cells from borderline tumour travelled into fluid...what does that mean???

[Asiya]

Hi Everyone, i was diagnosed with a borderline ovarian tumour last September and had a laparotomy last October to remove the tumour, the left ovary and the left fallopian tube. i felt relieved that it ws dealt with so quickly and efficiently. however i returned to the hospital recently for a follow up check up and they think the cells might have got into my fluid...i don't really understand what this means??? can anyone help?

i am going back and forth to the hos for tests and scans...its really depressing and frustrating.

thanks

Asiya

[Hidden]

All I can suggest if you don't understand something you need to say clearly that you don't understand and ask them to explain. It can help to make a list before you go.

It may be that they are concerned that some cancer cells remain in your body and if this is so they need to say so clearly.

It is frustrating, but it helps to know the facts.

[Asiya]

Thanks Chrystynh. I asked the doctor to explain but she didn't give me the full story, and i felt she was trying to get rid of me so i didn't ask anything further. i will ask again at my next appointment.

thanks again.

[TinaWright]

Hello Christynth,

First of all the ladies are right - anything you don`t fully understand you must ask, this is your body, your life AND remember the oncologists are paid to look after you, its in their job description. Why we all think they are doing what they do as one massive favour. Never feel rushed! We are kept waiting with one hour and more delays while we sit in a long waiting room feeling well poorly. Have you ever asked yourself WHY? Its because they are running over time while they listen to patients and ask their questions. NEVER feel guilty when its your turn, you have as much right as anyone else darling.

I wouldn`t wait until the next appointment, phone the clinic and ask to speak to someone who can explain things more clearly to do, someone may not be available to you there and then but usually someone will call you back, oncologist nurse maybe.

I had cancerous cells in my fluid too, but the chemo hopefully took care of them, keeping everything crossed.

If your cancer is borderline this means it is not clearly benign nor is it clearly cancer either, its something in between, all I can say is you are in the bestest of hands, you will be taken care of and watched over carefully sweetheart.

I tell myself every day that there will always be millions of people out there in this big wide world walking the high streets and they don`t even know it. At least we are in a better place right now, we are being looked after with eyes wide open by the best researchers for this horrid disease. Feel safe darling, its a sfer haeven than before we were aware our body had these cells.

Thats my positive way of looking at it - I hope that helps you and al;l our other readers.

Love to you all - and in my prayers

Tina xxxx

[charlie12]

Hi Asya

Welcome to the forum , but i am sorry that you need to be here.

I also had a borderline tumour removed two years ago. It is a really really confusing diagnosis, even the doctors can't agree on it. I went through exactly the same thing.

Did fluid in your abdomen show up on a scan or was your CA125 raised ?

This situation is not fair on you, but is so common. Please please do not wait 'till your next visit. Call the clinic and ask for either an earlier appointment and/or a call from your consultant. Alternatively ask your GP for a decent explanation and if he/she does not know then perhaps they could contact the hospital for you ??

The NICE guidance on initial management of ovarian cancer also covers borderline tumours. It says that patients must be given information in an appropriate manner including in written form. You are also entitled to be referred for emotional support . Doctors must follow this guideline, it is what you, as a taxpayer,pay them for.

Having said that borderline tumors don't come back very often, mostly they are taken care of by surgery. Two years on my life is much much better, and so will your be too in the future.

But get that information , you deserve it.

Take care

Love

Charlie xxx

[Asiya]

Thank you ladies for the replies and your help,and i hope you are all doing well.

I feel like as though i am not being given enough information about my own condition...they are keping me in the dark abit! i have therefore made a list of questions i want to ask and have made an appointment for next week. i'm a bit nervous but atleast it will give me a clear picture.

I have also made an appointment to receive emotional support, not only has my health gone bad to worse in the last five years but it has had a massive impact on my marriage (we are very close to seperating).

I have a scan booked in April which seems ages away, following that i will have results. I'm not sure what a CA125 is, i'll have a read of this.

I will keep you posted, take care xxx

[Hidden]

Just to say: they might well be being evasive because they do not know!

We tend to take the paranoid "They're not telling me something" reaction to the doctors' hesitancy because we want to believe there is someone who understands what is happening to us, and they don't like to appear confused. The truth, much more often than is (sadly) admitted is that they do not know. There seems to be a belief in many (perhaps most, or even all) oncology departments and medical services that to say ' we don't know' is a sign of incompetence, whereas it is, in fact, the case. I find a good GP will translate what can be explained, can get a fuller answer sometimes, and is more able to say, 'this means they don't know, but want to take further tests because it could be a,b, or c'

Just to put the other side, not to defend it.

Isadora.