So, I guess it started in March 2016. At age 50, my Mom started having awful periods, very painful and heavier than ever before. I work in OBGYN, so I thought this was just peri-menopausal symptoms, as did my provider. So an ultrasound was done, everything is normal besides her uterus is slightly long and her left ovary has multiple follicles. She is considering an ablation but the doctor does not think she is a good candidate because of the size of her uterus. So she decides to hold out to see if the awful periods just stop their own. They Don’t. Come October 2016, periods are worse than before, she wants something done. They decide to go with an IUD, so that is inserted the same day. Everything is awesome for a year. Periods are nonexistent, cramping has stopped, she loves the IUD.
Come 06/2017, she starts having pain and swelling in her right ankle. PCP thinks it’s Gout. Gives her medicine for that which does nothing. She calls her back and says she is no better. I asked for her to get an doppler of her leg to check for DVT. Her PCP is not convinced. PCP says let’s order an X-ray to check for injury (there was no injury) I talk to Dr. S who is worried and says its no issue to order one, so she did. Low and Behold she has a DVT. Mom gets put on Xaralto for 3 months, the clot resolves fairly quickly.
Fast Forward to October 19th, 2017, Im leaving for work and she's complaining of lower abdominal pain. First thing I think of is something is wrong with the IUD, So I asked her to come in ASAP for an ultrasound to make sure it’s still in the right place. So we get her in, ultrasound first then seeing the doctor. Ultrasound shows normal left ovary BUT cannot see right ovary because of large complex mass measuring at least 15cm, with blood flow. So now I’, worried, but she has a cruise scheduled the very next day to Mexico. So Doctor S. says go ahead and go, we will take care of everything when you get back. At first Doctor S. thinks its just a large complex cyst (Benign), but since it is so large it needs to come out. Doctor S. said since her periods are bad already, let’s do a hysterectomy with right oophorectomy. But with the cyst being so large, she will have to make a large vertical incision.
So mom gets back from her trip, following day Doctor S. wants some blood work in anticipation for surgery. Also, mom was complaining of pain in her left leg now after the long car ride from Mexico. So another doppler was ordered. She ended up having 2 DVT’s in that leg. She was kept in the hospital to have an IVC filter, which prevents DVT’s traveling to the lungs. (She ended up already having multiple Pulmonary Embolisms at the time that wasn't known.) She Orders a CBC, CMP, and CA 125. Everything came back fine EXCEPT CA 125 was 2939, which is supposed to be 35 and below. Dr. S still doesn’t seem too worried, she thinks it is a Low malignant potential tumor. So she consults with one of her best oncology colleagues, which is Dr. Murray. Dr. Murray seems actually very worried, with the size of the mass, her very high CA 125, and with recurrent DVT’s. Now Dr. Murray is doing the surgery instead of Dr. S.
We meet with Dr. Murray, she tells us straight up she thinks this is Ovarian Cancer. So now we have to wait a little over one month for surgery because Dr. Murray is worried about the blood clots. Come December 1st, surgery lasts for about 4-5 hours. She did a Hysterectomy w/BSO, appendectomy and omenectomy. Took multiple biopsies from everywhere, and ended up taking 15 lymph nodes. We are told it is cancer, but that it looks to be stage 1C. The tumor was not really adhered to anything at all, there was fluid from part of the tumor rupturing.
About 1 week later we have her first post op, where she tells us she is now stage 3C. There is cancer in 2 lower lymph nodes and well as 1 along the aorta. Literally EVERYTHING else is negative for cancer. Uterus, left ovary, appendix, pelvic washings, all biopsies. I’ve never heard of a story like this, I’ve always seen stage 3C where there are tumors everywhere in the abdomen. We were expecting good ( considering) news and then it’s just awful. She will start chemo tomorrow, January 11th. Chemo will be 6 cycles of Carboplatin and Taxotere. I know she is in good hands with her Gynecologic Oncology doctor but I am absolutely terrified. I just want to hear stories, any helpful advice.