Is it definitely Ovarian Cancer

[sktmom]

Hi,
I took your advice that you gave me a couple months to go back to the doctor, but the process has been slow. When they repeated my ultrasound, the cyst on my left ovary had increased to 5 cm and they couldn't find my right ovary. Then when I finally went to the ob/gyn my stomach was so big they had to drain the fluid. The doctor said there were ovarian cancer cells in the fluid. I wasn't given a definite diagnosis yet because I was told I had to wait for the gyn/onc for that, but my appointment isn't for another 2 weeks.

I have three questions. First, this was a regular ultrasound, not a transvaginal.... how accurate is the regular ultrasound compared to the transvaginal.

Second, if they couldn't find the ovary...what could this mean... is it out of place or was the fluid hiding it?

Finally, having ovarian cancer cells in the fluid does that necessarily mean that I have cancer or is there a possibility that I don't.

Thank you

[Bo33]

Take charge of your health and your life!!!! Are you kidding me!!! If you gotta ask questions then do it. If they can't give you a definitive answer then just like a cust service rep on hold tell them to put u in touch with someone who can. I work in the health field. I also work in law enforcement, and the one thing that I learned with my results of waiting for my ca 125 test results.. I got a second opinion.

I will live and not allow myself to give place to the devil for all the obstacles in my life.
If they sent you for an ultrasound a transvaginal is better. ASK FOR IT.  If they say no then go elsewhere. That is ridiculous if they say you been diagnosed with it find out what stage where you stand and what are your options!! Dont stop living!!!  Yes deal with your emotions and how you feel because your entitled to all feelings!! But you put that wrath back where it needs to be and get them to cater to what you ask!!! I will be praying for you...

Sincerely,
Ms lady cop nurse

[Aussie000]

My mother had a CT and it showed up ascites and large cysts, 2 weeks later she was operated on and only then did we find out it was stage 4, I can't see how they can diagnose stage 4 without an operation to see if the cancer cells have spread, she never had chemo prior to her operation.
She then had 6 rounds of chemo and now nearly 3 years on, her CA125 is only 22. Please remain positive, attitude counts for a lot, my mother refuses to give in to this hideous disease, she has just come back from a trip around the world and meditates daily.

[EchoUK]

Hello Sam,

Was your surgery done by a oncological gynecologist because if not I would suggest that you look for a second opinion? As for how long you may live - who really knows?

Hope things start to improve for you soon,

Hugs from Ruth in the UK x

[Sam88]

by the way the reason i was screaming was a result of the tumour rupturing - nasty and painful fluid stuff

[Sam88]

hi i am sry to hear about your situation - ur unlucky to have got Drs that have stuffe around.

i was diagnosed with 2 tumours a month ago after i started vomiting and screaming in agony one morning - i had had no previous simptoms and have never been sick b4.  and i am 19!!!! not cool!

i had a tumour on my R ovary 15cm x 11cm x 9cm and one next to my stomach - 11 x 10 x 13cm.  had a laparoscopy & found more spots on my L ovary and on my abdoman lining.
i had surgery a week later to remove my R ovary (w tumour), tumour near my stomach, the spots on my L ovary and half my abdoman lining.
a week later i started chemo for what they thought was a combo of small cell and epithelial ovarian cancer - that was 2 wks ago
more tests revealed that i have only small cell ovarian cancer - my oncologist rang me today to tell me what the new chemo treatment would be and instead of only having to have 1 day of chemo (plus the wk of side effects) they want to give me 6hrs a day for 5 days straight every 3 wks of BEP chemo.

to top it off my Dr has changed her mind about how long i will live - changing it from (a wk ago) up to 10yrs, to (as of today) a few months to a year - even though my CT and Bone Scans came back completely clear!!! grrrrrrr

now i am trying to dec ide whether or not to go ahead with chemo or try to combat this naturally and just enjoy however long i have! which i says is longer then a year!!!

oh well i hope everything goes well for you and good luck in all things you do - most of all try to be happy and positive - it helps.

[Anna-maria74]

they took it out lol I mean heaven forbid that we might want to support each other outside the forum. Ok!

ams lf 34 at ya hoo dot co dot uk

[Anna-maria74]

Surgery is needed to stage and grade OC but I imagine they assume metz due to the liver and lungs involvment. It is usual to have chemo first to reduce the tumor and make surgery more managable. If you want to have a chat email me on ***@****. I am well aware im not suppose to post that but I have never been one to follow rules lol

email me for a chat

Anna X

[sktmom]

I went to my appointment with my gyn/onc. Based on a biopsy, fluid removed from my abdomen, a CT and a chest x-ray he is saying that I definitely have ovarian cancer. The biopsy and ovary he said showed ovarian cancer. In addition to the masses on the CT he said there are masses and fluid on the lungs. He says that it is very likely stage 4 and would like to try some rounds of chemo first and then surgery and then some more rounds of chemo. I have two questions.....

Is it possible to state a stage and diagnose with those tests? I thought surgery was necessary to stage an diagnose.

Is it usual to have chemotherapy first and then surgery and then more chemotherapy? If it is.... how effective is it compared to having surgery first?

[Annekathryn Goodman, M.D.]

Hi There,
I agree with all the wonderful advice and support that you have received.
It is really good that your appointment is on Monday.

when an ultrasound cannot see the ovary, it can be because it is small or there is bowel gas in the way. A transvaginal ultrasound is more accurate.

If there are cancer cells in the fluid, this may represent ovarian cancer. Other malignant tumors that can cause fluid called ascites include peritoneal cancer which is cancer that comes from the lining of the abdomen or certain cancers that start in the uterus.

I can only imagine how scary and hard it is to wait 2 days.

I imagine that the gyn oncologist will talk with you about surgery. Surgery will give  a complete understanding of what you are experiencing. The standard surgery involevs removing the uterus, both tubes and ovaries, and are any other growths that could involve the omentum, appendix.

The areas seen on the CT scan aroudn the liver and kidneys will be looked at carefully and if those are mailgnat growths, they will be removed.

Please keep us posted
best wishes

[sktmom]

Thank you for the information andsupport. I did manage to talk to the gyn/onc yesterday who said that he hadn't received my reports from my primary. Within a half hour his office called me back with the CT report and pushed my appointment to Monday. There was a lot about the report that I didn't understand. My basic understanding is that there are masses on liver, one kidney and my diapraghm as well on on my ovaries. I am very worried as to what all this means and makes the two days until my appointment seem like so much longer than when my appointment was two weeks away. Thank you again.

[Casey06]

Gyn Onc:

http://www.wcn.org

[phone]

[Casey06]

You need to see a Gynolcologic Oncologist NOW! Find one ASAP and get the results from your doctor regarding pathology of fluid drained. Demand your current doctor do it or demand you egt the path report and then camp out on a gyn oncs door.

Do you know how to find a gyn onc?

I will post a seperate message with a link, just put in your zip code.

We are so very sorry your doctor is handling the situation this way and we are sorry to scare you, but there is no time to wait around when your doctor says there are cancer cells in your fluid!
Not sure what he is thinking, but he does not sound very competent.

We will think of you and wait to hear back.

[Anna-maria74]

Ok I shall answer your questions as best I can.

Firstly an ultrasound is not as accurate as a trans vag because the trans vag affords a much more detailed look at the organs involved. I am quite suprised they didnt give you one if they couldnt find the ovary. Generally a trans vag is also given if you dont have a full enough bladder during the regular ultrasound.

The ovary is most likely hidden by the tumor - it is not unusal for the ovary to be hidden when the tumor is quite large. I really dont understand why you werent given a trans vag when they couldnt see that ovary - thats puzzling.

However this is all pretty much academic because if you have ovarian cancer cells in the ascites then I am so so sorry to say that you do most likely have ovarian cancer. I am totally speachless that you were given this much information without a difinitive DX.  

Now the rant!

DO NOT WAIT FOR ANYTHING. Camp outside doctors office, demand answers, demand treatment NOW. Do not be fobbed off you have one chance to get this right so take no cr** from anyone. Get the surgery booked to have it removed and staged and make the biggest fuss you have ever made in your life till its done.

MAKE A FUUUUSSSSSSSSSSSSSS. Dont be worried about social graces this is YOUR life. Do what ever it takes to make the ball rolling faster. Dont you dare be polite. There is a thin line between assertive and aggressive - CROSS IT!

Please stay with us and let us know how its all going we will all support you all the way through your journey

All my prayers,

Anna X

[boys2mom]

Just want you to know that you have people here that are thinking of you.  I've had to play the "waiting game" for appointments and test results.  That 2 weeks can make a person crazy.  Try to stay busy (I know easier said than done) but it is important.  I wish you the best, and pray for good results.
Carolyn