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What would you do - ovarian cancer

Hi I wanted to know what you would do in a situation like this, or what are your thoughts. Thanks

My sister (age: 51) had prolonged bleeding (periods?) and contacted a gynacologist who, after various tests, suggested removal of a fibroid that had grown/developed and said that the fibroid was the issue and it's removal will resolve the problem and that there was nothing to worry about. Upon non-invasive removal of the fibroid and further histopath analysis, she said cancer cells had been detected and Cancer FIGO Grade 3 was diagnosed. This hit our family hard. Then the gynacologist contacted a close relative of ours and told the relative that the patient (i.e - my sister) has cancer and needs to address the issue. Is this allowed? Under what circumstance can a doctor inform a relative of a patient's medical condition?

Long story short, we sought a second opinion (and third) and eventually my sister had to undergo a further surgery with a surgical oncologist and the entire uterus and ovaries were removed and along with that there was also a pretty large tumour within the uterus area that was also removed.

With the above information, what would you do, if anything?

Thanks in advance.
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15695260 tn?1549593113
Hello and welcome to the forum. I'm really sorry to hear about this diagnosis for your sister.  

In the United States, doctors are bound by the HIPPA privacy act.  They are only to discuss medical conditions with people that a patient has listed on the privacy statement they sign. https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/privacy/laws-regulations/index.html  Was the person that was contacted on your sister's paperwork?  If compliance of this law was not followed, you can report it.  When you say that the diagnosis hit your family hard, which is certainly understandable, was the doctor contacting someone to make sure your sister was adequately seeking treatment for the cancer (in order to save her life)? Is this person a friend of the doctor, patient of the doctor, in some way affiliated with the doctor?  What do you think the intention of the doctor was in contacting someone?  HIPPA is important but ultimately, it does sound like the doctor was trying to help your sister.  Although, it is always up to the patient about whether to get treated or not when diagnosed with cancer. Not defending the doctor's actions in anyway. Private information needs to remain private, hence the laws surrounding this. Just trying to understand the dynamic to best answer your question.

Your sister got second and third opinions confirming the cancer and is undergoing treatment.  Surgery and chemotherapy are the typical route for treatment.  Ovarian cancer tends to be a 'seeding' cancer in that tumors can be microscopic and surgery alone will not catch them all.  So, typically more than surgery is recommended.  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ovarian-cancer/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20375946

Again, so very sorry for this diagnosis of your sister. That's hard and we are here to talk to you as your family goes through this. All the best to all of you.
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