Ovarian Cancer - What to Expect without treatment

[ps131]

A relative recently underwent surgery for a mass in her abdomen. The surgeon was unable to remove all of the mass but what he did take out was biopsied and the pathology report states it is highly suspcious for ovarian cancer. She says she prefers quality over quantity and so is not willing to do chemo or radiation and has also, therefore, refused any other testing.  I realize she is terminal but would like to know what to expect as this progresses. Thank you for your help.

[Moms_Nurse]

A related discussion, Mother 90 years old with mid stage Alzheimer's was started.

[kmoe]

I watched my sister die of OVCA. She had radiation as a last effort after second surgery then a small bowel obstruction. She left the hospital with a morphine pump to control pain. Hospice got involved and was a great help during this heartbreaking time. They can keep increasing morphine to help control pain or even go to a more potent drug, dilaudid, if needed. In the end we just didn't want her to suffer. I don't know what took her life but in a few days she couldn't walk and was bed ridden, then out most of the time. I don't think she had too much pain. She went fast, 9 days after leaving hospital, only because her cancer was abnormally fast growing, doubling in size every 10 days. My previous comment was because you never know how someone's cancer is growing, spreading, etc., or will respond to treatment. Morphine and hospice are blessings from God. I just don't know why He allows anyone to suffer with cancer. God bless.

[Annekathryn Goodman, M.D.]

Hi There,

I also wonder about your relative. How old is she? What other medical problems does she have? what is her past life story that brings her to her current decisions?

Sometimes people choose not to receive therapy that can sometimes be curative and most times can bring comfort because they are frightened, or they witnessed the story of cancer in someone else. Sometimes choices can be out of religious or cultural conviction. sometimes, it can be because of a lack of trust in the medical world.

Ultimately free will and free choice is sacred. So one has to respect her choices. I would just want to be sure that she is not making choices out of lack of knowledge or fear.

Untreated ovarian cancer can cause many different problems ranging from blockage in the intestine and inability to eat, to kidney failure from dehydration and compression on the kidneys.  I would suggest recruiting a palliative care specialist or an oncologist who does palliative care and can help her and the family manage problems as they arise.
take care

[ps131]

Kmoe, thanks for taking the time to answer.  There were actually 2 masses, one in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen and another in the right lower quadrant of abdomen.  The masses are still there as they were unable to remove them completely during surgery. According to the pathology report it is highly suspicious for ovarian surface epithelial immunophenotype.   Unfortunately, since she is not willing to do treatment she see's no point in doing any further testing or seeing an oncologist.  I have undergone chemo myself so realize isn't like it was but she is unwilling to even consider doing chemo and/or radiation. I didn't mean to imply that she was terminal just because of the fact she has ovarian cancer.  I have no reason to believe she couldn't reach remission if she did some form of treatment, however, since she's not the cancer will continue to grow.  I was interested in finding out what to expect as the disease progresses so we could be somewhat prepared as to what to expect.  Thanks again.

[kmoe]

You need to provide more information. What was removed in surgery? If it was one mass it was probably in pelvis. In Ovarian cancer the patient is staged for how advanced the cancer is. This includes surgical evaluation and lab samples for evaluation. The pathology report is way to vague. How can you say she is terminal ? If she has ovarian cancer she should be staged and then given chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is not like it was in the past. They have all kinds of drugs to help with side effects if they arise. If she can't be staged then you must find out what type of cancer to treat appropriately. She could have a  remission.