Types of Ovarian Cancer

[ZenaJ]

Hi lovely ladies,

I've been on this site for quite a while and have never wanted to admit it but sometimes it's like reading a different language. What I would like to know is, how many different types of Ovarian Cancer are there, please? I've never liked to ask before but it might help my understanding of what others are sharing.

Thanks in advance. Zena

[Saintgermain]

Hi Zena,

Always nice chatting with you, I’m low grade 3B Endometroid and 1A Synchronous Uterine a bit rarer unlike Low Grade Serous my Low Grade type is chemo sensitive.

[ZenaJ in reply to Saintgermain]

I"m always pleased to see you're still on here. I'm learning a lot today with everyones answers. At least now I know why I don't always know what someone is talking about. So many different types.

I hope you are well. Love Zena xx

[Saintgermain in reply to ZenaJ]

Thanks Zena,

It truly is amazing how many sub types there are. Thank you for your well wishes I’m coming upon 1 year NED , every day is a blessing and like we spoke of before when i try to eat healthy, exercise but also throw in a bit of fun! I think your post was great! Hugs from Chicago

[ZenaJ in reply to Saintgermain]

I'm so pleased you're NED. I know it's still a worry but as you say live life and do your best.

I would have liked to go to London but even though I'm really well, I couldn't stand in a queue for up to 24 hours so have had to make the most of it on TV. My daughter took her children up to see the flowers and it was truly a spectacle. I have walked from Buckingham Palace to the Shard in the past which is about 26,000 steps but that was completely different. Otherwise, all good here.

Take care, Love Zena x

[Saintgermain in reply to ZenaJ]

Zena,

It is still a worry every follow up appointment, blood draw and scan fills one with anxiety but as you know have to push ahead!

What a tribute glad your Daughter and your Grandchildren got to see the flowers must of been spectacular. Being from the US I’ve always found British history fascinating love the programs, I subscribe to Britbox. One of my close Friends is a war bride, she’s 95 love to listen to her stories.

[ZenaJ in reply to Saintgermain]

I think we take a lot of it for granted. xx

[Saintgermain in reply to ZenaJ]

Until life gives a wake up call stop and smell each flower along the way!

[CST1967]

Hi Zena - I am high grade serous ovarian cancer arising in the Fallopian tube so I think it is Fallopian tube cancer primarily but treated the same way as ovarian. Xx

[ZenaJ in reply to CST1967]

Thank you. Such a wide variety of answers. I'm learning a lot. It's taken me long enough. x

[0462County]

Hi

I am Stage 2B High Grade Serous Carcinoma of the Ovary.

Love Beth x

[ZenaJ in reply to 0462County]

Thanks Beth. I hope you are keeping well xx

[0462County in reply to ZenaJ]

I am feeling ok thank you. I have my 3rd chemo on Monday. Hope you are ok xx.

[delia2]

Hi Zena. The majority of people have high grade serous (epithelial) ovarian, fallopian tube, or peritoneal cancer, all treated the same. Then there is low grade serous cancer which doesn't respond as well to chemo because it's slower growing and chemo kills fast dividing cells. Some of the rarer types are clear cell, germ cell, stromal, and borderline tumors which aren't quite cancer yet. I believe younger women get germ cell and stromal more often than older women do. There are probably more, even rarer types. Since you had active oc there is much more emphasis on precision medicine, looking at different genetic mutations and proteins expressed by the tumors. So even though most people might have high grade serous, those with certain mutations such as brca 1 and 2 may respond better to parp inhibitors. And there are other mutations that are relevant to oc. Hope this helps!

[ZenaJ in reply to delia2]

Thanks Delia, who certainly know what you're talking about and have really looked into it. I've just been pottering on in ignorance of all these different types. I didn't even know about BRCA until four years ago when I asked for a test. You would have thought that one of my healthcare professionals would have mentioned it.

I hope you are well and thanks again. xx

[Melody6]

Hi Zena, I had grade 2 endometrioid adenocarcinoma with clear cell (which is always grade 3) - so mixed histology. there’s endometrioid, mucinous and clear cell - these are all separate types. There’s also carcinosarcoma, which is a rare one. And I think there might be another couple that are not springing to mind at the moment - one of the other lovely ladies may have already covered them. Hope you’re well! 💖 love from Mel

[ZenaJ in reply to Melody6]

Thanks Mel for explaining it so well. In my ignorance I thought if you had ovarian cancer that was ovarian cancer. I know now there's much more to it. Thanks again. Zena xx

[Ova3 in reply to Melody6]

I have carcinosarcoma or MMMT. I presented with 3B and surgery the next week. My husband has left me so my support is coming from my children and friends. After 1st treatment I had 27 months of NED. I started a divorce out of anger that I dropped because the cancer recurred and I still love my husband. He is supporting me in the house we own and he lives with his partner.! We have been married for 53 years. Cancer started in May 2018.

[Jayniiee]

i had primary peritoneal cancer (currently ned, long may it continue) which is treated the same way as ovarian cancer

[ZenaJ in reply to Jayniiee]

Thanks Jayn. I'm pleased you are ned and as you say, long may it continue. I'm beginning to think I'm a bit dense when it comes to all these different types. I wish everyone was so lucky as us. xx

[Mumsie13]

Hi Zena. I have carcinocarcoma a rarer type of cancer which originated in my ovaries. It affects the epithelilial and connective tissues. In my case it has been treated the same way as high grade serous as the gold standard but without the nhs options for parps or immunotherapy - they don't know enough about this cancer sub type. There are a few of us on here that have this. I can't think of any more that havent already been mentioned. Hope you are doing ok. Love from Jackie.

[ZenaJ in reply to Mumsie13]

Thanks Jackie, all is well here. I had no idea how many different types we all have. I'm not sure what type I had. I'll have to look into it. All the best, Zena x

[Lyndy2]

A friend has just been diagnosed with mucinous which apparently acts more like bowel cancer than oc. I am just plain old high grade serous. x

[ZenaJ in reply to Lyndy2]

Thanks Lyndy. I'm living and learning. x

[Petrolhead in reply to Lyndy2]

I was also diagnosed with mucinous oc. Yes it does act like bowel cancer and some places like the US and sometimes in Ireland treat it with the bowel cancer regimen. Usually the CA125 is not raised and not very sensitive to the usual chemo treatment. However often detected early and prognosis can be encouraging.

Fay

[SopSinger]

probably about 100 different types. Cell type, grade and stage all have a bearing on treatment and likely recovery.

[ZenaJ in reply to SopSinger]

Thank you x

[panfield62]

Hi , I have low grade serous ovarian cancer and have had it coming up for 9 years. Good Luck to you and everybody on this lovely, brilliant site. Gwen x

[ZenaJ in reply to panfield62]

Thanks Gwen. All the best to you x

[Pianoplayer731021]

Hi, I have high grade serous carcinoma. They first said that it was stage 3b, but after my surgery that classified it as stage 4. It spread to my abdominal wall, so the staging was increased. It started in my Fallopian tube and spread out. I started my treatment in October of 2019. Best wishes to you, Donna xx

[ZenaJ in reply to Pianoplayer731021]

Hi Donna, sorry to hear things were worse than first thought. Mine had also traveled to my abdominal wall which has caused me a lot of bowel problems but mustn't complain as I'm still around to tell the tale. Best wishes to you. xx

[carrotmunch5]

hi ZenZena. Thank you very much for your question. I was wondering the same. I was first diagnosed clear cell OC stage 3b in 2019. Now it's spread to lung, chest and liver. Just got treated last tumour by ablation in early September. Good luck with your treatment. Best wishes xxx

[ZenaJ in reply to carrotmunch5]

So sorry to hear your cancer has spread. It's all such a shock. I do hope you can get further treatment and all will be well.

I haven't had any treatment for nearly 9 years. I had Stage 3C in 2013. I've been very lucky and feel so deeply for those not so lucky. If only I had a magic wand.

I wish you all the best. Zena x

[OvacomeSupport Partner My Ovacome Team]

Dear ZenaJ,

Thank you for your post, I can see that many of our members have replied to your post which I hope helps with some of the terminology you may have questions around understanding.

We have a wide range of booklets and webinars on our website about ovarian cancer that may have more information to help you better understand different terms. Please see the links below to a couple of booklets that may be of interest:

- About Ovarian Cancer ovacome.org.uk/about-ovaria...

-Rare Ovarian Tumours ovacome.org.uk/rare-ovarian...

If you ever need anymore information please don't hesitate to contact us through our support line, instant chat service or email. Our support line is open 10am to 5pm on 0800 008 7054 and you can send emails to [e-mail].

Best wishes,

Sorcha

Ovacome Support

[ZenaJ in reply to OvacomeSupport]

Thanks Sorcha.

I like to put the odd question on because I think it might help others who might have been wondering and are afraid to ask. It doesn't do any harm anyway. I do find some members abbreviate for quickness or have a string of words that might not mean something to new members. I've been on this site for sometime and must say I've learned a lot of things I was never told by my medical team.

Thanks for all your advice. Zena

[Bobbyo1]

I thought the same there was only one type of ovarian cancer and I been diagnosed eight years ago

[ZenaJ in reply to Bobbyo1]

So pleased you're doing so well. We're very lucky, aren't we? x