Surgery is scheduled

Reminder note: My new mass is on my right ovary. This is taken directly from my caring bridge site...

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Well, the news is mixed news. I am scheduled for surgery on Wednesday. The mass is now 10 1/2 centimeters (4 inches), so it's grown 1 1/2 centimeters since the original ultrasound two weeks ago. My oncologist says it's "very complex" which is not a good thing. However, she feels that there is a very low chance it's actually cancer. Good thing. ;)

The surgery will be a full abdominal surgery and they will be removing my right ovary and possibly my uterus (I think I talked her into this!). While they have me open, they will run a preliminary pathology report on it and if it has any signs of cancer, then they will remove my left ovary and several lymphnodes, too. She will be cutting where my first abdominal surgery was and will try to clean up that scar a bit, too. It keloided really badly when it healed. I will be in the hospital for 3-4 days if things go well. I figured out that I will have spent almost a month of my last year in the hospital after this surgery! YUCK!

I had more blood work done this afternoon, including checking my hormone levels. Oh, and the CA-125 test doubled in levels from two weeks ago, which really concerns me. It was 11.5 two weeks ago and was over 26 today. The CA-125 tests for ovarian cancer. Anything under 35 is considered normal, but I'm very concerned that it's gone up in such a short time. I would think it would stay consistent.

So Larry and the kids and I will be heading to Temple for the weekend. We're going to spend tonight in Houston since we already had our room reserved. We will come back to Houston Monday. I have a doctor's appointment with Dr. Soliman at 8 a.m. on Tuesday to go over the blood work I had done today and do all the pre-op stuff. Fun. :p She's going to try and put me early on the schedule for Tuesday, so I'm thinking I'll have to be at the hospital around 5 a.m. again. YUCK again.

So that's our news. I would like for prayers to begin again that this mass is NOT cancer and it's very clear in that on Wednesday. Of course I won't get a full pathology report back for another week, but it would be nice to wake up from the surgery and pretty much know it's not cancer!

We love you and thank you so much for your prayers and concern. :) We love you all SO MUCH. I'm so blessed!

By Bette_Tx
Posted July 10, 2008 at 7:11 pm
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Dear Lori,

I'm so glad you got into MD Anderson. I hope the tumor on your ovary is nothing to worry about. However I'm concerned about the elevated CA-125 too. I had a tumor (size of an orange) on my right ovary removed many years ago. It was benign. Several years later, my CA-125 test was high but the scan on my other ovary was ok. My doctor said the CA-125 is not 100% proof of cancer - it can be a false positive as in my case. I'm hoping and praying the same for you.

Will your husband be posting for you here or on your CaringBridge site? If so, what is your ID there? I'd like to check up on you.

Best wishes,

Bette

By lorbethm
Posted July 10, 2008 at 8:02 pm
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I LOVE MD Anderson, Bette. They did my lung surgery, too. During my blood work today, I was in a room with several cancer patients, most of whom were new to MDA. They were all in that state of shock mode where you're still trying to figure out how the heck they wound up there. I felt so bad for them. I hope I was able to encourage them that they ARE at the best place in the world. I hope.

My Caring Bridge site is at: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/loriemitchell and everyone is free to visit it. I started it before my lung surgery, so I've been blogging there for about 10 months now.

Thank you for the encouragement about the CA-125. The doctor ran another one today, I think, along with FSH. She wants to see if it's climbing or not. She seemed surprised at first that I knew my first level. LOL I'm too much of a geek, I think! ;)

I'm really dreading this next surgery. I had managed to get through my life with just one plastic surgery and a c-section until this past year. This will be surgery #3 in 11 months. I guess it sucks to be me, huh?

Love and hugs to everyone! THANK YOU so much for all your support!

Lorie

By D1
Posted July 10, 2008 at 8:30 pm
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Lorie,

I say good riddance to that ovary whether it has cancer or not....and good riddance to the uterus....and good riddance to the other ovary while they are in there.

According to your post, you already have a husband and kids; so, you don't need these little time bomb ovaries waiting to wreak havoc on your life.

Get well. Be well. Prayers are on the way.

D

By gonehiking
Posted July 10, 2008 at 8:51 pm
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Hi Lorie,

I'll echo what D said -- good riddance to that ovary and uterus if it goes too! I'll be thinking of you and hoping for an uneventful operation and that the mass if just something innocuous.

take care,

bev

By Isunique
Posted July 10, 2008 at 8:56 pm
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Good luck and I know that you will do just fine. They are right it will be a piece of cake. I had two surgeries in a month, you will glide by. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.

Sarah

By LuckyLass
Posted July 10, 2008 at 10:41 pm
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Lorie, you are in my thoughts and prayers that , and you come out a few less headaches (ovaries and uterus and all -- been there, done that). =)

By Bighair
Posted July 10, 2008 at 11:15 pm
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Hi Lori,

I'm am sending many positive thoughts straight your way. My prayers go out to your family, and I will be wishing you a very successful surgery.

Sincerely,
Cheryl

By summeron2001
Posted July 11, 2008 at 11:13 am
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Sending positive thoughts and prayers your way Lori. Get rid of the stuff you don't need anymore - hah! I hope you wake up to good news. I will be thinking of you - take care.

Sylvia

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