Granulosa cell (GCT) ovarian cancer: Suspect recurrence, how to cope?

@dovebeloved I can feel your angst and fear through your words.

As @colleenyoung noted I experienced a recurrence. That was in 2021, two years after I was diagnosed with endometroid adenocarcinoma, FIGO Grade 1. In 2019 I had surgery - radical hysterectomy with removal of uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and cervix. After surgery the pathology report indicated Stage 1a and so my gyn-oncologist told me that no other treatment was recommended. And yet two years later during a routine cancer surveillance appointment a little polyp-like growth was found on my vaginal cuff, it was removed and sent to pathology. Recurrence. Prior to the recurrence I had no symptoms and so when I got the phone call after the pathology report came out I was stunned and shocked. I could barely walk, think, or talk. I was scheduled for a PET/MR scan, and I was beside myself with fear, sleepless nights, and anxiety. I was 69-years-old at the time so much older than you are now. I could just hear people saying (they never did), "you've had a good life" as if I was going to pass away soon. It was just awful. Once I knew what I was dealing with (the PET/MR showed no evidence of disease so no metastasis) I saw a radiation oncologist and I was set up for external and internal radiation therapy. It was when I knew how this recurrence would be treated that I started to settle down and feel less fearful.

Here is what I've learned. Sadness, fear, crying, going back to the computer over and over again trying to find answers to questions I could not even articulate were all part of the process. No one wants to feel these emotions. We want certainty in our futures and with cancer and the fear of recurrence there is no certainty.

I learned about Hope. Hope is optimism with a plan. Optimism alone is just a thought. A plan has goals and it is action-oriented. So that is why, I figured, I felt less fearful once I saw the radiation oncologist. There was a plan in place that I would follow. So I could be optimistic and schedule the radiation appointments.

I'd like to share this. Please consider being compassionate with yourself. This is a very difficult time for you. I've learned that emotional support is key to going through this. Do you have family who support you? A partner? Close friends? I found solace in reading material from my religious tradition. Do you have a religious and spiritual tradition?

Thank you for sharing your experience and taking the time to reply! I do have a support team it’s my mother and brothers & sisters. My brother says it’s something I eat that’s getting me sick so that I need to eat healthier. One of my sisters said maybe God wants to give me a great testimony & share hope & encouragement to others. Another sister said that it’s a wake up call and that I should take myself more serious and take care of my health. My mother buys me expensive, random supplements that “ cure “ cancer naturally! They all mean well. It’s hard to please them and agree to their opinion or their suggestions of how to live my life. And when my mother calls me to ask me if I’m drinking the stuff she gives me and I say No, she gets angry and stressed out because she wants to cure me but I don’t cooperate.
I am a believer of Jesus Christ, and I pray and read daily to get wisdom and courage to phase this difficult season . I have a heavy burden to be strong for my family so they don’t fear or that I don’t become a burden to them. When all I really want is to be in peace through this storm and trust the process one day at a time. That’s why I’m here searching for different perspectives from real cancer warriors. I love my family but right now I don’t want to be told what I should or shouldn’t be doing, I just want to understand what I’m going through and be mentally ready for the results.

Thank you for sharing your experience and taking the time to reply! I do have a support team it’s my mother and brothers & sisters. My brother says it’s something I eat that’s getting me sick so that I need to eat healthier. One of my sisters said maybe God wants to give me a great testimony & share hope & encouragement to others. Another sister said that it’s a wake up call and that I should take myself more serious and take care of my health. My mother buys me expensive, random supplements that “ cure “ cancer naturally! They all mean well. It’s hard to please them and agree to their opinion or their suggestions of how to live my life. And when my mother calls me to ask me if I’m drinking the stuff she gives me and I say No, she gets angry and stressed out because she wants to cure me but I don’t cooperate.
I am a believer of Jesus Christ, and I pray and read daily to get wisdom and courage to phase this difficult season . I have a heavy burden to be strong for my family so they don’t fear or that I don’t become a burden to them. When all I really want is to be in peace through this storm and trust the process one day at a time. That’s why I’m here searching for different perspectives from real cancer warriors. I love my family but right now I don’t want to be told what I should or shouldn’t be doing, I just want to understand what I’m going through and be mentally ready for the results.

Hi
My family member had the same issues happening. In her case it was deemed a reoccurrence but her opinion was that not all the cancer cells were caught the first time around. I have read that cancer cells can hide in scar tissue from the surgery, which cannot be reached with chemotherapy. Radiation can deal with rogue cells. I truly hope that you are not facing another bout of cancer. The PET scan will let you know.

Should that be the case, talk to your physician about adding radiation to your treatment protocol. I understand that no one really wants more in the way of cancer meds and treatments but my family member could have avoided Round 2 of cancer had a light round of precautionary radiation been added to her regimen the first time around. We had to learn that from the best cancer doctors in the world, who treated her the second time around. But, don’t despair! Many people have survived a reoccurrence with the right treatment protocols.
Best wishes to you!

Hy, hope you doing better. I had my surgery 10/2021. for first time ,this days I have cramp like pain and sow dark yellow/brownish vaginal discharge. I don't know what is going on, but I am also scared that it could be that GCT is back. I will call my gin tomorrow.

Hy, hope you doing better. I had my surgery 10/2021. for first time ,this days I have cramp like pain and sow dark yellow/brownish vaginal discharge. I don't know what is going on, but I am also scared that it could be that GCT is back. I will call my gin tomorrow.

adult granulosa cell tumor. Abdominal and pelvic relapse confirmed.
I have body discomforts and feverish feeling, nothing severe, now having bit constipation, no abdominal pain

I missed a scanning between Oct 2023 and July 24. 3 months back visited surgeon for check up, said everything fine. Suggested pet scan to be free for next one year.
My initial treatment over in june 2021. No medications.initially my stage was III 2b. First surgery was unplanned hysterectomy. After that did Chemo,again laprotomy for CRS and hipec did. Later in March 2022 two small lesions reported in pelvic area and in Oct 2022, 2 lesions reported near liver, did biopsy but result was negative. Was under follow-up with CA 125 and ultra sound., till Oct 23 no changes noted. In April 2024 little hike in CA 125 noted (17.8)., was below 10 after treatment.
I used to go gym for the last 2 years, but intensive training started in feb24. Later I reduced 7 kg . I was 77 kg in Feb, now 70 kg. No abdominal pain while doing exercise. I used to feel very fresh and active after gym workout. Not felt unusual tiredness, now also I am physically active and fine.
CBC, blood sugar, TSH, liver function test, urea creatinine- everything normal.
Inhibin B shows elevated >1000.8, tested for the first time now.

My first issue was in 2012 with a cyst in left ovary, which was removed by laproscopy immediately

Doctors did CRS only. As it took more than 14 hours. removed all tumors and could do it perfectly.
Colon anastomosis near rectum has been done as they find one tumor nearer to that.
Now biopsy result. Recurrence confirmed. Suggested chemo 4 or 6 cycles based on inhibin B value after one month. Said to start on 21st day. cbc values shows variation.

Clinical Data : Known case of recurrent granulosa cell tumor
IHC Findings IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY:
ER: Positive, 1+/2+ nuclear positivity in 30% tumor cells
PR: Positive, 2+/3+ nuclear positivity in 90% tumor cells
Ki­67: 10­15% activity.
Controls satisfactory.
Antibodies clones:
ER(Sp1 ROCHE), PR(IE2 ROCHE), Her2 Neu(4B5 ROCHE), (MIB­1
Pathnsitu).

Hy, hope you doing better. I had my surgery 10/2021. for first time ,this days I have cramp like pain and sow dark yellow/brownish vaginal discharge. I don't know what is going on, but I am also scared that it could be that GCT is back. I will call my gin tomorrow.