Lymphocele?

Hi Monika,

I always follow your postings with interest, because we had the same OVCA stage and treatment, but you've probably read that I was originally dx with uterine cancer, and the OVCA was found during the hysterectomy.

The definition I found of a lymphocele is: "Cystic mass containing lymph from diseased lymphatic channels or following surgical trauma or other injury." This makes me wonder if the lymphocele could be a residual effect of your surgery, especially if it has been seen before.

I haven't had a CT scan since before my surgery (it didn't show either of the cancers), and I wonder if you would tell me how often you have them. It seems like I've had every recommended routine testing, but no one's suggested a CT scan - and I've seen my hemo/chemo doc, ob/gyn, and family physician faithfully. Could your doctor be using CT scans to monitor the lymphocele?

Your CA125 has been similar to what mine was, too, but dropped to 12.3 for the last two tests. My surgery was in Sept. 2002, so after the next three-month check, I go to six months for the hemo/chemo doc and ob/gyn doctor checkups (the h/c doesn't do internal exams for some reason). My surgery was done by a gynecologic oncologist in a bigger city, because there aren't any here.

I hope this gives you some good questions to ask your doctor. I first came to the board because no one had explained what a CA125 level was, and know it's hard to figure out what's being done (and why) at times.

I'm so sorry to hear about your parent's problems, and hope you have found the inner strength to get you to the other side of them without doing yourself harm. I'm sure you faith in God will help you through all of this.

BonnieR said:

Hi Monica, I have 2 lympoceles in my right abdomen cavity as a result of surgery. You mentioned your cancer had been in your lymph nodes also so I would suspect you have had this lymphocele all along. I did send a personal email with more information.

Now the changing ca125. It can fluctuate with stress but your Dr is just being carefull and that is why he is being watchful. Thank God he isn't just making light of it. Better to be safe than sorry. I would think with all you are dealing with has put you under a tremendous amount of stress.

About the CT Scans. I have always had them every 3 months and then just when we were going to go to every 6 months the cancer started to show it's ugly head. My cancer doesn't show up on the ct scan yet so we did a pet scan. The PET scan shows where the cancer activity is before it forms a mass that shows up on the CT Scan. My counts were over 50 by the time we did this. They had jumped from 6 to 57 to be exact. A constant increase never going down. So it's a good sign that yours are fluctuating and not just going up.

I hope I have been a little bit helpful. I know it can only be putting more stress on you to deal with all of this while you are going through so much else.

Take Care my friend and Rest in God's Love and Grace. Prayers Bonnie

Hi Bonnie, Do you know if you've had the CT scans because of the lymphoceles? The lymph nodes that they took from me didn't have cancer cells, but the cancerous ovary had ruptured. That's what put me in the C classification.

I wish you the best with your treatment. I've met a number of women who are living after being dx with higher stages and who have had multiple treatments, and it gives me faith in what can be done now.