borderline ovarian tumor?

[laf5203]

I had a laprascopic surgery to remove my left ovary and tube due to a 10cm complex cyst last Tuesday. It was a gynocological oncologist that did the surgery, after it was done she told my family it wasn't cancer and everything went well. She called me this afternoon and told me that it was a borderline tumor which meant it wasn't benign but also not malignant. I am so confused, does anyone have any idea what this means. My right ovary had a cyst that looked to be just fluid that was 5cm, do I need to be worried about that one now too? My grandmother had ovarian cancer and my mom has breast cancer so I am a little freaked out but trying not to be.

[NYCLI1976]

I had a similar situation - surgery in late October for multilocular cysts on 1 ovary that had grown to 18 cm. My surgery was done at a teaching hospital by a general ob/gyn. The surgeon removed my ovary and fallopian tube (Unilateral Salpingo-oopherectomy) because there were so many adhesions around the cysts that they were wrapped around it and not possible to save the ovary.

My frozen section diagnosis said "serous papillary cyst w focal borderline features." After the surgery, I was told the washings and all cysts and ovary was negative for cancer.

After surgery, the final pathology report came back with a diagnosis of borderline ovarian tumor with a small cancer spot (invasive .6cm cell on one slide), which I later sent to a major cancer center (MSKCC) which said the ovary was not cancerous but simply borderline.

I was told I need to get transvaginal ultrasounds every 3 months, and CA-125 testing (its a blood tumor marking test for ovarian cancer). All my research on BOT (they are called borderline tumors or low malignant potential) indicates that they are a different cellular breed than the cells from ovarian cancer (which are typically more aggressive). BOTs are diagnosed for women who are pre-menopausal or peri-menopausal (usually before age 45).

The debate now seems to be on treatment. MSKCC told me I need to have my remaining ovary removed. The oncologist at the teaching hospital where I had my surgery tells me I need to get a staging surgery soon since my first surgery wasn't done by a gyn-onc and the staging was incomplete.

I am scheduled to have my CA-125 test (which came at 36 a month after my surgery) in 3 months and an ultrasound also. I will see how those results go but am leaning toward having the second surgery before end of next year.

[seeminglyso]

There is a group on facebook for this which may be helpful.

[old_before_my_time]

I do not know much about borderline ovarian cysts. However, you could ask that another pathologist look at the biopsy samples. Some pathologists are more experienced than others, just as is the case for doctors. Hoping for the best for you.

[HVAC]

Okay I hope for the best.

Alex

[laf5203]

As of right now I just have my follow up scheduled from surgery. When I talked to her today she said we would talk about my options on what to do next.

[HVAC]

Borderline is good. It does not mean it will turn into Cancer if they thought that they would have done a lot more. I would not worry about it and go on and live my life. Women have 1.6% of Ovarian Cancer in their lifetime. You are still in that catagory. How often does she have you returning to see her? If it is a threat of Cancer it is every three months for the first year, then less if they don't find Cancer.

Alex