Surgery in a week - What should I be asking / doing?

[melissam8484]

I have a mass on my left ovary (7.7cm x 3.8cm x 5.3cm).  There is a good chance it isn't cancer (many risk factors are in my favor), but there is a chance that it is!  I'm curious if you experienced folks have tips on what I should ask the doctor / advice for post-surgery, etc.  

I believe the left ovary will almost definitely come out, and depending on what they find then possibly a good bit more.  I'm 38 and childless, but not particularly concerned with fertility (I've fostered before and wouldn't mind adopting if I wanted kids) - however I am definitely concerned with surgical menopause and it's possible repercussions.  

A gynecological oncologist will be assisting my GYN during the surgery.  I am mostly asymptomatic, but I had an ovarian cyst rupture which sent me to the ER - in the follow-up from that is when they found the mass.  The other ovary looks cystic as well, so the doctor is suggesting that even if it stays it I should be on birth control pills after to keep the cysts under control.

Laproscopy is for sure, Laparotomy might be needed in any case, definitely if more than the one ovary comes out.    

I've always been so healthy and never been on any drugs - I'm not looking forward to this!  But certainly if there is cancer I want it out ASAP, so I'm just looking to your collective wisdom for tips to get the best possible experience and treatment from the beginning.  

Many thanks

Melissa

[melissam8484]

Thanks for the reply!   I haven't met the oncologist yet, but I'm scheduled to meet him on Tues (then a pre-op appointment with the gyn on Wed).  My gyn thinks very highly of the oncologist and I think pretty highly of this gyn - but I don't really know how to get more information about him other than just going and talking to him myself.  How do you get an objective rating of a surgeon?  Or is there such a thing?  

At any rate I doubt there would be time to reschedule with a different doctor, and I know that my gyn is very comfortable working with him.  I also know he's got upwards of 15 yrs experience as a gyn oncologist, so hopefully that's some evidence that he's qualified.  :-)  

Hyster Sister looks great!  I really appreciate that tip - I always feel better knowing as much as possible ahead of time.  I'll go read more there...

[Angie1992]

Hello, it sounds like they think it may not be cancer, so that is great.  Also that a surgical oncologist will be assisting is wise.  The first question that keeps popping into my head is prior surgery, have you met the oncologist or do you know anything about him? If there is a problem and he does become involved, I would want to meet him.  Another thing you should know before the surgery is that the more aggressive the surgeon is at getting all of the cancer, the better survival rate.  So do some googleing on that and you will see the studies back that up.  If  it is cancer, which they will know also based on the pathological reports, you will want to know the best treatments, such as now a lot of doctors are pushing the abdominal chemotherapy.  These decisions will be based on the staging and type of cancer too.

I have no experience with cysts, sorry.  With menopause, there are many different choices out there now for women who experience problems and there is a web site called Hyster Sister that will send you a great free booklet about that and what happens before and after the surgery.

After surgery, report all problems and get answers, if you have a supportive doctor that is great.  Hope this helps some, best of luck and prayers on your upcoming surgery. Angie