GOG Protocol

Hi ladies.

Friday is the big day for me and I was just looking at my Surgery Scheduling/Orders paperwork and saw something called GOG Protocol with a number following it. I didn't notice in it time to ask gyn/onc at pre-op today.

Does anybody know what that means? Is it some sort of study or classification? Also is it routine to have the pathologist attend during the procedure?

The waiting is almost over for me. Thanks for all your kind words and support through this process.

Hi Donna,

First of all, the very best to you this Friday. I hope your recovery is as swift, pain free, and as uneventful as possible! I don't know what to answer on the other questions you pose about GOG or the pathologist. I am sure someone else can answer properly. You are in a big metro area, near a couple med schools and learning institutions, so I am sure you will be taken care of by top-notch docs. Try to relax. Good luck to you gal!

In a Google search I found:

http://www.gog.org/

"The Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) is a non-profit organization with the purpose of promoting excellence in the quality and integrity of clinical and basic scientific research in the field of Gynecologic malignancies. The Group is committed to maintaining the highest standards in clinical trials development, execution, analysis and distribution of results. Continuous evaluation of our processes is utilized in order to constantly improve the quality of patient care.

To promote this mission, the GOG receives support from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) of the National Institutes for Health (NIH).



Approximately 45 individual clinical trials are active at any one time within GOG for patients with a variety of gynecologic malignancies, including cancers that arise from the ovaries, uterus, cervix, vagina, and vulva. General information on many of these trials for medical professionals and the lay public can be obtained from the NCI PDQ clinical trials database."

Thanks, Gina.

Then I'm assuming that the number that follows the GOG Protocol would be the OvCa early detection clinical trial that I am participating in.

Is it routine for a pathologist to be present? Everything they take out will be biopsied but I was told I may not have conclusive results for 36 hours. I'm keeping my positive outlook and hoping for the best.

Yes, number that follows the GOG Protocol would be the OvCa early detection clinical trial that you are participating in.
For example, GOG 0209 is the Phase III clinical trial I'm in for patients with Stage III or IV or Recurrent Endometrial Cancer.

	Quote:
Originally Posted by Love2Quilt Is it routine for a pathologist to be present?

It is my understanding that specimens are examined both during surgery and also with a frozen sample later. So a pathologist, for example, would be checking any lymph nodes that are either sampled or removed for cancer as well as perintonal (spelling?) wash.

They are also present during certain types of biopsies to be sure the item(s) being checked (samples) have enough tissue present to be tested. (Not sure tissue is the correct term but you get the idea.)

Wishing you Peace that passes understanding and a smooth surgery and recovery.

and prayers,
Kate

Love2Quilt
It is not unusual in cases of suspected ovarian cancer to have a pathologist look at the tissue during surgery. Since ovarian cancer can only be diagnosed by surgery, they first sample the suspicious tissues and what they see there determines what else is done during surgery. Should it be cancer, they take not only the uterus, ovaries and tubes, but they also take lymphnode samples, samples from a couple of other places as well as what is called a pelvic wash. They do these as these are the places that ovarian cancer goes to first and the wash is to make sure there are no stray cells remaining.

This would be a preliminary path report. The final one would be availabe at the 36 hour time you are told (this may vary by hospital). At this time, you would be give the Stage and Grade should it be cancer.

I pray that things go well for you on Friday.

s
Jane

Hi Donna,
I was diagnosed with surgery at 49 too. I hope Friday goes as easily for you as I. I had few complications from the surgery itself. My gynie/onc is a member of the GOG. He is up on every research and clinical testing happening and extremely knowledgeable about ovarian cancer. After surgery when you have your path reports, staging and grade, prepare questions for your postop visit. By then you will be able to focus and "hear' the answers to all your questions. I would suspect that they would most likely line you up with the first line treatment for ovarian: carbo/taxil unless there is something new in the wings. This may depend on your stage and grade as well. We are all here to help you through and keep you company so even in the middle of the night, don't be afraid to stop by and post your concerns.

Thanks, Folky, Gina, K3, Jane, and Faith for answering my post.

I'm happy to be participating in a study to find a primary onset marker for OvCa -- hope this study is a success. I am keeping good thoughts and hope to hear positive news when I come out of the anesthesia and even better news when the final path reports are in.

I continue to pray for every one of the special ladies in this forum as you navigate the journey ahead of you. Thank you for all your help and support.

Hi Donna, just popping in to wish you a successful surgery and speedy recovery. Hope all goes well. Pamper yourself when you get home.

Blessings,