ovarian cancer spreading to bones/brain?

[Allison666]

Im waiting for scans to my whole body (my bones and brain in particular) I was diagnosed two years ago withn stage 3c Ovarian cancer. I had surgery an taxol/carbo chemo. Found out in june last year its still around! Spread to liver,scar tissue, lymph nodes and vagina. Been having pain in hip, chest and head. Can my type of cancer spread to these other places?? Im 41 years old

[Annekathryn Goodman, M.D.]

Dear Allison,

It is very unusual for ovarian cancer to travel to the bones and brain. that is because the usually mode of spread with ovarian cancer is local extension (which is why problems in the abdomen are so common) or through the lymphatic channels. Cancers that travel to the brain and bones spread through the blood stream. But having said that, it can happen.

Any unusual pain such as what you are experiencing should be worked up with a bone scan and a head scan (either MRI or head CT scan although MRI gives more information.) Should those tests be normal, there are other reasons that you can have pain:

Women who have gone through surgical menopause and chemotherapy are at higher risk for fracture (osteoporosis related). Additionally, women will commonly experience severe bone pain and joint pain after chemotherapy. This is treated just like arthritis pain.

Chest pain can be present for people experiencing tumor in the liver. It would be important to check your liver and make sure there is no growth of the tumor. The liver sits under the ribs and the right lung. People can even feel pain in the right shoulder as "referred" pain from irritation of the diaphragm (the muscle boundary between abdomen and lung). Other causes of chest pain include fluid in the lungs and pulmonary embolus.

I am sure your doctor is considering all of these possibilities.

Please let us know how you are doing
take care

ps thanx nyc lady for your sweet comments!

[nyc lady]

Until the wonderful doctor comes along and responds, there are two great women on the patient to patient forum that have had mets to the brain, Freshair (Helen) and Newlegallife(Kristie).  They may be aple to help you with some of your questions from a personal, vs, a medical prespective.

Best of luck to you and I am certain that Dr Goodman will be along shortly with wonderful advice for you.