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My OVCA tumor was discovered on my birthday in 2008 during a routine check-up with my Oby/Gyn doctor. An ultrasound check revealed a 15x14x13 centimeter large tumor on one of my ovaries. Huge!
I wonder if anybody knows how long it takes for such a tumor to grow so large.
I also wonder if the size of the tumor has any thing to do with the odds of recurrence.
I thank you for your advice and help.
Cancer Taxol Surgery Counseling Uterine cancer Confusion Ovarian cancer Chemotherapy Lupron Pain Depression Stress
Lovemnms:
It's true that chemo works well on certain, even most, types of OVCA (there are about 50). Notwithstanding the chemo, when the treatments cease, the aggressive types may comeback because they are aggressive.
This is why I live in constant fear. Every ache, or the lightest pain may be signal the return of the dreaded disease.
Sandiestar:
You are an angel!
Really appreciate the resource of information about OVCA. Now I can read and learn in depth.
Thanks a million,
Haya
Verlinda:
My surgeon said pretty much the same as you wrote.
I don't think size indicates malignancy. Mine was the size of a golf ball and I was stage III.
"he'd removed tumors the size of watermelons with no malignancy anywhere and ones the size of a grape where the patient was riddled throughout with cancer."
(I'm sorry to hear that your sister had this too. My mother died from it as well.)
The Phoenix: You mentioned that your tumor grew kind of fast. Apparently mine did too. I had a yearly gyno exam in Nov of 2007 and all of my symptoms started to show up in Feb 2008. I don't know if the tumor (size of a golf ball) was there any earlier. My doctor felt the mass and I almost hit the ceiling in pain when he did. After that I could feel it on the outside.
One of my surgeons told my husband that fast growing tumors respond better to chemo with a greater chance of no re-occurance.
I'm not sure what to think any more, but that's what I was told. : )
Kelly-Kelly, Im sad to hear that your sister is having such a hard time. I think thatthis diagnosis exacerbates everything else going on be it physical or mental. It could possibly be that the depression was there before and she simply doesnt have the emotional tools to deal with the stressors of dealing with the diagnosis. I really would gtry and get her counseling for the depression and maybe support groups so she can diffeent ways to cope rather than alcohol. The thing about this disease is that it really tests you. You have to reach inside and pull out that strength that we ALLhave. For me, my art kept me from going under and gave me an outlet for the scary feelings that creep up in the middle of the night. For me,that meant doing my art,working and running. Its different for everyone. Your sister has to find what works for her. You cant fix this for your sister. You can stand by her and support her...just be there...thats the most loving thing you can do. Take Care
I was a onc lpn for 7 yrs and I believe pet scans are the best. They never did that for my sister kelly which makes me angry but i would want a pet scan. But ins may not cover it which makes that a difficult choice. I will write more tomorrow. I'm having trouble typing but I will follow up. I pray everyday for a cure for cabcer. You all are my heroes for being so string and fighting the fight! Love to you all!
Love Cheryl
I was a onc lpn for 7 yrs and I believe pet scans are the best. They never did that for my sister kelly which makes me angry but i would want a pet scan. But ins may not cover it which makes that a difficult choice. I will write more tomorrow. I'm having trouble typing but I will follow up. I pray everyday for a cure for cabcer. You all are my heroes for being so string and fighting the fight! Love to you all!
Love Cheryl
Hey Haya, my sis Kelly told us the dr said she is good(over the phone) no less! I still worry bc of the few things you said about lifestyle. She drinks bc she is depredpssed and smokes maybe a half a pack a day. She is depressed and doesn't see it and her dr doesn't take notice. Im sad for her I never sleep.I plan on writing in a journal log about her journey. Can I ask everyone a personal question? What do you feel everyday that can be a battle with the cancer? I want to understand so I can help her. I can't fix it, but sometimes we feel our love isn't enough. There is so much more to ask but its late and I can't type on this blackberry. This website is so amazing and the strength you all have, I've passed the info onto family n friends. Is there anybody out in the las vegas are where my sister lives? Ty for any help! Love cheryl
Kelly-Kelly: Cheryl -
Tell your sister to take care of herself first. When she is back on her feet, she can think of adopting, or fostering children. There are options to having a biological baby. In any event, the first priority is her health.
Thanks for sharing. I'll wait with you and your family for the results of your sister's tests. I'll pray for her.
Thank you so much for the info. We are still waiting for the results. I will definitely keep you posted. She has having a hard time right now emotionally bc she will never be able to have a baby. Awaiting the ct results is hard too. She lives out in ,evada by herself and we live on long island so we are all taking turns traveling to be with her.i will never understand why people get cancer and why they have to suffer. I will write more later. Thanks again for your help.
Cheryl
Kelly-Kelly:
By now, I have learned there are many variables to cancer, even the same exact one, and it's sometimes very difficult to predict the odds of recurrence. Let me mention some of them:
1. The type of cancer.
2. The sub-types of each cancer. (Take ovarian cancers, there are about 50 of them).
3. The stage of the disease is certainly a major factor.
4. The grade of the cell. The higher it is, the more aggressive it is. (Serous Papillary is almost always high-grade cell.)
5. But there is also a question about the success of the surgery aimed at removing the cancer. Here, it hasn't so much to do with the doctor's talents, as it has to do with where the cancer is. Sometime, the cancer can stick in such places that it's impossible to remove without harming a major organ, and thus risking patient's life. Sometimes, the cancer is in capsules and it may have burst or stayed intact.
6. There is also a question of patient's general health and fitness. How strong one is?
7. Patient's life style: smoking, drugs, stress.
There is no question that this disease can be deadly, and if you and your mother worry, imagine how your sister feels. You want to encourage your sister to help her lead positive and healthful life, and to make sure you take seriously every complaint she has, and to make sure she keeps her check-up appointments religiously.
You also want to remember that many researchers are working feverishly on this disease
everywhere, all over the world. I have to believe
that this research work will improve treatment of the disease, and make its maintenance more effective, if not completely curable.
I hope and pray your sister is not having a recurrence. Please, please keep me posted. I'm very much in the same boat. and therefore would appreciate if you can share what your sister's doctor found after he checked her, and what treatment, if any, will she have.
You said serous pappilary ovca is an aggressive cancer, well if they remove everything, are the chances of it coming back greater? My sister was diagnosed with stage 2b serous pappilary carcinoma in feb 2007 and she has been in remission since then. She's been having pain for a few months and she goes for a ct scan tomorrow. My family and I just constantly worry. Its a scary disease. Thabk you for any help you can give me.
Hi Haya,
You are right...the three types of Cancer I had are all Germ Cell and normally occur in children and young adults.
The other strange thing about my condition was that I was diagnosed when I was pregnant -- I was a total annomolly (sp).
Jill
Haya:
sorry for the confusion :)
i had stage 3A borderline with non invasive implants... tumors on the right and left ovary and in the omentum... didn't have chemo due to the low malignancy of borderline tumors.
hence If this new tumor is the same I should not have to have chemo this time either... but they never know until they cut it out! so far i have been lucky in that! the new tumor is again on my remaining left ovary. during my initial surgery the dr tried to conserve this ovary to save my fertility so only did debulking instead of removal.
found this:
http://books.google.com.au/books?id=I3s6fC0nouUC&pg=PA79&lpg=PA79&dq=tumor+ growth+rates+in+ovarian+cancer&source=bl&ots=ynDXZ_WF1R&sig=o8qhuXR9H7t7VkH 6yYYWlQ27QH4&hl=en&ei=nyIlSr-xKo6MkAW0yO2kBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result& resnum=6
kinda helpful!
Sandie:
Thank you for sharing. It helps me a lot to study the different types of cancer, and the many variables that have to be considered.
I don't understand. You had two tumors, I imagine in a very early stage if you didn't have chemotherapy. Yet you had a surgery to remove the tumors. Now you are going to have another surgery? Where are your tumors now? Are you going to have chemotherapy after this coming surgery?
I haven't had a recurrence, but my doctor discovered my OVCA in September 2008, and I finished 6 Chemo in January 2009. So it has been barely six months.
Haya:
this is my first reoccurance... My initial diagnosis was November last year so this was my first set of scans since my surgery to remove the first set of tumors... i had 2, the largest being 17cms,my right ovary and tube were removed.
I was hoping to undergo some fertility prior to removal of my last ovary and hence had a discussion re growth rates etc... unfortunately fertility is not suitable for me. so I will be seeing my onc for a surgery date next week... i have not had to have any chemo as it has all been contained. fingers crossed!
have you had any reoccurance yourself? i don't believe the size of the tumor has anything to do with reoccurance other then the larger it is the more chance you have growth in other areas and more spread... just speculating here tho.
Jill:
You got me intrigues, and made me study your condition. I thank you for it. All types of cancer you mentioned are germ (egg) cell. These types of cancer occur in children and young adults.
Sandiestar:
I'm very sorry to read about your recurrence. What protocol are you going to have? Is it the first recurrence? When did they discover your cancer first time?
I truly appreciate your input. This is the first definitive answer about size and speed of tumor growth.
hi!
i have just been told I have reoccurnace and my tumor is currently 5cm and my Dr told me it would double in size in 6 to 8 weeks... interesting
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