1. < Gynecologic Cancers

Stage-4 Ovarian Cancer - Prognosis

Posted by sugarbeez @sugarbeez, Dec 5, 2023

Hello Community,
Spent the weekend in ER for severe pain and got the news of Stage-4 Ovarian cancer after CT and CA125 🙁
they tried to remove the fluids using paracenteses but could not drain it. Now we are looking for CT guided Biopsy in 2 weeks.
This came as a complete surprising shock to us, we were mentally prepared for blood cancer (given the ET suspicion due to high platelets). Look to your support: where do we go from here? What's the survival chance? What to ask the Doctor? What to Eat? TIA! 🙏🏼

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Gynecologic Cancers Support Group.

Mentor
Helen, Volunteer Mentor | @naturegirl5 | Dec 5, 2023

@sugarbeez I can just imagine what a huge shock that was. When I received my diagnosis of endometrial cancer (after a hysteroscopy and D&C) I was in such shock that I got lost driving on my way home. It was a very familiar route too. So I can very much relate to receiving news you weren’t at all expecting to hear.

Who will perform the CT guided biopsy? Have you been referred to oncology? The biopsy will be sent to pathology where they will examine under a microscope and provide a more definitive diagnosis after examining the tissue. It’s at that point, I think, that the treatment plans will be made and your doctor will discuss the plans with you. That’s the time to ask all of the questions you have. I suggest you start writing your questions in a journal or notebook. Bring that notebook with you to all your appointments so you can ask your questions and take notes.

We aren’t medical professionals here on Mayo Clinic Connect so we cannot answer questions about survival rates. I’m copying some information from the American Cancer Society that may answer some of your questions:

Key Statistics for Ovarian Cancer:

— https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/ovarian-cancer/about/key-statistics.html#:~:text=A%20woman's%20risk%20of%20getting,is%20about%201%20in%20108.

Mayo Clinic-Ovarian Cancer:
— https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ovarian-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20375941

Please be careful what you read in your online searches. I try to stick with major medical centers like Mayo Clinic and MD Anderson and Cleveland Clinic. That’s where you will find more accurate information.

What to eat? I’ve had several conversations with nutritionists who speciality is in oncology. You probably will not be surprised that they recommend a plant-based diet however you will likely change your diet during the treatment phase. Once you meet with your oncologist you might ask for a referral for a nutritionist who specializes in oncology.

Is this helpful to you? What else would you like to know?

REPLY
2 replies
aslovett | @aslovett | Jan 17 3:42pm

@sugarbeez Just came across your post and it caught my interest as someone who has been tested for ET after 9 years of elevated platelets. I ended up having a bone marrow biopsy in April 2023, which did not confirm the diagnosis. So I am just being monitored with a CBC every 4 months to watch platelets. However, I started having very mild female problems in November and went to my obgyn expecting her to say I was beginning menopause. While there, they did a transvaginal ultrasound and found a small cyst on left ovary. She followed up 6 weeks later with another TVUS which showed the cyst had grown slightly. At that time she ordered a CA125 and HE4. Both of those were within normal limits (CA125 at 20 and HE4 at 49.4), but she has referred me on to a gynecologic oncologist for follow up. I see him next week. Prayers for you!

REPLY
1 reply
tbkomparda | @tbkomparda | Jan 17 5:41pm

Hello,
As an OC survivor 3B I wanted to give you another support group “Ovarian Cancer Support Group’” you can search and request to be a member it’s a very active group without alot of knowledge and stage 4 Survivors my advice would be to not over read Dr. Google as the statistics are 5+ years old and alot of new drugs have come to market since then not sure your located I’m in the Midwest but your local chapter of the NOCC is a valuable resource really the only accurate way to stage/grade/subtype OC is a debulking hysterectomy performed by a Gynecologist Oncologist.

REPLY
lathomasmd | @lathomasmd | Jan 19 12:07pm
In reply to @naturegirl5 "@sugarbeez I can just imagine what a huge shock that was. When I received my diagnosis..." + (show)
@naturegirl5

@sugarbeez I can just imagine what a huge shock that was. When I received my diagnosis of endometrial cancer (after a hysteroscopy and D&C) I was in such shock that I got lost driving on my way home. It was a very familiar route too. So I can very much relate to receiving news you weren’t at all expecting to hear.

Who will perform the CT guided biopsy? Have you been referred to oncology? The biopsy will be sent to pathology where they will examine under a microscope and provide a more definitive diagnosis after examining the tissue. It’s at that point, I think, that the treatment plans will be made and your doctor will discuss the plans with you. That’s the time to ask all of the questions you have. I suggest you start writing your questions in a journal or notebook. Bring that notebook with you to all your appointments so you can ask your questions and take notes.

We aren’t medical professionals here on Mayo Clinic Connect so we cannot answer questions about survival rates. I’m copying some information from the American Cancer Society that may answer some of your questions:

Key Statistics for Ovarian Cancer:

— https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/ovarian-cancer/about/key-statistics.html#:~:text=A%20woman's%20risk%20of%20getting,is%20about%201%20in%20108.

Mayo Clinic-Ovarian Cancer:
— https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ovarian-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20375941

Please be careful what you read in your online searches. I try to stick with major medical centers like Mayo Clinic and MD Anderson and Cleveland Clinic. That’s where you will find more accurate information.

What to eat? I’ve had several conversations with nutritionists who speciality is in oncology. You probably will not be surprised that they recommend a plant-based diet however you will likely change your diet during the treatment phase. Once you meet with your oncologist you might ask for a referral for a nutritionist who specializes in oncology.

Is this helpful to you? What else would you like to know?

Jump to this post

I think you posted the wrong link to Mayo…

REPLY
1 reply
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jan 21 3:48pm
In reply to @lathomasmd "I think you posted the wrong link to Mayo…" + (show)
@lathomasmd

I think you posted the wrong link to Mayo…

Jump to this post

Thanks for noticing. The link has been corrected. 🙂

REPLY
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jan 21 3:50pm
In reply to @aslovett "@sugarbeez Just came across your post and it caught my interest as someone who has been..." + (show)
@aslovett

@sugarbeez Just came across your post and it caught my interest as someone who has been tested for ET after 9 years of elevated platelets. I ended up having a bone marrow biopsy in April 2023, which did not confirm the diagnosis. So I am just being monitored with a CBC every 4 months to watch platelets. However, I started having very mild female problems in November and went to my obgyn expecting her to say I was beginning menopause. While there, they did a transvaginal ultrasound and found a small cyst on left ovary. She followed up 6 weeks later with another TVUS which showed the cyst had grown slightly. At that time she ordered a CA125 and HE4. Both of those were within normal limits (CA125 at 20 and HE4 at 49.4), but she has referred me on to a gynecologic oncologist for follow up. I see him next week. Prayers for you!

Jump to this post

@aslovett, thinking of you as you prepare for your appointment with gynecologic oncologist. I hope you'll share what you learn.

REPLY
gisellef | @gisellef | Jan 26 9:46am
In reply to @naturegirl5 "@sugarbeez I can just imagine what a huge shock that was. When I received my diagnosis..." + (show)
@naturegirl5

@sugarbeez I can just imagine what a huge shock that was. When I received my diagnosis of endometrial cancer (after a hysteroscopy and D&C) I was in such shock that I got lost driving on my way home. It was a very familiar route too. So I can very much relate to receiving news you weren’t at all expecting to hear.

Who will perform the CT guided biopsy? Have you been referred to oncology? The biopsy will be sent to pathology where they will examine under a microscope and provide a more definitive diagnosis after examining the tissue. It’s at that point, I think, that the treatment plans will be made and your doctor will discuss the plans with you. That’s the time to ask all of the questions you have. I suggest you start writing your questions in a journal or notebook. Bring that notebook with you to all your appointments so you can ask your questions and take notes.

We aren’t medical professionals here on Mayo Clinic Connect so we cannot answer questions about survival rates. I’m copying some information from the American Cancer Society that may answer some of your questions:

Key Statistics for Ovarian Cancer:

— https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/ovarian-cancer/about/key-statistics.html#:~:text=A%20woman's%20risk%20of%20getting,is%20about%201%20in%20108.

Mayo Clinic-Ovarian Cancer:
— https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ovarian-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20375941

Please be careful what you read in your online searches. I try to stick with major medical centers like Mayo Clinic and MD Anderson and Cleveland Clinic. That’s where you will find more accurate information.

What to eat? I’ve had several conversations with nutritionists who speciality is in oncology. You probably will not be surprised that they recommend a plant-based diet however you will likely change your diet during the treatment phase. Once you meet with your oncologist you might ask for a referral for a nutritionist who specializes in oncology.

Is this helpful to you? What else would you like to know?

Jump to this post

This is very good advice. Take good notes and formulate your questions before meeting with your doctors.
As far as the diet is concerned, plant based is good but include lean proteins. Cut out sugar and equivalents as much as possible.
Take good care of yourself and stay as calm as possible. It’s a tough time but there will be a treatment plan soon! Wishing you the very best.

REPLY
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