Awaiting histology - biopsy on left ovary

Hi Lizbot

From memory, I believe that you have endometriosis? I wonder if the growth on your left ovary is to do with that. It seems that your CNS is saying it may be endometrial tissue. 

It is normal for everything that is removed, including ovaries to be checked thoroughly. It sounds like they are being really thorough in checking everything and being very honest with you as to what was seen and reassuring you that it is all being checked. I do not think that they have been trying to hide anything from you due to your mental health issues. 

The scans and testing that you have before surgery is always provisional and normally they are pretty accurate. Occasionally something might come up on the post op histology and this is being checked for you. It does not mean that your predicted grade and stage will necessarily change- just that it is all being double checked. One of the reasons that the post op results are important is that occasionally something may crop up that was not seen on scans. 

If something has popped up on your ovary then it has been removed by the surgery. If this is the case then it may be you are offered some follow up treatment however this does not mean that the surgery has not been curative. 

I hope that you do not have to wait too long for the results. Has your CNS given you any indication as to when they may be back? There can be quite a variation between hospitals and from experience it just depends how busy they are. Mine took 3 1/2 weeks but this did include the Easter bank holiday weekend. 

Jane

Thank you Jane. I spoke with my assigned CNS after my initial call who told me there was endo on my right ovary, and what looked like ‘a small bunch of grapes’ on my left - the surgeon thinks it’s endo as the left ovary was fused to my pelvis but they can’t be sure until histology. 

I’m speaking with my CNS again on Thursday and she’s hoping they have the results a week on Wednesday 

It’s turned out that neither of my tubes had fluid in them and there’s no obvious signs of spread in the rest of what they’ve removed. I’m just back to being terrified now, I want my life back  

I’m now back to googling all kinds. I’ve just had my first session of counselling with a local MacMillan appointed counsellor which has helped somewhat but I can’t stop catastropshising again. 

If it is ovarian, is it likely to mean that it’s no longer curative?

Hi Liz

That makes it a bit clearer. They seem to think it is connected to the endometriosis. It would be routine to check the ovaries (and everything else that is removed) to obtain the post op results. 

We are not medically trained on here so can not answer anything concerning prognosis/curative etc. We can only talk through our own experience/knowledge.

However IF the ovarian tissue does contain endometrial cancer, then it would be considered a locally advanced cancer- stage 3a. There are a fair few ladies on here who have been treated successfully for locally advanced cancer. The thing to bear in mind is that if some cells have got to the ovary then they have still been removed. Any potential follow up treatment would likely be considered adjuvant- to reduce the risks of recurrence/mop up any stray cells. 

IF cancer has been found in the ovary and it had originated there and gone into the endometrium - this would be considered to be a stage 2a ovarian cancer- so early stage. However this seems unlikely due to you diagnostic scans and testing. Also you have not mentioned a CA125 blood test result being high. I have not come across anyone on here who has had a diagnosis of endometrial cancer and then had it changed to ovarian.

I think you can feel reassured that it is early stage endometrial cancer and that they are just running the routine post op results which include your ovaries. They seem to believe that the tissue is related to your endometriosis but are double checking. 

The best person to talk to is your CNS who has all your medical details however you could speak to one of the nurses on the Support Line who may be able to help with your medical questions. 

I know it is always worrying waiting for post op results. It can feel like it is all back in limbo again. Try to focus on what you do know rather than what could happen. if something does crop up in the post op results that is unexpected, then deal with it once you know what you are dealing with- rather than worry about what may not happen. 

How is your recovery going from the surgery?

Jane

Always sensible words Jane, thank you. I’ll still continue to panic though. My mum had ovarian cancer and it was seen as a huge mass on her ovary - I’ve been told that nothing was seen on my ovary!

recovery wise I’m physically doing okay. Poor appetite but think it’s the anaesthetic still plus still quite stressed, more so now. Like us all, I just want my life back x

You will get your life back- it's just on hold for a bit while you deal with things. Cancer is tough. I think we all just do what we can do get through it. I remember it seeming overwhelming at the beginning of treatment but once things got moving, I just got on with it. Often felt like quitting, particularly during chemo and radiotherapy but in the end I'd got so far and kept going. I had an aggressive type but am well 3 years post treatment. 

Fingers crossed you do not have to wait too long to get those results back