Malignant Mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of Ovary Grade 2

[shiv_1969]

Dear Doc,

My sis-in-law aged 31 with 8yrs old daughter recently diagnosed with Ovarian mass of huge size (15cms) on left ovary which was undetected so far but after she went to consult doctor for her delayed periods and during ultrasound this was found. and after oncologyst's advice CT had taken which showed this cyst and doctor immedately advised for CA125 and were found value of 18 and then he advised for surgical removal of cyst/ovary...surgery was performed 15 days ago and the mass was removed along with left ovary and nothing else was removed. the mass was so huge and i personally carried it to pathology division. meantime she was discharged from hospital as the doctor said this seems to be of a ovarian cyst only. after a week the pathology results showed  "Malignant ovarian Mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of Grade 2". on consultation Doctor informed us that no need to panic as he never saw any cancer roots during surgery and to make sure he informed us to have one round of chemo ( ie, six cycles with each every month) he also advise to contact a chemotherapy doctor for administering this thro' vein as out patient...now the lady doctor has prescribed us to buy chemo shots (1st cycle) using the combination of Carboplatin & Taxol (Paclitaxel).

My question is, whether my sis-in-law id in a safe side or she still in a danger of cancer and the grade seems to be cautioning...we're confused both about the cancer and also about the side effects...as she is very week and afraid, can you let me know about the stage she is in and also on the side effects of chemo...sorry for bothering you with huge write-up...we're from india and would appreciate your immediate advice on this plzzz?

[shiv_1969]

Hi Doc,

thanx a lot for your kind advice...am fromm chennai city from India...

as the huge cyst was removed along with the ovary...the doc said it was just a ovarian cyst and only came to know after the pathology report confirmed it as Grade 2 ovary cancer...then he informed us that as a precautionary measure he is suggesting us 6 cycles of chemo and out of which 1st cycle was over and awaiting for second one...since he has just removed the left ovary along with the cyst and not taken or prescribed any test for other ovary or any other part spreads...thus making us worry hat whether this cancer could have spread to other ovary or uterus or lymp nodes as the pathology suggests us it is grade 2 cancer...infact the earlier reports also suggest that the lab results (CT Scan)confirmed the presence of Ascites we were worried about the malignacy...

all we want to know is, why the doctor has not ordered for confirmation of cancer by taking samples from otherv ovary, uterus, kymp nodes etc., while removing the left ovary along with huge cyst by way of open surgery...

now the 1st chemo (2 dosage of carbo platin plus one dose of taxol) has evenful side effects and scheduled to start the second cycle out of 6 cycles...iss there a chance of recurring cancer (as the grade 2 suggests) is possible? if so how soon the recurrence is possible...or is it possble that the whole cancer could get cured due to this chemo shots...as she is just 31 yrs we would like to kknow the possibilities, so that we can plan accordingly...

thanx a lot for your patient hearing...also a ton thanx to you in answering very diplmotically but convincingly yet pacifyingly.for all my questions, which is being raised with my acquired knowledge ..  

[Annekathryn Goodman, M.D.]

Hi Siva,
in terms of stage
for ovarian cancer, staging is based on surgical findings. It requires doing multiple biopsies to look for spread. These biopsies inlcude biopsies of lymph nodes, and other tissues around the abdomen.

for your sister, she is technically unstaged because she did not have any other biopsies.
here is a good link for staging information

http://www.cancerfacts.com/generalcontent/ovarian/gen_diagnosis.asp?cb=9

take care