Chemo or not

[Joyce67]

I am 42 years old and had a TAH  w/removal of the omentum 5 weeks ago today. On Tuesday, at UNC oncology in Chapel Hill, NC, I was told it was stage 1c but to act as if I did not have cancer because the only borderline areas were on the ovaries and everything else was completely clean. I also had a CA 125 which was also normal. I was told no chemo but wanted your opinion. Please do not misunderstand, I do not want chemo but I do want to make sure I am doing all I can to be at least a 40+ year survivor.

[Annekathryn Goodman, M.D.]

Hi There
It is always good to get as educated as possible about what you are going through. Ultimately you should try to be the best advocate for yourself.

It sounds like you as in good shape Close follow up is the standard of care for borderline tumors
best wishes

[Annekathryn Goodman, M.D.]

Hi Joyce,

It sounds like you are doing well and had a good surgery.
I have a few questions for you:
Where exactly was the tumor? In the uterus or in the ovary?
What was the exact wording of the pathology report? Do you have a borderline tumor of the ovary or an invasive cancer? If an invasive cancer, what was the grade of the tumor?

All these factor determine whether chemotherapy is appropriate.

For instance, most gyn oncologists would recommend chemotherapy for a stage Ic grade 3 serous ovarian cancer but no one would recommend chemotherapy for a borderline ovarian cancer or a stage Ic  endometrioid endometrial cancer.

best wishes

[Joyce67]

I figured it out, sorry! The tumor was on the right ovary and was extremely large. I have not seen the pathology report myself but was told by the physician that it was serous borderline with the left ovary normal sized but with the same. Nothing in the uterus, nothing in the fluid, nothing in the washings from the abdomen, and nothing in the omentum. I am VERY thankful!!! The only reason I was asking your opinion (second-guessing my wonderful doctors) was that as I investigated this on the internet, a lot of the sites mentioned chemotherapy for stage Ic ovarian cancer. But the information was vague as it usually is on the internet. This whole situation has caused me to sort of panic and everything I read just seems upsetting. I guess I should just trust in both my doctors word (which have been nothing but positive and encouraging) and the word of God and quit looking for more problems than I already have. Thank you for you response, Dr. Goodman. I am a healthcare educator and healthcare professional myself and I am finding out that we make the WORST patients!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Joyce67]

I am not sure how to reply to you. Do I just post another comment giving you the answers to the questions in your reply? I am new to this site. Sorry!