who should be surgeon? gyn or gyn oncologist surgeon

[harra32]

I have an 11cm diameter hemorrhagic cyst in left ovary. The right ovary is hemorrhagic structure. Both with solid lesion. My CA125 is 79. The cyst grows very fast. It only took one and half month from a base ball size to a big orange size. I was totally terrified. I have mild symptoms, lower back pain, feel like vomiting…. My OB/GYN is scheduling me the Laparotomy surgery ASAP. Good news is it can be next week. Based on my ob/gyn described procedure, the biopsy is taken during the surgery. If any cancer found from the slice, he will call Oncologist surgeon to come to finish it up. But it is hard for me to book any appointment soon with the oncologist. I am a little concerned having a doc I had never seen to do the operation.  if I wait for the appt, the surgery would be in next month.

Well, other opinions said I should go with Gyn Oncologist surgeon because in my case it might highly possible be the cancer. Again with the timing issue, I can’t see oncologist soon neither get the surgery soon.

Will the timing be important in my case? Thanks a lot!

Harra32

[harra32]

here is a link I recently found
http://www.endocenter.org/endofaq.htm

PET, CT, ultra sound and MRI can't give conclusive dx for endo. biopsy taken from suspected area is the only way to have positive diagnosis.

I was told by my onc surgeon that tissue from uterus found in my ovaries.

hope it helps.


Harra

[Kimchi]

Went to India for small vacation and for second opinion.  while there, had PET and CT scan done.  Then went to see 2 different ONC, neither were Ovarian specialists, and both told me there were no signs of cancer and stop my chemo.One even told me my cancer was due to endo and I should take regular progesterone.  My primary ONC is a GYNO ONC and she disagrees with their diagnoses and nixed the idea of taking progesterone.

[harra32]

I've been back from the surgery for a few days already. can walk and go up n down stairs.

My tumors are benign. I was dx as endometriosis which cause my CA-125 elevated.

dr. kept both of my ovaries where the 11cm and 6cm mass were. this was the most wonderful news that I heard after i woke up from the surgery. I'll be planning my 2nd baby soon.

I felt so warm for the attentions to my question. really like this forum.

Harra

[SimplyStar]

check to see how qualified your surgeon is,  the City of Hope should have very good onocologists.  I would hope for one in their early 40ts to 50ts. More experience.

[janjan19]

I had a gyn/onc do my hysterectomy & was glad that I did.  Regular gyns are not always trained in cancer debulking procedures & some women in my Ovarian Cancer Suppor Group had to have additional surgery when their regular gyns operated.

[Helmar]

I had a Gyno/Obst. to do my surgery, and I couldn't fault the great job that he did. Have heard reports of some women not doing so well after being operated on by Gyno/Oncol.. I guess it depends on how far the cancer has spread, and other circumstances. With the surgeon that I had, I was his main concern... he looked at me as a person who wanted to live, whereas I feel that maybe Gyno/Oncols. fully understand our position, and maybe some look on it as 'just another ovca case' and although they would do their best, maybe with not so much enthusiasm, knowing what the outcome could be in most cases. *just my thoughts*... I suppose the bottom line is, go for it if you are comfortable with, and have confidence in the person doing the operation, which I did have.
Wishing you all the best....Helen..

[harra32]

I choosed the GYN ONC in city of hope to do my operation this time. scheduled in early January. the doc will do a c-section incision considering my age.

appreciated for the advice.

best wishes for all of you and Happy holidays

Harra

[stephlovespeter_xo]

Hi Harra32- As much as I agree with these women, a part of me has to also disagree. Timing is everything when one is dealing with a cancer diagnosis. My family and I dealt with the timing issue when my grandmother was dx with ovarian cancer June of last year and we are now dealing with it again with me (have not been diagnosed with cancer but have had an ultrasound come back saying first consideration would be given to ovarian malignancy). Had my grandmother been seen faster by her doctors and the process been dealt with in a timely matter, the cancer might not have progressed the way it did. What i would do if i were you is, book an appointment with your family physician just asking about an opinion. Especially if you've been with your family physician for a long while, you can get in fast with them and they will be able to tell me what they think i should do. Personally, if an oncologist was called into my surgery, I wouldn't really fret over meeting him beforehand, just as long as he's a good reputable surgeon and he gets the job done. Maybe if you can, ask you ob/gyn for the oncologists name that will be on call that day and if you are from Canada look him up on the Ontario College for Physicians and Surgeons. Do as much research on him - you can even go to www.google.com and type in rate my md or rate my doctor and a site will come up where people have rated physicians and surgeons and have written comments on them. I hope everything works out for you! Your main goal is to get this sorted out and to get this cyst taken out, I hope everything works out! I hope this helps!!
keep me posted on what happens.
Hope and Faith to all,
best wishes.

[harra32]

thanks for all the inputs.

I am going to try all possible way to schedule the laparotomy with the ONC on Monday. I can't wait too long. I want to keep my uterus so I can have child.

Harra

[Kimchi]

In my case, obgyn did operation with ONC on duty as she suspected that my tumor may be malignant.  If I had known this before hand, I would have insisted an ONC do the operation, prefer ONC slice and dice in the right places...

[AliceZan]

I agree with Marty. It is good to know that u will be in good hands.

Good luck

[SimplyStar]

It is more important to have the onocolgist surgeon do the complete surgery. Pick one that has many of these surgery's under his belt. An onocologist has 3 more years training in this type of operation and can clean out cancer, if it is found, much better and give you much better results. It will not hurt to wait a short time to get it right the first time. Ask the OB/GYN to recommend one for you, My daughter met her Onocol surgeon the day of her surgery. Just check his/her credentials.  Your CA125  could be elevated from something else also. 98% of all cysts are benign, OVCA is rare. Good Luck to you and come back and let us know how you do. We care.  Marty