Surgery and diagnosis of ovarian cancer

Dear Dr. -I am having surgery to diagnose a growth in my ovaries that did not look right to the ultrasouund tech or the gyno. It is a laproscopy with a larger surgery if needed. The surgeon who is doing this is my gynocologist. It could be ovarian according to my gyno. But both CA 125 were normal, however bloating, vomiting, pain under the ribs etc have been some of the symptoms. Told this was what should happen to get a difinitive answer. Should I also have a CAT scan before the surgery, and what organs and fluids should also be checked for sure for cancer cells? This will be done this month, but I will meet with my gyno/surgeon  a week before...want to be sure all the right tests are done etc, so what is the protocol?

[Annekathryn Goodman, M.D.]

Hi There,
There are definitely other tests that I consider but that depends on many factors such as a person's age, their physical examination, family history of gyn cancers and  other concurrent medical conditions . It is also helpful to have the exact details of the ultrasound report before making a recommendation. For instance, in women under 30, I probably would not get any other testing. For women over 40, I would consider a CT scan and colonoscopy as part of a preoperative evaluation.
best wishes to you

[jossy]

Thanks so much for your comments/advice Dr. I did follow-up with my doctor in regards to more testing.  I am also now scheduled for a CAT scan and a colonscopy...all to happen before my surgery on the 24th.
I am a 60 year old with blood pressure under control with meds, high cholesterol, history of irritable bowel, hiatal hernia, no history of cancer in family, but mother died young of heart disease.
I got a copy of my report--Here is what was on my report, 12/22/06:  2 simple cyst Left ovary-#1 1.9 x l.8 x l.lcm #2 2.6 x 2.4x 2.3 cm-this cyst also contains a homogenous solid component 9x8x6mm-this could also represent 1 simple cyst with a thick septation and a papillary execrescena (spell?)Diagnosis-ovarian cystic mass with possible sold component

[jossy]

I wanted to say that I had surgery to remove my ovary and fallopian tube via a laproscopy which turned into the larger surgery. The good news is what they discovered was benign. I want to thank you so much for this forum. It provided a 2nd look for me. Thanks again for the great work!

[cogs]

I advocate for my little sister who is 39 yrs old and has CP she has never had any children and for the past year she has been getting her period every 20-28 days.  She went in for a yearly last week told her doctor what was happening and she suggested a vaginal ultra sound.  So she had that done and got a call a few days later saying she had a complex mass on both ovaries they said it was homogeneous solid and the size was on her left ovarie 3.1x2.6x2.5 and on her right 2x2x1.8 she is going in for an endometrial biopsy on 2/12/07.  I am very scared for her, is this cancer?.  Any input would be great she is scared to death and I keep telling her this is common.  I hope I am right.
Sincerly,
Nancy Cogs

[cogs]

I advocate for my little sister who is 39 yrs old and has CP she has never had any children and for the past year she has been getting her period every 20-28 days.  She went in for a yearly last week told her doctor what was happening and she suggested a vaginal ultra sound.  So she had that done and got a call a few days later saying she had a complex mass on both ovaries they said it was homogeneous solid and the size was on her left ovarie 3.1x2.6x2.5 and on her right 2x2x1.8 she is going in for an endometrial biopsy on 2/12/07.  I am very scared for her, is this cancer?.  Any input would be great she is scared to death and I keep telling her this is common.  I hope I am right.
Sincerly,
Nancy Cogs