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Has anyone been told More Surgery???
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07-16-2009, 11:38 AM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 3
Hysterectomy: July 8th, 2009
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Has anyone been told More Surgery???
I had a complete hysterectomy 1 week ago and yesterday I received news about my biopsies. I was orginally told that they would taking lymp nodes during the surgery and after they did their frozen sections, my parents were told by the gyno-oncologist they didn't see the need, so they took none. Now my biopsy reports showed a small contained cancer in the uterus and a tiny (had to do the test again to make sure it wasn't something they were seeing with the dye) cancer on my ovary. Now I have been told that they want to go back in... arggg and take lymph nodes. I think I am more upset about having a second surgery so close to the first than I am at the possibility that the cancer has spread to other places in my body. My first one was da vinci and it has been pretty easy, I was already told that the 2nd one will have to be an open incision.... arrgg Has this happened to anyone else on here? I am not sure weather to stay with this group or to try to go someplace else like the Mayo clinic.
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07-16-2009, 01:55 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 173
Hysterectomy: January 1st, 2000
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Removed both
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Re: Has anyone been told More Surgery???
What a bummer! I am sorry to hear of your dx and a second surgery. So, is it uterine cancer spread to the ovary? If so, it wasn't contained. It sounds like you are getting some confusing info. If I were in your situation, I would want to know if having the nodes biopsied would make a difference in your treatment. If you are going to have chemotherapy anyway, I am not sure that it matters. I would be concerned about not having chemo with the cancer in both the uterus and ovary - even if it is small. It sounds good that you have a gyn/onc on board but if you aren't comfortable with his judgement, a second opinion is definitely warranted. Anyway, if it were me, I would only have the surgery if it could possibly affect my treatment. I did have mine biopsied with my original surgery and I have a persistent lymphocele in my pelvis. It is a complication of the lymph biopsy. It isn't a huge deal but has caused me some pain. It is always a good idea to go to a major cancer center for an opinion or treatment if possible. Best wishes to you.
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07-16-2009, 02:12 PM
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Posts: 11,299
Hysterectomy: August 19th, 2003
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Removed both
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Re: Has anyone been told More Surgery???
Hi Crystal,
I am so sorry you are facing another possibly surgery. I'm sure you also are upset as now it will be a vertical incision as your original op had been daVinci.
FYI, my final path section showed a 1B while the frozen section showed a lesser 1A ; apparently it's not too unusual for these reports to differ a little. I also suspect in most cases, unless they suspected there was cancer in more than one organ, they would only do a frozen section in the area they thought cancer might be. They no doubt found the tiny cancer in your ovary during the final path analysis; it is good they were very diligent and caught this. In your they are being prudent to investigate further including possible lymph node dissection. In any case if you have any doubts, pls seek that 2nd or even 3rd opinion; I suggest you do this in a timely manner so any follow-up treatment is not long delayed.
Pls keep us posted. I'm sending positive thoughts and will keep you in prayer.
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07-16-2009, 03:19 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 3
Hysterectomy: July 8th, 2009
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Re: Has anyone been told More Surgery???
I have not been told yet that my cancer has travelled from the uterus to the ovary, I was given the impression that they are two individual cancers.
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07-16-2009, 04:27 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 173
Hysterectomy: January 1st, 2000
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Removed both
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Re: Has anyone been told More Surgery???
Hi Crystal, In that case I would go for the biopsy of the nodes. You really need to know if they are individual cancers or metastasis. In the case of ovarian cancer, the omentum is usually removed along with the nodes and peritoneal washings. They may also remove the cervix. It will be a bummer to have another surgery but worth it if they can remove all the cancer at this early stage (like if you have a small amount in the omentum). I would ask for my slides to be sent to major cancer center to determine if they are in fact two different cancers. It happens, but seems unusual. Best of luck to you.
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07-16-2009, 04:41 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 1,553
Hysterectomy: July 21st, 2009
Ovaries: Removed both
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Re: Has anyone been told More Surgery???
Crystal - did they suspect cancer before the surgery? I was under the impression that if cancer was suspected that a TAH was the way to go so they could have better visual access and access to the lymph nodes. Maybe it's just that way in my case because I have a 10-11 cm ovarian cyst. I'm very sorry you're having to go thru another surgery and have more to worry about. I hope that they take good care of you and can find out exactly what you're dealing with. (((HUGS)))
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07-16-2009, 07:59 PM
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Hyster Sister
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Posts: 49
Hysterectomy: August 11th, 2008
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Re: Has anyone been told More Surgery???
Crystal,
I am so sorry you are going through this! If if were me, I would be stinkin' mad too!
I was diagnosed with cervical cancer (leep biopsy) before my hyst. I was still able to have a LAVH. Also, my lymph nodes were taken laproscopically, so I know that it can be done that way. I am not a doctor, but it seems logical to ask about it.
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07-17-2009, 06:43 AM
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Posts: 11,299
Hysterectomy: August 19th, 2003
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Removed both
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Re: Has anyone been told More Surgery???
Hi again, just wanted to share something learned at a daVinci show. Apparently doctors make the decision re which surgery method is best (daVinci, lap, open incision, then vertical or horizontalfor a particular patient ) for a particular patient after assesssing a number of factors including possible location, size, etc. of the cancer;etc. Naturally the doctor must be proficient in, and for example in the case of daVinci trained in, said method. Also, when it's a second surgery, even a daVinci trained or lap preferring doc may opt for an open incision. If in any doubt or curious ;etc, one can always ask why a particular surgery method was selected.
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07-17-2009, 07:19 AM
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Guest
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Posts: 53
Hysterectomy: May 20th, 2009
Surgery Type: DvH
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Re: Has anyone been told More Surgery???
Crystal, I did have 2 separate cancers, synchronised primaries apparently, which I took to mean different types. The ovarian was not found until after my surgery (da vinci) and my gyn/onc wants to do a laparascopic biopsy next week to check the omentum, periteneum and abdomen. He did take lymph nodes and washings. As desertday said, the omentum is normally removed at the time of hysterectomy, but as mine wasn't, I am prepared to do anything to ensure that there are no stray cancer cells left!. My gyn/onc said that if I was his wife he would want to get this done, If he finds anything I will have to have chemo, otherwise I will just have regular checkups for the next couple of years. I'm not sure if this helps at all, but I wish you well
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07-17-2009, 07:44 AM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 390
Hysterectomy: February 28th, 2005
Surgery Type: LAVH
Ovaries: Removed both
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Re: Has anyone been told More Surgery???
Hi Crystal,
So sorry to hear you are going through this--it must be terribly frustrating. I think a second opinion with a gyn/onc is in order because there are several issues here, including whether to do a second surgery, what method of surgery to do, whether the cancer is two primary cancers or metastasis of the same cancer to a second organ, and whether the results of more surgery will affect the recommended treatment.
Deep breath--you do have time to investigate this and even get a third opinion if needed. That way you'll make the best decision for your particular case.
I went through something similar in that my lymph nodes were not taken in my LAVH. I opted for a second surgery because I thought that if there were cancer in my lymph nodes, that would change the treatment options. Fortunately, my lymph nodes were clear, but they still recommended 3 high dose radiation (HDR) internal treatments to my vaginal cuff. That all went well. I too got a lymphocele (sac of lymph fluid) as a byproduct of my second surgery. That resolved as well.
We'll be thinking of you and wishing you well in this rough time. Keep in touch.
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