Omental biopo

[Flower19]

My mum as to have a omental biopsy does anyone know why these are done , an what they are for any information would be really helpful , really worried for my mum an so scared of everything at the moment x

[Hidden]

I am sorry I am not familiar with that particular test hopefully some one else can offer some advice. I suppose a biopsy is done to see if there is any thing to be worried about. Try not to worry until results are in. I can understand the fear at the moment as it is the unknown. I wish your Mum the best

[Flower19 in reply to Hidden]

Thankyou so much for reply x

[naomi88]

As I understood it, they are checking the omentum for spread of the disease in the abdominal area. My omentum was removed at the operation to be tested for cancer. It came clear.

Do not worry before hand, I know it easier said than done, but try to see that worrying does not change anything about your mum, but wears you down. If you could redirect that energy in being proactive and learn as much as possible about how to manage the symptoms naturally would end up in a better outcome for both of you.

Also if you could take care of your emotions so you do not load your mum with them, coz it is really hard to cope with her own cancer problem, any extra from family members makes it double hard. I am sure at this point she worries about future and her children. All mums do. She just need time and space to make sense of the things that roll fast in her life.

[Flower19 in reply to naomi88]

Thankyou so much for your kind words an reply x

[Sunfleury-UK]

Hi Flower, The ommentum is a bit of our body that I suspect we only find out about when it's removed or tested! Certainly Id never heard of it before my operation- it sits like a sort of apron around the front of your tummy and it's not neccesary (like the appendix, it's a left over thing ). The reason why women who have / or are thought they might have ovarian cancer have it removed or tested is because if there are any Cancer cells that have gone beyond the ovary they sometimes end up there. It can therefore be safely removed and then tested.

On your other posts you've asked why your mum if having chemo and then surgery, this is also quite common- a lot of women have 3xchemo, then surgery, then 3x chemo. It will depend on the specifics based on scans etc, but my understanding is it is done so as to give the surgeon the best chance to have as complete surgery as they can.

There is some good information on the Ovacome website and an excellent booklet on the Target Ovarian Cancer website called 'What Next?'- it should answer some of your questions and give you an insight into how your Mum may be feeling, there are lots of stories from women who have had this diagnosis.

There's a lot to get your head around, try to write down any questions you may have, but take your lead from what your Mum wants to know too. Wishing you both hope and strength, Sx

[Flower19]

Thankyou so much for your reply xxxx

[meboo]

Hi Flower19. I can see from your posts that you are very concerned about your mum. I found the stage you are at to be the worst / the limbo before you find out what the full extent of the problem is and how it will be treated. I hope it helps if I share my story : Mum was diagnosed in Jan 14 with very advanced disease (Stage 3c under the old staging, but probably 4 under the changes that were made to staging last year). She had an omental biopsy that confirmed Her disease had spread. She also had litres of fluid drained (called ascites). Her disease was too far spread to operate on straight away and also she was extremely weak. It took 5 weeks from diagnosis to her first chemo. She was meant to have 3 chemos prior to her op, but ended up having 4 due to timing of the op. She had previously had a hysterectomy many years ago, but she had her remaining ovary, omentum, appendix removed & various bits scraped. She then had 2 more chemos and had avastin added in (avastin added because there was still some disease left after the op). At the end of her chemo she still had small amounts of disease left, but after 9 months on avastin that's has now been mopped up & the latest scan shows no evidence of disease.

Sorry, that's a long post, but I remember the devastation at her diagnosis and I never imagined we would be here 18 months on, enjoying quality family life.

Please post back if you have specific questions you want answering x

[Flower19]

Meboo , thankyou so much for replying to me an your kind words of understanding were I am at with this news , your story helped a lot an I ave re read it many times , ur story sounds similar to mums I am hoping an praying that we get a good outcome to our situation thankyou xxxxx