Clean Colonoscopy & Need Help With Questions for Doctor

anicca
anicca Member Posts: 334 Member
in Ovarian Cancer #1
I finally had a colonoscopy yesterday, my first ever. I was extremely nervous about it because of the weird GI problems I'd been having since New Year's. I woke to hear that everything was fine, not even any polyps. I'm so glad I've got that taken care of!

I'm having my 6 month check up next week, on the 15th, and have put together a short list of questions for my doctor. When I woke from my surgery, he told me it was stage 1 and curable, but that was before the full path and cytology reports. I was happy to believe I would be fine for the rest of my life, and have only slowly researched the details. Now I want to know everything there is to know about what I've got. Please help me expand my list or add detail to the questions I already have. Here they are:

1) What are the statistics on my particular tumor, that is, cell type and grade?

2) Given the particulars of my tumor, what is the likelihood and likely timing of a recurrence?

3) I read that mixed cell types are more susceptible to chemo than pure clear cell. Is this true?

4) What do you think about IV Vitamin C? Is it something I could do now?

5) What is the schedule of follow ups? (was told before, need to write it down)

6) Can I have MRI's instead of CAT scans? (radiation worries)

Comments

  • LaundryQueen
    LaundryQueen Member Posts: 676
    #2
    Weird GI problems
    It's good that your colonoscopy was normal so that's a relief.

    I have heard about a relatively new test called the HE4 (human epididymis protein) which is useful for determining recurrence (especially in those women who may have had low CA-125 results with recurrence of the disease). Maybe you could ask your doctor about that.

    The only other question that I would add would be related to your "weird GI problems." You seem to have all the bases covered already regarding your known condition.

    I am worried about radiation, too; it seems like the PET/CT scan is more accurate than MRI or CT alone. And nothing short of biopsy is 100% accurate anyway.
  • anicca
    anicca Member Posts: 334 Member
    #3
    LaundryQueen said:

    Weird GI problems
    It's good that your colonoscopy was normal so that's a relief.

    I have heard about a relatively new test called the HE4 (human epididymis protein) which is useful for determining recurrence (especially in those women who may have had low CA-125 results with recurrence of the disease). Maybe you could ask your doctor about that.

    The only other question that I would add would be related to your "weird GI problems." You seem to have all the bases covered already regarding your known condition.

    I am worried about radiation, too; it seems like the PET/CT scan is more accurate than MRI or CT alone. And nothing short of biopsy is 100% accurate anyway.

    Thank you.
    I've never heard of the HE4 test. I will certainly add that to my list. My CA-125 was only 200 when I was diagnosed, so it seems relevant.

    DB

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