borderline serous

[kellyo40]

Hi, just had a cyst removed and pathology said i is non invasive low grade borderline serous. What exactly does this mean? Does anyone know what the prognosis could be. i see the gynocologist/oncologist next week. My gynocologist did my original surgery and removed my right ovary, cyst,  and tube. My CA 125 was low so she thought it was just a cyst she was wrong. Know what?
Worried sick

[Nerdymom]

H kelly,

I was in your exact same shoes a little over a year ago.  I had what my gyn thought was 'just a cyst' removed using laparoscopy.  Turned out to be borderline serous.  My washings were positive and I had a small non-invasive implant in my peritoneum as well as a tumor on my ovary.

I was sent to a gyn-onc and about 1 month later had a full TAH-BSO.  It's a staging surgery so I had a full laparotomy and spent 5 days in the hospital.   Final staging, 2c borderline serous.  These tumors do no respond to chemotherapy so they are treated surgically.  Good prognosis.  You'll want to make sure yours is not the 'micropapillary' type because those are more aggressive like carcinoma.  Most likely your intial path report would have indicated that, so don't fret!

I'm available to answer any questions for you.  Send me an IM and we can converse there :)  Hang in there!

[gls2824]

I had a serous borderline tumor in my right ovary.  Had a TAH/BSO in January 2009.  No chemo.  I was staged 1C.

I went for 3 month check-ups and a CA-125 test.  Now going every 6 months.  these tumors very rarely recur and when they do, surgery is usually the course of treatment once again.

I consider myself very lucky and hope to live a full, long life.  The prognosis for this kind of tumor is excellent (95% survival rate).  The other 5% usually succumb to complications, not necessarily from the tumors (e.g., bowel obstructions, etc.).

Good luck.  And I agree with another poster -- keep on top of the research and be your own advocate.  if something doesn't feel right, speak up!

There's a lot of good information on this board.  A while ago, there was an in-depth discussions of borderline cases.  You can research it here.

[chelan3]

Hi I also had this diagnosis nine years ago and am doing fine.  No treatment was necessary although I did opt for a full hysterectomy a year and a half after diagnosis.  I had follow-ups with gyn every 6 mons for 5 years including a yearly CT scan.  

I would recommend a second opnion on the pathology though, borderline ovca is a tricky pathology and you want to be certain it is borderline serous ovca and not a more invasive ovca!

Good luck and take care.
Debbie

[kcd86]

I am sorry you have to go threw this it is very stressfull to have this hanging over your head. Below is an overview of ovarian cancers, read this as a guide to help you understand ovca.

My wife was recently Dx with granulosa Cell cancer( GCT) Jan 2010 and I know what it feels like to not know what the next step is. Here is a quick overview.

Tests like sonograms, Cat scans and MRI's along with blood tests like CA125, Inhibin A&B, MIS and CEA are just used as a guides for the Dr's to help assist in making a diagnoses(Dx).
The blood test CA-125 is a test used by Dr's as a guide to determine if you have the most common form of ovarian cancer, approximately 80% of all ovarian cancers are epitheal ovarian cancer which is cancer of the cells on the surface of your ovary. Please keep in mind that CA-125 can be elevated if your menstruating and some other causes of inflamation,conversely CA-125 can be low or zero if you have other forms of ovca.
There are other types of ovarian cancer that are hormone driven and depending which form a person has there will be excess symptoms of that specific hormone. This is the type my wife was Dx with granulosa cell ca. These group type are called sex cord -stromal tumors. These type of tumors have specific markes that the Dr's use just like ca-125 to aide in their dx of epitheal ovarian ca. They are Inhibin A&B and MIS. Please keep in mind if and only if you have a dx of these form of tumors there is a missconception that these tumors are always benign, which is completely false> They are just slow growing tumors as opposed to epitheal.
Unfortunately with any type of suspected ovarian mass/tumor/ suspicious cyst(s) surgery will be the only way for the Dr's too make a definitive Dx.
*****It is NOT recommended to biopsy any ovarian mass/tumor/suspicious cyst as it can rupture and seed the pelvis with cancer cells if that what it turns out to be. **********
.
******************************************************************************************************
Since there is some suspicion  I would immediately find a good GYN/Oncologist surgeon. I am not suggesting what you have is cancer but studies have shown that treatment of ovarian cancer by nongynecologic oncologists and by low volume surgeons is associated with suboptimal surgical management. I would reccomend going to a large tiertiary hopsital where they see large volumes of patients.  This is not to make you worry even more but to make sure that the Dr who treats you has vast experience with diagnosing and treating various types of GYN / Onc issues if that is what it turns out to be. If the Dr wants to remove the cyst/mass via laprascopic procedure #####PLEASE make sure they have much experience with removing these INTACT! All too often I read posts from patients who say their Dr thought it was a cyst and removed it haphazardly causing a rupture and seeding of the pelvis with cancer cells, only to be found on pathology post removal. ######
****************************************************************************************************
Next: From experience I would be asking for an MRI of the abdomen/pelvis ,MRI's are very precise when read by a **Radiologist that specializes in GYN/ONC**, My wife went to a radiology practice that does all types of MRI's and the Radiologist read her MRI as a fibroid. I then took her to Sloan Kettering in NYC to see a GYN/ONC surgeon Dr Carol Brown(excellent) who had the MRI repeated by a GYN/ONC Radiologist who called her DX to the tee which was confirmed after surgery.
The best advice you see all over these posts is you have to be your own advocate, be aggresive and stay on top of your phycicians. Get copies of all your tests/results as you are entitled to them. Post with any other questions you have this site has some very knowledgeable people on it. I wish you all the best.
Kevin

[kcd86]

Borderline ovarian serous tumors,  depending on what the pathology report says will depend on the course of treatment. Removal of the mass and staging is done just as if they would do for any of the ovarian cancers. You should find out if they did a cell mitotic rate index on the path report. A high mitotic rate can mean a more agressive form .
But I also believe these cancers have a high rate of long term survival.
You should get copies of all reports and discuss in depth with your GYN/Oncologist> It is imperative that you are being treated by a GYN/Oncologist as studies have shown a much better long term survival when you are treated by the specialist> What did the cytology of the perionieal cavity show? Ask your gyn if they removed the cyst/mass intact???
You have found a great site with some very knowlegable people on it. Post with any other questions you may have.
I wish you al the best
Kevin