Ovarian cancer info

Hello,

I just found out today that the grapefruit size tumors were indeed cancer. I am staged at 1, grade 2. My questions are: what are the letters included with the stages? Are they the same as the number for grades? Also I am trying to find out if there are different kinds of ovarian cancer, I am thinking my gyn/onc said something about Mucinous Adenocarcinoma, which would make sense for me because I had cervical cancer(adenocarcinoma) a year ago and the cells are related I think. Ah,life.

Hi Claudia

I am sorry to hear that those tumors are cancerous.

I too had ovarian cancer and am almost 2 years post op. Are you going to have chemo? I had 6 cycles of taxol and carboplatin and was told by my oncologist that that is the standard treatment no matter what stage.

Keep in touch.
Rosalie

Claudia,
This is a bummer but at least it is at a very low stage. I can tell you what the letters mean in cervical cancer stages but not in ovarian. For cervical cancer a stage 1A1 means that it's too small to be seen and confined to the cervix. A stage 1B1 means that it is visible but less that 4cm, still confined to the cervix. A stage 1B2 means that it is still convined to the cervix but larger than 4 cm. A stage 2A means that it has spread beyond the cervix but is small. So the first number means size, the letter means spread and the second number means size also. I do hope this makes some sense to you! I realize that I am not being very clear!

I hope this is of some minor help.

Hugs,
Janie

Stage 1A-cancer limited to ovary; no ascites, no tumor on external surface, and capsule intact.
Stage 1B--growth limited to both ovaries, no ascities, no tumor on external surfaces, capsule intact
Stage 1C--same as 1A&B but tumor on the surface of one or both ovaries, or capsule ruptured, or ascities containing malignant cells or positive peritoneal washing.
Stage 2A--extension and/or mets to the uterus and/or fallopian tubes
Stage 2B--extension to other pelvic organs
Stage 2C--same as 2A&B but with tumor on surface of one or both ovaries, or capsule ruptured, or with ascities present containing malignant cells or positive peritoneal washings
Stage 3--tumor involving one or both ovaries with peritoneal implants outside the public and/or positive retroperitoneal or inguimal lymph nodes. Superficial liver mets equals stagr 3. Tumor is limited to the true pelvis but with hostologically confirmed malignant extension to small bowel or omentum.
Stage 3A--tumor grossly limited to the true pelvis with negative nodes but with histologically confirmed moicroscopic seeding of abdominal peritoneal surfaces.
Stage 3B--tumor of one or both ovaries with histologically confirmed implants of abdominal peritoneal surfaces less than 2 cm in diameter. with negative nodes/
Stage 3C--abdominal implants over 2 cm in diameter and/or positive retroperitoneal or inquinal nodes.
Stage 4--growth involving one or both ovaries with distant mets. If pleural effusion is present, there must be p0ositive cytology. Parenchymal liver mets equals stage 4.

Tumors are also graded from 0-3. Grade 1 tumors, are well differentiated and typically less aggressive in their behavior. Grade 3 tumors are usually poorly differentiated or undifferentiated high-grade tumors and are generally the most ggressive.

There are more than 30 different types of ovarian cancer, depending on where in the ovaries the cancer begins and the appearance of cells under a microscope.

Epithelial cancers arise from cells that line or cover the ovaries. These account for roughly 90 percent of ovarian cancer cases diagnosed each year. Germ cell cancers originare from the cells that are destined to form eggs within the ovaries. They account for 5-10 of ovarian cancers. Sex cord-stromal cell cancers begin in the connective tissue that holds the ovary together. These are rare and and account for less than 5 percent of ovarian cancers.

Carcinoma is the term used to describe a tumor that arises from the covering of an organ.

Adenocarcinoma means that the tumor forms in in glandlike patterns.

Cystadenocarcinoma means that the tymor has some cystlike parts--fluid filled vs. solid.

There are also serous, endometroid, clear cell, mucinous, Brenner's, mixed cell and undifferentiated tumors.

The informaiton for this and the above post was taken from an exceptional book by Kristine Conner and the late Lauren Langford--"Ovarian Cancer, Your Guide to Taking Control,"O'Reilly & Associates, 2003.

Hi i am so sorry to hear that your diagnosis was cancer, just wanted to let you know that you are not alone, i to was diagnosed with cervical cancer stage 1a in October of 2002 and received a radical hysterectomy with no chemo and no radiation also both ovaries were left. I have actually never recovered from the surgery i have been sick for the past year and a half with no answers, i now have also the symptoms to ovarian cancer. For the past year my ultrasounds have come back with a mass in my right ovary that can not be determined to be cystic or solid, my stomach is bloated and looks like i am 5 months pregnant, my oncologist has not been to helpful but thats another story. My question to you is do you think your cancer spread to your ovaries or did you have ovarian cancer that spread to your cervix? And when you had you hysterectomy did they leave your ovaries? It seems to me like if you have cervical cancer they should take your ovaries as well. Good luck i hope everything turns out alright if you would like to email me i would love to chat with you.

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. I had stage1a grade 1 ov ca and was told by two oncologists that for my stage and grade no further treatment was necessary. I am now followed up every 6 months. I think you need to get all the information you can find on having a grade 2 diagnosis which may make all the difference to your treatment.

Take care
Sheila

Claudia -

I am 2+ years out from 1A as well --

The Johns Hopkins pathology department has a great website

http://pathology2.jhu.edu/ovca/

It contains a lot of information on diagnosis, treatment and staging. There is controversy over the treatment of low stage OVCA. One oncologist told me no chemo, another recomended chemo. I eventually did the chemo but took some months to decide.

Dorrie

Claudia,

I am soory about the cancer and that you are going thru it agian, but it sounds like it was caught at an early stage. What is the threament plan? I didn't think cervical cancer and ovarian are related.

Hi Cludia,
I am so sorry that it is cancer again but it looks like you again caught it early! I am sorry that you have to have more surgery but it sounds like there is a very good chance that you will yet again dodge this bullet!