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Mets from ovarian cancer
Some of you, here, saw my post last week about my oldest sister dying. I was just ticked at the time about the way my niece let me know she had died. Another thought came to my mind afterwards. She died of cancer with liver mets. They did not know where the primary was. She was diagnosed and gone in 10 days. When she was in her late 30's she had and hysterectomy and an oopherectomy for possible ovarian cancer. They findings at that time were negative. The doc did leave her a piece of one ovary so she would not go through surgical menopause. could this have been ovarian cancer now that spread to her liver? My niece won't give me any information, I'm sure. How common is it to spread to the liver?
I asked an oncologist where I worked what the route was. Liver is one of the last places of spread and it is usually due an abdominal tumor attaching when it is seen in early diagnosis and to the organ rather than popping up as spots like lung, breast,colon does. But it can go to brain also but complications to spread of other places usually does not allow you to see the brain mets. He said that ovarian cancer recovery is soely based on getting it treated with something that responds to it the first go around of treatments-he said that is the tricky part right now and that research trials are everywhere now and are quite promising.
I would like to say how sorry I am for your loss.
Your sister's journey sounds exactly like my mothers.
My mother was 42 when she had a hysterectomy. They left 1 ovary so she would not have to go through menopause.
At 57- after 2 years of feeling horrid and going to all kinds of doctors - she finally was diagnosed with advanced Stage 3C ovarian cancer.
Yes, it does spread to the liver. My mother has since had many operations, including having her spleen removed, part of her liver, part of her stomach and many other parts - all organs that are within your abdominal cavity.
I hope this helps.
Your sister's journey sounds exactly like my mothers.
My mother was 42 when she had a hysterectomy. They left 1 ovary so she would not have to go through menopause.
At 57- after 2 years of feeling horrid and going to all kinds of doctors - she finally was diagnosed with advanced Stage 3C ovarian cancer.
Yes, it does spread to the liver. My mother has since had many operations, including having her spleen removed, part of her liver, part of her stomach and many other parts - all organs that are within your abdominal cavity.
I hope this helps.
I'm so sorry to hear about your sisters; cancer regardless of which kind seems to be so rampant. I have family members that have died (or in remission) from all kinds of cancers and it seems like everyone I know has family members that have died or in remission from one kind or another. I would think that your neice would want to know for sure why her mother died but people react differantly to the deaths of loved ones. I just wanted to send a hug to you.....
According to my gyn/onc ovarian cancer does spread to liver and lungs, among other places.
xrayu2
My sister was a heavy smoker for years. She only quit about 3 years ago. She had been diagnosed with emphysema a number of years before that. Lung cancer, as the primary, was the first thing I thought of.
To all
I had sent christmas cards and some birthday cards. When our mom died I tried to smooth things over. I was always the peace maker when I lived at home. I agree that my niece shoud know what the primary was. She is also a health care worker( repiratory tech) so I am sure she knows this. I guess what bothers me also is that this niece was only 5 years younger than me. My mom always baby sat her siblings and her. We were more like sister growing up. After I met me husband, through her even, we double dated. Who knows what life will bring. As the youngest in the family I knew I would probably outlive most of them but I thought I would make it to my 60's or 70's before that happened. I realized the other day that I have lost all of my siblings in the last 5 years. No wonder I feel like a brick hit me on this one.
I should know whats going on with me soon enough. I have my surgery Mon. Junes 19. I just wish it was over with. I have one distraction. I am going out with a bunch of former co-workers because of a retirement in the lab. Should be a good evening. We are going to a dinner theatre about 20 miles a way. I am looking forward to getting a chance to chat with every one. Thanks for all the input, support, and information.
My sister was a heavy smoker for years. She only quit about 3 years ago. She had been diagnosed with emphysema a number of years before that. Lung cancer, as the primary, was the first thing I thought of.
To all
I had sent christmas cards and some birthday cards. When our mom died I tried to smooth things over. I was always the peace maker when I lived at home. I agree that my niece shoud know what the primary was. She is also a health care worker( repiratory tech) so I am sure she knows this. I guess what bothers me also is that this niece was only 5 years younger than me. My mom always baby sat her siblings and her. We were more like sister growing up. After I met me husband, through her even, we double dated. Who knows what life will bring. As the youngest in the family I knew I would probably outlive most of them but I thought I would make it to my 60's or 70's before that happened. I realized the other day that I have lost all of my siblings in the last 5 years. No wonder I feel like a brick hit me on this one.
I should know whats going on with me soon enough. I have my surgery Mon. Junes 19. I just wish it was over with. I have one distraction. I am going out with a bunch of former co-workers because of a retirement in the lab. Should be a good evening. We are going to a dinner theatre about 20 miles a way. I am looking forward to getting a chance to chat with every one. Thanks for all the input, support, and information.
I have not seen very many ovarian cancer patients with liver mets. Breast, colon, lung usually go to the liver. I am sure it can. What I have seen is the tumor just continuing growth on surrounding structures(ureter, bowel, mesentary lining) I have seen it go to lung. I am sure it depends on the type o f ovarian cancer.
I believe that stage IV Ovarian Cancer means that it had spread to the liver or breasts or lungs. I'm not sure though, how someone can have a stage of disease that high and not know. (Although I had 3c and pretty much thought I had a bad bladder infection, so I guess it is possible.) I am the youngest of 3 sisters, and I am so sorry for what you have gone through with your family. I really can't imagine what goes through peoples heads when they are sick and cut thier own family out. I hope you are able to get some much needed answers and move forward from this terrible time in your life.
Hi I'm sorry to hear about your sister. My best friend is in a similar situation. She found out on the local evening news that her older sister who she hasn't been on good terms with is dying of lung cancer (has about 4 more months to live). Her sister's family were on the news highlighting the problems with the healthcare system in Canada and went to the legislature to find some answers. My friend was shocked and didn't know what to do. She decided to send her sister a letter and ask her to write back or phone her collect, she never answered. Her birthday was last week and she decided she'd send a card and leave her cell phone number - she hasn't heard from her.
My father wasn't on speaking terms with an older sister when she died - they had been close and lived in same town.
It's tough, when someone is sick sometimes they're just not thinking straight too.
About your question on the autospy - my dad died of liver mets - they never found the primary - they didn't do an autospy - but I almost wish they did.
Debbie
My father wasn't on speaking terms with an older sister when she died - they had been close and lived in same town.
It's tough, when someone is sick sometimes they're just not thinking straight too.
About your question on the autospy - my dad died of liver mets - they never found the primary - they didn't do an autospy - but I almost wish they did.
Debbie
Hi Brenda,
I am so sorry to hear about both your sisters! There are way too many of the Cysters here that seem to also have liver problems as well and I gotta believe there is a connection. There probably was not an autopsy unless her family asked for one so you may never know. The real kicker is that the niece who was less than graceful in breaking the news to you is the one who would benefit most from knowing what took her mother. When things settle down, and you are hurting a little less, perhaps you can think of a way to tell her she should have the genetic testing done. Fate delivers us some bitter jobs sometimes! Hang in there Brenda! Mary V
I am so sorry to hear about both your sisters! There are way too many of the Cysters here that seem to also have liver problems as well and I gotta believe there is a connection. There probably was not an autopsy unless her family asked for one so you may never know. The real kicker is that the niece who was less than graceful in breaking the news to you is the one who would benefit most from knowing what took her mother. When things settle down, and you are hurting a little less, perhaps you can think of a way to tell her she should have the genetic testing done. Fate delivers us some bitter jobs sometimes! Hang in there Brenda! Mary V
I am way heavier than that. I am hoping the 2 day bowel prep and the surgery will help get me started on the way down. One thing that my endocrinologist could not believe is that my cholesterol levels are great. I told her there must be a hereditary factor there some where. What with the diabetes I have to get some breaks, I guess. I know if I lose enough weight I can probably come off of insulin. My mom lost 55lbs one time when she was very sick. She had been on insulin for a number of years. They took her right back to just one pill a day and no insulin. I think she stayed on that until she died. My one big fear with diabetes is my eyesight. My mom was legally blind in later years because she did not keep her sugar levels under control. Thank goodness, my A1C levels( a three month average of the levels) have been in a normal range for people that are not diabetic. Again my endocrinologist was really pleased. She signed me over to my family doctors care last year because I was doing so well. I see and ophthomalagist once a year to check for diabetic changes in my eyes. If they catch them early they can treat them. That's where I'm heading tomorrow. He is in Markham about 40 min drive. I hope the sun goes in while I'm driving home. It was really bright last year and the drops they put in your eyes keep the pupils from contracting in bright lite. That was some trip home. I have a better pair of sun glasses this year so they should help.
Here! Here! I totally agree about how this changes you. I, too, have vowed that I will improve my eating habits--more fresh fruit and veggies. And exercise more.
I hate both, but I will do them! I lost six pounds the first wweek of this, so I figure I may as well continue to get my weight back to where I want it.
Plus, I sit all day at work--which isn't good. Funny how a scare like this can get you motivated.
I hate both, but I will do them! I lost six pounds the first wweek of this, so I figure I may as well continue to get my weight back to where I want it.
Plus, I sit all day at work--which isn't good. Funny how a scare like this can get you motivated.
To tell the truth I don't think my niece knows either. Would they do an autopsy on some one who died like this to determine the primary? I may, depending on what my surgery shows , send my niece an email of my own asking if she knows so I will have it for my family history. The sister, that just died, had smoked for years and had emphysema. She finally quit about 3 years ago. When I saw her at my other sisters funeral she actually looked quite good. She was still a b**** and ran down the sister that had just died but I did not expect any more from her. I was closest to the sis that died then and I planned her funeral and made the call to not take heroic measures to keep her alive. Extensive brain damage from the carbon monoxide from the fire. We had talked a lot about this type of thing and knew each others wishes. Good thing.
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