1. < Gynecologic Cancers

Worried about Ovarian Cancer

Posted by JMac @ch0c00ki35, Oct 22, 2019

Dr found a 13cm simple cyst with clean borders on my right ovary, via ultrasound. Heavy periods with severe cramping, and it's getting worse. Dr asked for bloodwork, CA125 came back at 83, but everything else is normal. Sent for abdominal/pelvic CT with intravenous and oral contrast. Dr called today, no news on cyst, but stated my lymph nodes in pelvic area and aorta are enlarged. Referred to larger hospital OBGYN. I'm 38 years old, overweight, no family history of ovarian cancer, but most women in my family have had problem periods, ovarian cysts, and hysterectomy/oophorectomy. I guess I'm just wondering what my chances are of this being cancer, and what's next.

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jacquelineb68 | @jacquelineb68 | Apr 2 2:49pm

Jenelle
Thank you for the information I wish you a speedy recovery

REPLY
sistermarcy | @sistermarcy | Apr 3 8:16am

Hi Jacqueline,
I’m like Jenelle, high grade serous recurrent ovarian cancer. I started at stage 3c. It’s been almost three years since my treatment began, chemo off and on. Although I’m 81 I have, with the help of pharmacists and doctors, been able to remain quite active, pickle ball, swimming, walking. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. When I was teaching, our principal and a teacher were undergoing chemo and were able to continue working. I know everyone is different, so I’m hoping and praying that you will be able to continue working with few accommodations. By the way, invest in a good wig! It really helps you feel good when you look good. I was lucky to find a wig dealer who was able to match my hairstyle perfectly. Even my hairdresser was fooled.
Continue with hope and joy.
Marcy

REPLY
juliea55 | @juliea55 | Apr 3 12:53pm

Hi, Jacqueline. You never know. You might be able to get through chemo with relatively few side effects. Many people do. There are lots of tips online to make it easier. I have had ten rounds of carboplatin and abraxane (substitute for the taxol used when you are one of the 40 percent or so have an allergic reaction to the binder in the taxol) and never had any real problems, although I did weekly abraxane (not the one big dose). 4 rounds should be doable, and I didn’t fully lose my hair until late in the process (right at the seventh chemo). In any event, let me know if you have any questions. We all wish you great luck and success!

REPLY
lathomasmd | @lathomasmd | Apr 3 4:48pm

Hello Jacqueline,
Be careful before you tell your new employer your diagnosis. In fact, I recommend you don’t tell them ever. Review your contract/employment manual for any probationary periods during which they could fire you without cause.
You DO need to get your primary care doc to fill out an FMLA form to be able to get time off for treatments.
The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) protects patients from being fired for taking time off work for medical reasons. Get this done as soon as possible.
There are several things to keep in mind when you get this done:
1. Download the official FMLA forms yourself from the US Department of Labor website (https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fmla/forms) and take them to your PCP to fill out. These forms do not ask the diagnosis (except for pregnancy). Many employers try to give their employees their own forms, which DO ask the diagnosis. And many doctors just fill them out, thinking they are helping the patient. Even with FMLA protection, if your employer knows your diagnosis, they may try to find other reasons to fire you.
2. Make an appointment with your primary care doctor to fill out the forms, not your oncologist. The form asks for the doctor’s specialty. If it says “oncologist,” your employer will know you have cancer. Fill out as much of the forms as you can ahead of time, such as your name, employer’s name, doctor’s name/address/phone, etc. to save time with your doctor.
3. Don’t just drop the forms off at your doctor’s office. This needs to be done at an appointment because your doctor will have questions. Make the appointment just for the FMLA forms—don’t expect your doctor to have time for this during an appointment for something else.
4. For conditions like cancer, I always put duration of condition as one year, knowing most likely we’d be filling out these forms again every year.
5. After the forms are completed and signed, make a copy for your own records.
Once the forms are with your employer, they cannot fire you for missing work because of your medical condition.
But they can fire you for anything else. Be aware that even with all these precautions in place, some employers look for other reasons to fire an employee just because they have FMLA in place, even without knowing the diagnosis. Make yourself very valuable at your new job. Good luck!

REPLY
1 reply
jacquelineb68 | @jacquelineb68 | Apr 4 10:29am
In reply to @lathomasmd "Hello Jacqueline, Be careful before you tell your new employer your diagnosis. In fact, I recommend..." + (show)
@lathomasmd

Hello Jacqueline,
Be careful before you tell your new employer your diagnosis. In fact, I recommend you don’t tell them ever. Review your contract/employment manual for any probationary periods during which they could fire you without cause.
You DO need to get your primary care doc to fill out an FMLA form to be able to get time off for treatments.
The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) protects patients from being fired for taking time off work for medical reasons. Get this done as soon as possible.
There are several things to keep in mind when you get this done:
1. Download the official FMLA forms yourself from the US Department of Labor website (https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fmla/forms) and take them to your PCP to fill out. These forms do not ask the diagnosis (except for pregnancy). Many employers try to give their employees their own forms, which DO ask the diagnosis. And many doctors just fill them out, thinking they are helping the patient. Even with FMLA protection, if your employer knows your diagnosis, they may try to find other reasons to fire you.
2. Make an appointment with your primary care doctor to fill out the forms, not your oncologist. The form asks for the doctor’s specialty. If it says “oncologist,” your employer will know you have cancer. Fill out as much of the forms as you can ahead of time, such as your name, employer’s name, doctor’s name/address/phone, etc. to save time with your doctor.
3. Don’t just drop the forms off at your doctor’s office. This needs to be done at an appointment because your doctor will have questions. Make the appointment just for the FMLA forms—don’t expect your doctor to have time for this during an appointment for something else.
4. For conditions like cancer, I always put duration of condition as one year, knowing most likely we’d be filling out these forms again every year.
5. After the forms are completed and signed, make a copy for your own records.
Once the forms are with your employer, they cannot fire you for missing work because of your medical condition.
But they can fire you for anything else. Be aware that even with all these precautions in place, some employers look for other reasons to fire an employee just because they have FMLA in place, even without knowing the diagnosis. Make yourself very valuable at your new job. Good luck!

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Thank you this is very helpful

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