Hello have not checked in here for a long time

Good to hear from you Azgrandma, glad you are doing well.  My count is up and my onc wanted to do pet scan.  I didn't get to remission the last two times so chemo is an inevitability.  I asked her if I could take Tamoxifen again because it has helped lower my count before.  It only delays chemo for a few months.  I have fatigue and a lot of aches and pains but my spirits are pretty good.

Karen

There are several but of course we have lost many.  I don't come here very often either.

Hi, I am also still Ned after first line chemo...finished 10/06/2008

It is good to hear from you "veteran" teal sisters!  I'm still here too and still dancing with NED (no evidence of disease) since I finished front-line chemo in March 2011.

Warmly,

Kelly

  Hello “Scared” …And Who isn’t?

 Just want you to know that I’ve read your letter.  Since my own cancer was found quite by accident, and not due to any intense pain either, you are right to get yourself checked out right away.  A Transvaginal Ultrasound is necessary and it is good that you are having it tomorrow.  I’ll refrain from diagnosing you before the doctors do, so I’ll just put a link here to let you know what to expect when you go in for your Transvaginal Ultrasound.  And as always, I recommend a SECOND OPINION whenever preliminary testing seems to indicate cancer PERIOD!  And when you do, choose an oncologist whose specialty is female organs.  (Gynecologic Oncologist)

 So let us know more when you find out more.  We all can identify with the “scared” feeling, but I just read an article recently that indicated all cysts are not necessarily cancerous.  And let us know what the CA-125 tumor marker test number is. 

 There are plenty of ladies here who have different diagnoses all related to the female anatomy.  Depending on what you find out, there’ll be others here who will most certainly be knowledgeable about your particular case.  And the best news would be that it is something that can be taken care of and falls in a category LESS than cancer.

 Prayers for you,

 Loretta Marshall (Peritoneal Carcinomatosis/Ovarian Cancer Stage IV) diagnosed November of 2012

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 1.      http://www.inches-to-cm.com/cm-to-inches.php

 CM to Inches converter

 2.   https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003779.htm

 Transvaginal ultrasound

 Transvaginal ultrasound is a test used to look at a woman's reproductive organs, including the uterus, ovaries, and cervix.

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 3.  http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ovarian-cysts/basics/treatment/con-20019937

 Ovarian cysts – treatments and drugs

 “…Surgery. Your doctor may suggest removal of a cyst if it is large, doesn't look like a functional cyst, is growing, or persists through two or three menstrual cycles. Cysts that cause pain or other symptoms may be removed.

 Some cysts can be removed without removing the ovary in a procedure known as an ovarian cystectomy. In some circumstances, your doctor may suggest removing the affected ovary and leaving the other intact in a procedure known as oophorectomy.

 If a cystic mass is cancerous, however, your doctor will likely advise a total hysterectomy plus removing both ovaries and the fallopian tubes, as well as your uterus. Your doctor is also likely to recommend surgery when a cystic mass develops on the ovaries after menopause…”

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 4.  http://www.baymoon.com/~gyncancer/library/weekly/aa032201a.htm

 “…What is a Gynecologic Oncologist?

 Gynecologic oncologists are specialists in the area of female reproductive cancers.  By training, they are ob-gyns with an extra specialty added on.  This means they complete 4 years of ob/gyn training after medical school, and then 2-4 years of more specialty training beyond that.  They are trained in all the treatments used for gyn cancers - surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and experimental treatments.

 What can a gyn-onc do that other doctors can't?

 Not only do gyn-oncs learn to do surgery on the female reproductive system, but on all the organs of the pelvic and abdominal tissues and organs which may be involved if cancer has spread.  Perhaps most importantly, they are extensively trained in the vital techniques ofsurgical staging and cytoreductive surgery (also called "debulking").  These procedures can ultimately be a matter of life and death.  In Susan's case, for example, accurate surgical staging did not take place.  Even when other specialists perform surgical staging procedures, they are less likely to do it accurately than gyn-oncs. Finding the exact stage of the cancer is vital to planning the best treatment.  In the case of cytoreductive surgery, gyn-oncs simply do a better job of finding and removing tumors that have spread in the pelvic and abdominal areas.

 Another advantage to seeing a gyn-onc is that one doctor can manage all the treatment for a patient, since they are trained both as a surgeon and a specialty oncologist.  They can prescribe and oversee all aspects of a woman's treatment, and are the most likely professional to be well-versed in the latest treatments in the area, including experimental ones…”

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 5.  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3650202/

 Multimodality imaging of ovarian cystic lesions: Review with an imaging based algorithmic approach

 "Abstract

 Ovarian cystic masses include a spectrum of benign, borderline and high grade malignant neoplasms. Imaging plays a crucial role in characterization and pretreatment planning of incidentally detected or suspected adnexal masses, as diagnosis of ovarian malignancy at an early stage is correlated with a better prognosis. Knowledge of differential diagnosis, imaging features, management trends and an algorithmic approach of such lesions is important for optimal clinical management. This article illustrates a multi-modality approach in the diagnosis of a spectrum of ovarian cystic masses and also proposes an algorithmic approach for the diagnosis of these lesions…”

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First diagnosed with clear cell ovarian cancer August 2012. Surgical removal of 10 cm. cyst along with all my lady parts, several lymph nodes, omentum. No follow-up treatment and passed all the hurdles including a clear PET at 1 1/2 years and no elevated CA125 test (ever).  March of 2016 presented at the emergency room with a partially obstructed small bowel.  Had my oby-gyn oncologist do the surgery.  They can do bowel resections too.  Ovarian cancer is back.  No immediate treatments. Opted for a watch and wait as it seems to be very slow growing since it probably took almost 4 years to cause trouble again. PET 4 months post surgery showed no other evidence of disease but the residual of the tumor still there and slightly larger.  Considering radiation now, but the tumor is in a pretty tricky place, increasing risk to bladder and bowel.  This particular type of Ovarian cancer is apparently resistant to the standad chemo for ovarian cancer or may even cause unseen, immature cells to be more aggressive.  Just researching every day, especially the area of immunotherapy.  check out Bristol-Myers Opdivo along with a second immunotherapy drug.  Recently read a book about this kind of treatment, initially approved for Melanoma.  Book is called "A Series of Catastrophies and Miracles"  by Mary Elizabeth Williams.  Very interesting.

Hi AZgrandma! I'm back after almost a year of not being on, but something prompted me to get back on.  I'm also in AZ!

I started here back in July 2011 I was diagnosed with Stage 3C Ovarian Cancer and was on a clinical trial for 15 months.  I've been blessed with a remission since then and I'm sneaking up on 5 years!  Definitely beating the odds that were presented to me at diagnosis.

I'm visiting my oncologist for my 6 month followup on the 26th and looking forward to a low ca125 and a clean exam.

Good to see Kikz on here also!

Blessings,

Carmen

I am still here.  Finished up chemo in mid-June 2016.  My CA-125 was abnormal (90, it has not fallen below 90).  So the doctor ordered a PET scan, and I get the results tomorrow.  MAJOR scan-itis.