Cancer at 28

[Holly222]

I am new here. I just wanted to read your stories about OV CA .I am so devastated I was diagnosed just last week.
I need all help I can get.

[msjazz]

How were you diagnosed? Have you had surgery and staging yet. Do you know the cell type. These would help us as these things matter in the outcome of treatment

[Holly222]

We did all the tests but I don't know much because we do not have any paper work yet.
Staging was 3A if I am not mistaking.and adenocarcinoids,John

[Holly222]

so I will be as John if you don't mind writing back to me.

[Holly222]

I asked my wife and she said it was adenocarcinoma stage 3A

[Sunes]

Welcome to Ovarian Cancer forum JOHN..
Do not worry about apologizing to anyone for trying to help your wife. My husband helped me a lot when I could not lift a finger to do anything. I was numb for the first few months.
Did Holly have a biopsy? or surgery ...how do you know what stage she is in ?
Sunes.

[msjazz]

Do you know if it was a mucinous, serous papillary, or what type cell. Some are more aggressive? There are ladies here with several different types.

[Holly222]

Holly had two biopsis done and when pathology came back doctor only said type in general and scheduled a surgery for May26..Is adenocrcinoma mucinous or serous? we don't know. John

[marie3B]

Is she still in the hospital from the surgery? If we had more information we could help you more. Marie

[Holly222]

Holy is scheduled for surgery is May26.Thank you for all your help.

[msjazz]

There a 3 main types, then many subtypes. I wish I could be more helpful.. Is a gynecologist/oncologist doing her surgery? That is the most important thing right now. They know how to identify and remove the cancer. After that, she will probably have to do 6 rds. of chemo. If all cancer is removed except microscopic she will be a candidate for peritonial ( I.P.) chemo if you decide to do it. After her surgery it will be easier to know what chemo and how many treatments.   Best Wishes

[SimplyStar]

Biopsy can detect cancer and type  but staging can only be done  during surgery.  Be sure that an onocologist does the surgery. From where were the biopsys taken?

[Holly222]

I don't really understand all the terminology but...her biopsis were taken by laparoscopy and staging was done at the same time...I guess doctos could see extensiveness of her cancer inside.Surgey will reveil if there are spreads anywhere else.We were asking for MRI and they said that she does not fit medical profile for MRI I don't get it.
Thank you so much for all your help.I am so lost... John

[marie3B]

I am sorry she has to wait so long for surgery. That seems like such a long time to delay the surgery.  I only had to wait a day and a half before my surgery.  Waiting that much was hard for me, so I know I would have been a wreck if I had to wait as long as your wife.  What part of the country are you from?  Do you have a gyne/oncologist scheduled to do the surgery?  I highly recommend one for the surgery. I wish you both the best. Marie

[turtledovemom]

So sorry to hear about your wife's diagnosis.  Please do your best to take care of yourself, as well as your wife.  Sometimes I think its more difficult to be the caregiver than the patient.  

All of the comments from the other women have been great.  Just remember that you're both feeling such intense emotions right now, including panic.  The tendency is to want procedures to be done quickly so that we get the damned disease out of us...like last week!  The recommendation to have a gyn/oncologist do the surgery is an extremely valid one.  If you don't already have one lined up, it's not too late to find one.  If you need help with that, please let us know.  I'm sure there are plenty of women here who could help you locate one near you.  Don't forget that you can be as proactive about this as you want to be...in regard to who is going to be taking care of the next step for your wife.  As Dian has often said (her words stay with me), you have one chance to have this done the right way, so find a gyn/onc.  We're here for you both, so please let us know how things progress...don't be afraid to ask questions here.  This is an amazingly knowledgeable and supportive group.
peace,
Anne

[Jan214]

John, I am so very sorry that you have to go through this. I think that is too long to wait for surgery.  I am trying to get this straight.  Did a general surgeon do the laparoscopy or was it done by a gynonc?  Did they just decide it was to much to do that way once they were in there?  I don't understand why they wouldn't do an MRI. Was it them, your insurance or do you live in Canada or something?  Nothing against Canada, I just know some of our Canadian friends have a few problems we don't have in the states.  

I had a TVUS, an MRI and a CT.  That is how my onc knew I had advanced cancer even before he opened me up.  I think that is irresponsible on their part to go in there blind and than put her through another surgery.  Even my mechanic wouldn't work on my car without running the proper diagnostic procedures.  I know you just want to concentrate on helping Holly, and to that end you should make sure that you have a gynecological oncologist do the surgery.  Who is the surgeon, not his name, that would give away where you live, just is he an oncologist?  Did she have a transvaginal ultrasound or anything before the laparoscopy?

My husband pops on here occasionally and a lot of the ladies know him.  Honey, this site is for anyone touched by ovarian cancer (and quite a few who just had the scare of it)and we have a lot of men on here. So don't worry about being yourself.  I will have Cory come on later and give you a little husband perspective.  In the mean time, deep breaths, and remember this is NOT a death sentence no matter what is rattling around in your mind.   It was for my mom in 1964, but things are so very different now.

Keep posting and let us know what happens okay?
Kindest Regards
Jan