Surgery......

[AutumnMiller]

OK- So I need someone to answer a couple questions for me. My Doctor did not tell me what kind of surgery I will be having.. However I think is between two...right?  I'd like to know what I'm in store for. I remember her saying saying that it should be one small incision and then one bigger one.. She said depending on how it is.. It might also have to be an open one?? ( i have no idea what this means) She said that we can scedule the surgery as an ASAP- because they are getting bigger and I am in a lot of pain. Does anyone know what that term means? .. Open? I also remember her saying that she has to fill me up with some kind of gas and then she will have to squeeze my body and she release most of it.. To give backround- she will be removing two cysts.. One went from being like 2.0 x 1.9 cm to 5.9 x 2.9 and ther went from 3.3 x 1.9 and stayed the same. but formed what my dr said is a pocket of blood but its stable. She wants to remove both. Does it require me to stay overnight?

If anyone has any adivce. please letme know thanks

[AutumnMiller]

Thank you. I will . I guess i really should be askingmy dr all these questons but for some reason they are not getin gback to me.

[PPhelps]

When you discuss surgery with your doctor they will have you sign a form for the procedure. Make sure you discuss the biopsy with her at that time and tell her you want it done don't assume she will just do it, and have her tell you what she will do during surgery, so that you are comfortable with any aspect of the surgery.

[AutumnMiller]

Thank you. So based on my post.. and all the stuff i have told you guys about the cysts.. Is it safe to assume that the dr will be taking biopsies.. or will i still not know til the doctor gets in and sees the cyst?

[vidflorida]

I would demand an oncologist just in case...you have that right and as this thread began: YOU ONLY HAVE ONE CHANCE TO GET IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME!  I know how scared you are - and just like you I always second guess my gut feeling.  But I love what someone said "Prove to me that I do not have ovarian cancer" Instead of just assuming that all is fine.  This is my new motto and it has helped me a lot - I call the doctor with confidence now instead of feeling like I am the over needy patient!! Hope this helps...it is such a confusing time.

[PPhelps]

Its when the surgeon takes biopsies of the abdominal cavity, and removes cancerous organs. That is why a gyn/onc is needed. Here is alittle bit of an article from the New York Times.

"While the patient is still on the operating table, biopsies are preformed on the tissue that was removed, so that if cancer is found, the surgeon can operate more extensively. Experts say such an operation should be carried out just by gyn/onc, who have special traiing in meticulously removing as much of the cancerous tissue as possible. This procedure, called debulking, lets chemotherapy work better and greatly improves survival."

We can't say what you have is cancer, nothing but sugery can say for sure. So you want to make sure you have the proper surgeon available just in case. So you have a better chance. No one can tell you with 100% confidence that its not cancer.  

[AutumnMiller]

debulking? what is this? i'm sorry-- lol i have no idea what this is