mucinous Ovarian Cancer stage 1c

dear readers,

I have a concern regarding my wife, she is 25, and last month she delivered our first baby daughter, prematurely in 33 weeks. She had a very large right ovarian cysts (25 cm x 17 cm), that grew during her pregnancy, eventually an operation was performed since there was not enough room for the baby in her belly. The operation was concluded with the removal of her right ovary, fallopian tube and the appendix. The GYN-Oncologist who performed her operation said he tried his best to remove the cyst and the affected areas. He let the left ovary and the uterus as it is, since he felt there was no trace of abnormalcy in the left ovary, no metastasis found. Now the pathology report indicates mucinous adenocarcinoma (intestinal-type), it has been FIGO staged at 1c, and grade 2 is given.

The doctors recommended  adjuvant chemotherapy: carboplatin and paclitaxol in 6 cycles with 3 weeks gap in each. The chemo would start in 2 weeks time from now, which is 6 weeks after operation.

We think it is kind of standard way of treatment for ovarian cancer, however, we are concerned, how effective this chemotherapy is for mucineous subtypes of ovarian concern. Should we go for a second opinion?

Are there people around in same boat with good news?

Thanks!
GG

[Annekathryn Goodman, M.D.]

Dear GG
thank you for your question.
Your wife has been given the standard recommendation for the treatment of ovarian cancer.  It is unlikely that any expert in gyn oncology would disagree with that treatment plan.

The one question I have is whether your wife had a staging surgery where she had lymph nodes biopsies and the removal of the omentum. If not,sometimes if is worth considering getting more information to be sure there is no microscopic spread.If there was,that would increase the risk that this cancer can return.

You are absolutely correct to ask about chemo and mucinous cancers.This is an ongoing discussion in the gyn oncology world. However, at the current time, there are no good alternative therapies to carbo and taxol.

please let us know how everything is going.
Congratulations on the birth of your daughter!
best wishes

[bala482000]

A related discussion, Right chemo treatment for Mucinous Ovarian cancer was started.