Dysgerminoma spread

[MzChiChi719]

Hi everyone, I'm so glad I found this forum. I'm 24 years old recently diagnosed with dysgerminoma, a type of germ cell tumor I'm told. I had surgery last week to remove a large mass, they said around 15cm from my left ovary along w/ my ovary and my fallopian tube. They also took biopsies of my lymph nodes, my bladder, and some fatty covering of my uterus. I'm waiting to get results back to see if they found any cancer cells in those areas. It seems like most people got chemotherapy...does it mean that it spread for you guys? Or was it just a standard procedure after surgery? I talk to my gyno oncologist in a few days but I'm very anxious. She says everything else looked normal from my ultrasound, mri, and from going in.

Anyone know what the chances are that it has spread? Did it spread for you? Should I get chemo even if it has not spread? The doctor said I don't need it if they find that everything else is normal...

Thanks for all your help.

[MzChiChi719]

Hi Kevin,

Thanks for the informative response! I iwll definitely ask my doctor all of the questions you suggested and will get back to update. I see my doctor today but as of yesterday my biopsy report hasn't gotten back yet. Thanks again and best wishes to you and your wife.

[kcd86]

I am sorry you have to go threw this it is very stressfull to have this constantly hanging over you and your daughters head. My wife was recently Dx with granulosa Cell cancer( GCT) Jan 2010 .
Germ Cell Tumors- Dysgerminoma if positive for of ovarian cancer by pathology  are hormone driven and depending which form a person has there will be excess symptoms of that specific hormone. These tumors often produce excess estrogen/testosterone, and symptoms related to excessive hormone secretion of either are common. For women who are post menopause and have vag bleed it is due to excessive estrogen. When there is a lack of menses then it is probably due to excessive testosterone but with any cancer nothing is written in stone.  
Please keep in mind if and only if you have a diagnoses of these form of tumors there is a missconception that these tumors are always benign, which is completely false> They are just slow growing cancerous tumors as opposed to epitheal ovarian cancer. This cancer can possibly never return if removed intact, nodes are clear and pelvic washings were clear along with a low mitotic rate. Or unfortunately it can rear it's ugly head 5,10 and 15 years from now,this will be a life long vigilance.
My wife's Dr's in Sloan Kettering in NYC said she also has nothing to worry about because they removed the ovary fully intact. Removing the ovary fully intact is an indication for possibly no further tumors will develop.(cross our fingers)
Ask your surgeon if your tumor was removed intact. It is very important to find out if this was removed intact because if it was massarated/punctured than seeding of the pelvis is probable. Did the surgeon take any pelvic washings to see if there was any cancer cells in the pelvis.
They also said no further testing is needed. I have her Inhibin A&B done every 6 months. Also important is the mitotic level of the cancer cells being rated on a (1-10) scale, this is an index of how potentially virulent or agressive the cancer cells may be. Dr use that # as a guide to see if they want to do further treatment

A large majority of women with dysgerminomas present with early stage I disease.  Bilateral ovarian disease is more common with dysgerminoma than with any other malignant OGCT
Regards
Kevin