metastatic sites of ovarian cancer

[riaruth]

it started when i had dyspnea and i found out that i had pleural effusion. the doctors removed the fluid but it keeps on coming back. they did a pleural biopsy and the result was moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma of ovarian primary because my CA 125 was 215.4. the doctors did a transvaginal ultrasound but the result said that they cannot see the ovaries, my uterus is atrophic already and has a small myoma. after a week the doctor advised me to have a chest CTscan and the following are seen:

-enlarged lymph nodes are seen in paratracheal, precarinal and subcarinal regions.
-reticulonodular densities in left lung
-enlarged thyroid gland more on left with hypodense nodules with calcification
-enlarged left adrenal gland t/c inflammatory vs. adenoma

does this mean that the cancer is all over my body?

[Annekathryn Goodman, M.D.]

Hi There,
Sometimes women with ovarian cancer have a very small lesion on the surface of the ovary but develop travel to distant sites before there is any sign of an abnormality in the gyn organs.

There is also a malignancy called peritoneal cancer. Under the microscope, it looks just like ovarian cancer but actually started from the surface of the lining of the abdomen (the peritoneum)

The best first step is to give you chemotherapy. The usual drugs are taxol and carboplatin. After a few doses, your doctor can reconsider if a surgery to remove the uterus and ovaries is reasonable.
please let us know how you are doing
take care

[Teresa222]

Did you ask your doctor what all that meant? I would definitely ask the doctor's what is going on. It would really help us if you would fill out your history on the PROFILE section of your MedHelp. If you need any help, let us know.

Has anything new happened since you posted this?
Teresa