concern with small cancer left on diaphram after surgery

[jerickso]

My wife was diagnosed with ovarian cancer stage 3c on 4/29/2011. She had surgery on 5/5 to remove tumor - included remover of omentum, full hysterectomy, and approx 10 cm of sigma colon removed (since tumor was around this part of colon). 2 small under 5 mm cancer tumors were left on diaphram - surgeon was confident chemo will handle. Otherwise, all cancer tumor was removed. A friend pointed out Mayo Clinic study from about 2006 that looked back at 244 patients that showed significant improval in 5 year survival by removing even under 1 cm spots on diagram. So, now I am concerned that they should have removed these.
She is in 3rd week of weekly 'dose dense' chemo with carboplatin and taxol. She is doing very well under this regiment and other than losing hair - she is usual energetic self. She just turned 50 and ran a full marathon one year ago. She is otherwise very strong and is seeing naturopathic oncologist as well getting various supplements including L Glutamine, omega 3, and melatonin (20mg daily). Should I be worried about the 2 spots left behind? Thanks so much for advice!!

[Annekathryn Goodman, M.D.]

Hi there
your wife is getting state of the art therapy.  I would always worry about those spots but if her cancer is sensitive to chemotherapy, she should do well. The best way to check after chemo is completed is with  CT scans.

I am sorry you all are going through this.I know how stressful it is
take care

[jerickso]

Thanks for the response. My wife's dose dense regiment is weekly taxol and every 3 weeks carboplatin and taxol. I have read some advocates for doing the carboplatin (at lesser dose) weekly as well. Are you familiar with this protocol?