Is oncologist needed?

May 16, 2012 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I am a 48-year-old female. A CT scan followed by an ultrasound revealed that I have an ovarian cyst about the size of a tennis ball with solid tissue in approximately ¼ of it. A second smaller cyst was also found with fluid only. My CA125 blood level came back as 35. I have had almost constant abdominal pain since January which was what prompted the tests that led to these findings.

Since I am symptomatic, my gynecologist is going to remove the cysts along with one ovary.

I have no family history of ovarian cancer but an aunt had breast cancer last year and some other family members have had other types of cancer. I regularly have basal cell carcinomas removed and one dysplastic nevi was found for which I see a dermatologist every six months. I recently had one 3 mm polyp removed during a colonoscopy and it was determined to be [Read more...]

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Rare ovarian/thyroid tumor

May 9, 2012 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: What can you tell me about struma ovarii? Is it serious, etc?

DEAR READER: Struma ovarii is a rare type of ovarian tumor, accounting for only 1% of all ovarian tumors. It is characterized by the presence of thyroid tissue as a major cellular component of the tumor. Because this is a cancer of the female reproductive tract, only women are affected, with those between the ages of 40 and 60 most commonly affected.

The condition typically presents with a pelvic mass and signs and symptoms similar to those of other types of ovarian and female reproductive tract tumors/lesions. Rarely, but in a few instances, some sufferers may develop hyperthyroidism (which disappears following treatment) [Read more...]

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Peritoneal vs. Ovarian Cancer

December 12, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: About a year and a half ago I was diagnosed with peritoneal cancer. Is this the same thing as ovarian cancer? If it isn’t, please tell me the difference between them. I am in remission for now but understand that this type of cancer can and will occur again. They had to remove the lining of the wall of my stomach, along with both of my ovaries, which leaves the rest of my organs unprotected and the cancer can come back and attack any of my organs as there is nothing to protect them. I am also in the cancer research program. I was stage four when I was told I had cancer. I am 67 years old.

DEAR READER: Peritoneal cancer is not the same as ovarian cancer; however, they are incredibly similar. Both affect epithelial cells, cause similar symptoms and are treated with similar methods.
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Can a CA-125 detect ovarian cancer?

July 28, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I would like more information about the blood test CA-125 for ovarian cancer. Articles and doctors here in Topeka, Kan., insist there is no test for ovarian cancer. However, I’ve read about it and have talked to people who have had this test. Topeka is now having a Whisper Walk and awareness for ovarian cancer such as we’ve had for breast cancer, but the people putting it on still say there is no such test.

DEAR READER: CA-125 is a protein found more often in ovarian-cancer cells than in other cells, and because it enters the bloodstream, it can be measured by a blood test. The rate at which CA-125 levels increase is a more accurate method of detecting ovarian cancer than is single testing for the same purpose. [Read more...]

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Are Pap tests necessary after a hysterectomy?

June 6, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I had ovarian cancer and had a complete hysterectomy two years ago. My cancer was in the first stage, and, thankfully, I did not need chemo or radiation.

My surgeon continues to schedule me for Pap smears/internal exams yearly and says I will need to have this done for the rest of my life, but I don’t understand why. When I ask him, he gets short with me and says to “look it up on the Internet.” This does not make sense to me. Even my family doctor was surprised that I must continue to have Pap smears after having a complete hysterectomy.

Can you shed some light on this? Thank you.
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Hip pain likely due to arthritis, not bone cancer

March 18, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I am a seven-year survivor of ovarian cancer. I now have pain in one of my hips. I recently read an article about a lady who was a cancer survivor who developed bone cancer 10 years later. How do they test for bone cancer?

DEAR READER: Before jumping to the conclusion of bone cancer, you should consider the more common occurrence of arthritis of the hip, a condition that leads to pain in one or both hips as the cartilage begins to wear down.

If you underwent radiation, this could have sped up the deterioration of the connective tissues. The pain could also simply be age related, but because you did not provide any history, such as age, health status, medications, etc., I can’t determine whether this is likely.
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