
Regards,
Kevin

[kcd86]

I am sorry you have to go threw this it is very stressfull to have this hanging over your head especially at your young age. I hope you have a good support system to help you thru these times.
My wife was recently Dx with granulosa Cell cancer( GCT) Jan 2010 . Granulosa cell cancer and Serti-Leydig are rare cancers that are found from within the ovary. 80% of all ovarian cancers are epithieal cancer which is cells on the outer surface of the ovary. For this response I will call both these types of cancer Sex-cord tumors(SCT)
SCT are  types of ovarian cancer that are hormone driven and depending which form a person has there will be excess symptoms of that specific hormone. SCT cell tumors often produce excessive estrogen/testosterone, and symptoms related to excessive hormone secretion of either are common. For women who are post menopause and have vag bleed it is due to excessive estrogen. When there is a lack of menses then it is probably due to excessive testosterone but with any cancer nothing is written in stone.These group type are called sex cord -stromal tumors. These type of tumors have specific markes that the Dr's use just like ca-125(epithieal) to aide in their dx they are Inhibin A&B and MIS.
Please keep in mind if and only if you have a diagnoses of these form of tumors there is a missconception that these tumors are always benign, which is completely false> They are just slow growing cancerous tumors as opposed to epitheal ovarian cancer. This cancer can possibly never return IF REMOVED FULLY INTACT, nodes are clear and pelvic washings clear along with a low mitotic rate. Or unfortunately it can rear it's ugly head 5,10 and 15 years from now,this will be a life long vigilance.
My wife's Dr's in Sloan Kettering in NYC said she also has nothing to worry about because they removed the ovary fully intact. Removing the ovary fully intact is an indication for possibly no further tumors will develop.(cross our fingers)
Ask your surgeon if your tumor was removed intact. It is very important to find out if this was removed intact because if it was massarated/punctured than seeding of the pelvis is probable. Did the surgeon take any pelvic washings to see if there was any cancer cells in the pelvis. I would immediately get your pathology report from the hospital that did your surgey. It might be worth your while to have a second opinion from a pathologist who is a cancer specialist.
I also would make an appoitment to see a gyn/oncologist surgeon at a big medical center so he/she can re-evaluate you in case you need further surgeyr for staging/debulking. I am sorry to hear that your surgeon took this all too lightly bu that is in the past and now you need to be your own advocate, be aggresive (aggressive) and copies of all your records and tests!!
They also said no further testing is needed. I have her Inhibin A&B done every 6 months. Also important is the mitotic level of the cancer cells being rated on a (1-10) scale, this is an index of how potentially virulent or agressive the cancer cells may be. Dr use that # as a guide to see if they want to do further treatment
Please post if you have any other questions.
Regards,
Kevin

[ashyV]

Thank you for the response. We are in the process of getting a second opinion because my mom still is not fully on board with the chemotherapy. I know the first time my tumor was removed my ovary and fallopian tube were removed along with it. But this year it was just in my abdomen so they only removed the tumor and my appendix. I am pretty sure both times it was intact, but I am not positive. nd my surgeon is a gyn/oncologist, one of the best in the west region. But my mom wants to go see a pediatric oncologist to see what they would recommend. I'll be praying for your wife and that the GCT does not come back.
Thank you again,
Ashley