After chemo...

What area are you in? I'm in Michigan and have a wonderful gynecologic/oncologist. He's not perfect, but I wouldn't go anywhere else. He's compassionate, thorough, and believes in quality of life.

My second surgery was for another mass (recurrance) so I don't have experience with exploratory surgeries. I agree with Bonnie that it's relative to your circumstances and I would certainly be sure it's necessary and if so, try to take care of any issues all at once. My first surgery was full hysterectomy, omentum and lymph node removal. Second surgery I had a mass removed, more lymph nodes, and I requested that my appendix be removed since it seems common for women over 40 to have issues with it. I figured, as long as you're in there and I don't need it, take it out now.

I hope that you find someone you feel comfortable with who can answers your questions. Maybe if you let us know what area you are in some of the ladies here can give you a referral.

Hugs,
Monika

I think you have to have a gyn/onc surgeon that is compassionate and willing to answer your questions. So I would get a second opinion before any further surgery with this surgeon and see how the communication is. I have never had "second look surgery" mentioned to me. I had 4 chemo treatments, surgery (removal of all female organs, spleen, omentum, and radio ablation on my liver tumors) followed by five more chemos of carbo/taxol. Then I had a CT scan that showed no tumors, my CA 125 was 7 and nothing physically could be found. I was declared "no evidence of disease" and put on a maintenance dose of taxol every 4 weeks for 12 treatments to hopefully keep me in "remission" for a longer period of time. I was Stage 4 because of the liver involvement. I will have another CT scan in June, 8 months from the last. I was told the CT scan will only pick up .5 cm or larger tumors usually. My CA125 blood test is a good marker for my tumors and it remains below 8 and I have one every month. I have never had a problem with any of my doctors answering questions and my surgeon is the Head of the Dept. for gyn/onc of Texas Oncology in Dallas so he is a busy doctor. ((Hugs)) Saundra

Dear Steph,
I can certainly relate to your difficulties with your surgeon. Mine is not very good with people, and is reluctant to answer questions as well. Part of the problem is the fact that his office is always packed full of patients and he has no time, and yhe other is that he seems to believe that the less you know the less you'll worry. However, my personality is such that I worry about what I don't know far more than any reality. Since my Gyn/Onc is a brilliant surgeon, and a fellow cancer survivor, I trust him and would never switch to another doctor who may have a more pleasing bedside manner, but not necessarily be as good at keeping me cancer free. So, be sure to consider all angles before making this change! It may be better to have a heart-to-heart with this doctor and spell out your needs and concers, and consider getting general information from other sources (ie;your other doctors, the internet, etc.).

As far as the "Second Look" surgery is concerned, I did have one, and even insisted on getting opened the same way as before, instead of just a "peek-a-boo" look through tiny holes. In my opinion, it's important to double check after chemo with this second surgery to make sure that all is clear, and no cancer cells are found. If they should find more, they can remove it and you can get additional treatment to deal with it. If it's all clear, you have the peace of mind of KNOWING. There's so much worry and uncertainty associated with a cancer diagnosis, and if there's something you can do to minize the worry, I think it's well worth the recovery time you may need. In my case (it may be differnt for others), the second operation was like having a tooth pulled in comparison to the first one. Two days after surgery, I was doing laps around the nurse's station as if nothing had happened, and 10 days later I participated in the L.A. "Run for Her" 5k walk/run for ovarian cancer research and awareness.

Weather you decide to have the second surgery is an important decision, one that could have a long-term effect on your health. If you were my daughter, I would advise you to consider the stage of your cancer, the fact that you didn't have everything removed during your first surgery, as well as the emotional comfort you may gain from seeing the pathology report showing how successful the chemo was.

Best whishes, and (((HUGS)))
~Marianna~