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Avatar universal

Appt w/oncologist tomm - questions please

I posted my "background" as it is in my previous post.
Received a call this morning from the oncologist's office and we have an appt for tomorrow afternoon. Wasn't expecting it this quickly to be honest with you. I figured it would be a few weeks away yet, now I'm wondering how soon the surgery will be. Part of what's bother (?) me is how quickly everything has been moving. It was 3 weeks ago today that my GP's office received the original ultrasound results.
I thought I'd have more time to "prepare" for the meeting with the oncologist

Anyway - I can't think of all the questions we should be asking the gyn/onc - this is the pre-surgery consult
Off the top of my head all I can think of is....
How long is the surgery going to take?
How long am I going to be in hospital?
I also want to ask her what my chances are of preserving my fertility

For those that have been through this - what kind of questions did you ask?
What questions do you WISH you would have asked?

Any & all responses are welcome - I've got less than 20 hours until we have to leave for this appointment.

Thanks
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Avatar universal
most important to get a gyn/onc to do surgery if ca is expected iv and ip chemo improves survival in late stage 3-4 ovca by about16 mos with increased toxicity during 18 mos of tx but at one year quality of life is pretty much the same for iv/ip and iv alone paclitaxil and carboplatin. alot of doctors dont like to do intrperitoneal treatment and have little experiece with it. best bet is to find a comprehensive cancer care center near you if possible who does alot of this.
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Avatar universal
Hi there & thanks for responding
The FS just said it was 'borderline' and that he would not be doing the surgery (even though he does lots of other gyn surgeries)

The gyn onc surgeon agreed with me to not go drastic based on a frozen section especially since maintaining my fertility is very important to me.

So, unless she cannot remove these masses with out the ovaries, for now they will stay in unless it's just impossible. I'm resigned to losing my left one - but not my right and my uterus.

I will call the local clinic on Monday & see about getting my test results and such. Are they really weird about doing that in Canada? I guess I'll find out on Monday :)

Thanks again!
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Avatar universal
Here is my list of questions that I took to the appt

Are there any more tests or procedures to do before the surgery?
What all does this operation involve?
Will you use my old c-section scar?
Is anything going to be removed aside from the left ovary & the cysts?
If right ovary & uterus look okay – can they stay in, would definitely prefer
Will biopsies be taken from other areas?
If yes, then where or how is that determined?
Frozen section biopsy questions
Approx how long with the surgery take?
How crappy can I expect to feel afterwards?
Where can Hubby wait?
Will you come out & talk to him afterwards?
Can I see him right after surgery?
How soon after I wake up can I get some information?
How long do I have to stay in hospital?
How long until I can get out of bed?
Will there be drains in place?
Pain management, in hospital and at home
Recovery, about how long?
Restrictions – any?
Do you have the results of my pap test that Dr. H did?

Given the information currently available, IE – test results, ultrasound results, etc – could you, can you, make a reasonable educated guess?

Want to make clear that I want to know everything. I do not want any information at all withheld, omitted, or misrepresented.


*******************
I am posting my appt details in new thread
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi, I'm from Saskatchewan and had borderline stage 1a several years ago at age 32.  One thing from your previous post I'm wondering about is how without a pathology can your doctor tell you he thinks it's a borderline cancer?  Really, you can't tell anything until pathology.  I hope your oncologist visit is to see a gyn-oncologist and not just a regular oncologist.  You really want a gyn-oncologist doing the surgery.  If it turns out to be borderline, fertility sparing surgery is often performed.  

I would get copies of all your tests, blood work etc for my own records.  I found all that very helpful in my research and it helped me know what specific questions to ask.  

I would also ask again about having the frozen section done - I think that's a real important to have it.  I think you should discuss with the gyn-onc waiting for a final pathology before deciding about a total hysterectomy and having a second surgery.  Sometimes that would not be a good option as for a second surgery you would have to wait to have it until you recover from the first one and with cancer sometimes you don't want to wait.

Let us know how your appointment goes.
Good Luck.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you so much for responding.
Yep, my better half is going with me

I just feel silly I guess because it's like...
If I were going in for cysts - that's fine, we'd ask questions specific to that
If we knew it was cancer - we'd ask questions specific to that
It's the not knowing that's making me crazy

I feel like we're in ovarian purgatory...haha
Just want a definitive diagnosis so we can move on to the next step, if there is a next step to move on to

Thanks for the tip! Never would have thought of that, will definitely de-hair the hot spots!

Back to my list...

Thanks again :)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
It's good to take someone with you to take notes and ask questions if you get overwhelmed.  

Ask:  How long is recovery and what will be allowed/forbidden during that period -- work, lifting, stairs, driving car, etc.

Please discuss your options and express your feelings clearly regarding fertility.  Most women on this board, having experienced ovca, favor taking more rather than less, but you have the right to keep your options open.  One of our younger women recently had a baby, I think using donated eggs, so it can be done.  

A tip I read recently:  Shave your skin where they will be drawing blood, placing IV, and closing your surgical wound.  That makes it more comfortable to remove bandages.  

Good luck and God bless.    
Helpful - 0
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