Fat Pad (omentum) to remove or not to remove?

[brokenheartrn]

Hello,

My best friend underwent surgery today for endometrial adenocarcinoma involving the uterus and ovaries.  The tumor removed from her Ovary was rather large at 22cm.  

Prior to her total hysterectomy, her Oncologist/surgeon told her that the "fat pad" would also be removed because it is like a sponge for cancer and it grows there rapidly and is well hidden.  

Yet when she came out of surgery he stated that he did not remove it because " Everything looked fine".  

I am very concerned.  Why would he say it needs to come out and that it is a breeding ground for cancer cells, if he was going to change his mind?

What benefit does it serve my friend to leave it in?  Is there risk involved in removing it?  is there a health purpose to leaving it there for her?

Help me to understand the surgens decision, PLEASE!

Thank you.

[YvonneS]

They found my OVCA in the omentem (?)  It is 100's of little blood vessels, maybe like a film over your abdomen.  I talked with a surgeon just yesterday and he told me part of the discomfort I am having with these tumors is because it kinda of contained them (everything else in that area as well).  So, I guess it has a purpose.  One of the reasons my first surgery was so long, was fixing all the blood vessels.  so, the surgeon may have been looking at that and if it was clean, thougth it best not to remove it.  Never heard it called a "fat pad" before.  WIll have to ask my ONO about that one.

[rootietootie]

Hi, I agree with you, I don't know why he wouldn't take it out while he was in there, especially after his reasoning about why it needs to come out.  I don't think it is especially hard to take out, I have never heard about it being an issue, so perhaps he had his own reasons for leaving it in at the time.  I would have my friend ask him about that, bringing up the fact that he said he was going to take it for those reasons mentioned.   Good luck to your friend.  Shannon