What can they expect after total hysterectomy (stage 1)

My best friend has just had total hysto having been diagnosed with stage 1 cancer, tumour was 15cm and included high levels of calcium in blook which now stable.  Due to meet with cancer specialist to discuss next stage-what can she expect in form of treatment , chemo, radio etc or will hysto be enough??

[manneca]

It depends. Stage 1a the recommendation from my doctor was nothing. Stage 1c, the general recommendation is chemo. And this varies because different kinds of cancer are different and doctors all have differing ideas about what the best treatment is. She and you will just have to wait to talk with the doctor.

[yrrek]

The C in stage 1C is why you will probably be reccommeded to have chemo, the C means cancer cells were found in the washings.  The washings is the fluid that was in the perintoneal cavity that houses the uterus and ovaries.  Even one little nasty cancer cell that was not gotten out during surgery can cause recurrance, so Chemo is your insurance of hopefully killing any cancer cells left behind.

[survivor_susie]

I was stage IC.  I went through chemo.  I'm so glad!

[Tealoak]

Given everything I have had to learn about ovarian cancer, I would insist on the chemo regardless of the stage, but especially because you said it was 15 cm or did you actually mean 1.5 cm? ( mine was 21cm) .  She only has one time to knock cancer out of the park and at stage 1 the odds are so very much in her favor. Chemo isnt fun but it isnt nearly as bad as I anticipated.  I have 1 week where I feel cruddy and 2 weeks where I feel good-to-great.  I sleep through the worst of it.

It is great you are such a caring and supportive friend.

Hugs

Teri

[nyc lady]

My largest mass was 22cm....and I was stage 1A....that was Sept 2000....at the time of surgery they only removed one ovary/tube....the cross section during surgery did not show cancer, it was not until the final biopsy came back 2 weeks later....true within 5 years my other ovary/tube and uterus were taken.  With Stage 1A, I did not need to have chemo.  Studies indicate that chemo does not prolong recurrence for stage 1A and stage 1B....when you get to stage 1C, chemo is recommended, as it is no longer considered to have been contained.
Best of luck to your friend.

[whitehorse34]

Go for the chemo.  Cancer cells are slippery and you can't be sure...it is better to be safe than sorry.  I know this is hard though....the whole situtaion *****.

[whitehorse34]

oh my goodness....it starred my comment which makes it look like I said something really rude...I just said  s   u   c   k    s.   I don't want you to think I was cursing at you.  I guess i should have listened to my mom who always says that word it wrong.   heehee.

[mb16]

I'd do the chemo regardless. I'm into my 5th round and I can tell you it's rough (carbo-taxol) which is standard treatment. My gyn-onc initially thought it was stage 1 during surgery but pathology came back 2b. I can tell you I was/am miserable during chemo so you'll have to really try to be there for your friend because she'll need your help-- but now that I've just had #5 out of 6, the end is in sight it really lifts the spirits. There's many here that go through lots more than and they are amazing women, so you should take their advice if they have any. You're probably in the "reading everything" stage, but don't read too much into the survival stats as they're overwhelming and each case is unique.  

All the best to your friend.

Wendy