What is the 1cm thing ?

[rosebine]

Ive read a lot about ops where everything cancerous over 1cm should be removed.Does that mean everything under 1cm can be "exterminated" by chemo?

[Realistic]

I honestly don't know the answer to that one, your best l think asking your oncologist consultant there the experts. Let us know the answer. Take care. Sending love & hugs SheilaFxxx

[Eriksendi]

I think it’s something to do with what is visible is classed as over 1 cm, anything left is not actually visible to the eye and therefore chemo is given to eliminate anything that could be left. Well at least that was how I understood it. Would be interested to know though what the professionals say!

[rosebine in reply to Eriksendi]

1cm is quite big though! I would have thought the eye could see smaller than that.

[JustKBO]

My thinking is that they take anything they can see. After my second op the surgeon told me that it had been another long op because I had so many little seeds in the twists and turns of my bowel that it took him ages to dig out everything he could see.

[Meridian14]

As i understand it, Surgeons will take out every macroscopic bit of disease that they can see (anything they can see with the 'naked eye') regardless of how small it is. If they can see it and/or feel it and it's safe enough to remove, they will remove it.

However, I did hear that if you have a number of lesions seen on a CT scan, and one or two of those lesions are 'Under' 2cm, they will generally only mention/discuss the lesions that are over 2cm or over.. or close to 2cm.

For me, at recurrence, my Onc. drew attention to 2 lesions on my liver that are over 2cm, but it wasn't until I read my CT scan report that I realised there was another lesion of 7mm.

[delia2]

I think it’s a data driven convention that “optimal debulking” means everything left is under 1 cm. I would have had to have a stoma if they’d have gotten every last bit so they left 5 mm to be dealt with by chemo. I think they prefer to get all visible cancer removed.

[rosebine]

Ah thanks everyone, my after op report said no residual disease so I assumed it meant nothing the surgeon could see, not nothing under 1cm. Think Im confuddling myself here !

[Summergold2 in reply to rosebine]

a CT scan cannot see anything less than 1 cm and sometimes misses that! A pet scan however sees under 1 cm as the cancer lights up like a Christmas tree. however so does anything in your body that is compromised say like an injury to the shoulder and arthritis sets in you feel the pain but it is not cancer driven. I had a ct scan wanted a pet scan but they said lets wait 5 month the ct scan showed no change even though I told them it was back. 5months later sure enough in the lymph nodes........never again will I let them tell me no. you know your own body so far nothing on organs and on carbo doxil here in the states. be well be your own advocate! Ovarian Cancer is the 8th leading cause of death worldwide.

My own belief is every woman should have an internal sonogram at 55 and every two years after.........but that is me. In the American cancer booklet for women Ovarian Cancer is on the LASt page ................by the time you are diagnosed it has progressed too far.

My rant and my opinion

Debbie in San Diego

[Tillymint61]

As far as I understand the only reference to 1cm is that anything 1cm or under isn't picked up by a scan. During an operation , again it was my understanding that they try to remove any 'visible signs' however small but sometimes this may not be possible and would almost certainly involve 'mop up ' chemo' post operatively. My debulking ended up with a fair bit left behind due to a cardiac event. However my post op. Ct scan showed No evidence of disease which we knew wasn't the case it was just that what was left behind was smaller than 1cm!! Your oncologist will clear up your query if any replies on here are inaccurate. Good luck. X

[rosebine]

Thats worrying then if they tell you you have a clear scan its possibly not ?

[Stuee01]

I believe a PET/CT scan would be more accurate in these situations. You should request one if you are worried. Though I know most health providers are reluctant as PET/CTs emit much more radiation and is also much more costly.

[TheOvacomeTeam Partner]

Hi rosebine,

Thank you very much for your post. The current guidelines for ovarian cancer surgery are to aim for no visible residual disease and if not possible, to aim to remove anything over 1cm. Surgical results are sometimes reported as no visible residual disease; minimal residual disease; or disease over 1cm.

However, it is important to talk to your clinical team to get the most accurate information for your individual situation.

I hope that helps. Please do get in touch if you would like to talk about this further. You can contact our Support Line on either 0800 008 7054 or 07503 682311, by email at [e-mail] or via the Instant Chat function on our website. All our services are available Monday – Friday, 10am – 5pm.

Best wishes,

Cathryn

Support Services

[Supermary]

No it absolutely does not mean that The surgeon removes what he can see

The hope is that chemo removes the rest but there is no guarantee