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Is Chemotherapy Necessary For Stage 1A Grade 2 Ovarian Cancer?
Question: Dear Dr XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
I hv completed my TBHSO surgery on 20 July, and is now resting at home. The biopsi of the cyst on my ovary has revealed that I have a stage1A grade 2 ovarian cancer. The oncologist has recommended me to do 6 cycles of mild chemo at a time scheduled later. I wd like to know -
1. is chemotherapy really necessary at my stage of cancer
2. what is the recommended calory intake for me now...I get weak easily, but I dont want to eat a lot of carbs bcoz I donot want to aggravate more cancer cells.
Appreciate your views. tq.
I hv completed my TBHSO surgery on 20 July, and is now resting at home. The biopsi of the cyst on my ovary has revealed that I have a stage1A grade 2 ovarian cancer. The oncologist has recommended me to do 6 cycles of mild chemo at a time scheduled later. I wd like to know -
1. is chemotherapy really necessary at my stage of cancer
2. what is the recommended calory intake for me now...I get weak easily, but I dont want to eat a lot of carbs bcoz I donot want to aggravate more cancer cells.
Appreciate your views. tq.
Brief Answer:
As below
Detailed Answer:
Hello
I am Dr. Abraham, OB - GYN, and I will be glad to assist you with your concern.
Am glad that you have undergone the surgery, and that you are fine now.
Now, regarding your doubts.
Generally observation alone is reserved for women who have Stage 1 tumours, however grade 2 is generally considered a slightly more aggressive form of cancer, and hence it is advisable to go for 6 cycles of chemotherapy.
That will ensure that there is no recurrence / persistence in future, so that is indeed the correct line of management.
The recommended calorie intake depends on your current height and weight .
What is it right now ?
Please consult a Nutritionist for a tailored diet plan, particularly once chemotherapy starts, as your body will respond to it in a unique way, and the diet has to take that into account.
This link might be good for you to go through -
http://www.everydayhealth.com/ovarian-cancer/nutrition-for-ovarian-cancer-patients.aspx
I hope this helped you.
PLease feel free to discuss further.
My prayers for you for a speedy and complete recovery.
Take care.
As below
Detailed Answer:
Hello
I am Dr. Abraham, OB - GYN, and I will be glad to assist you with your concern.
Am glad that you have undergone the surgery, and that you are fine now.
Now, regarding your doubts.
Generally observation alone is reserved for women who have Stage 1 tumours, however grade 2 is generally considered a slightly more aggressive form of cancer, and hence it is advisable to go for 6 cycles of chemotherapy.
That will ensure that there is no recurrence / persistence in future, so that is indeed the correct line of management.
The recommended calorie intake depends on your current height and weight .
What is it right now ?
Please consult a Nutritionist for a tailored diet plan, particularly once chemotherapy starts, as your body will respond to it in a unique way, and the diet has to take that into account.
This link might be good for you to go through -
http://www.everydayhealth.com/ovarian-cancer/nutrition-for-ovarian-cancer-patients.aspx
I hope this helped you.
PLease feel free to discuss further.
My prayers for you for a speedy and complete recovery.
Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hello Dr XXXXXXX
Thank you for replying my question. I am still doubtful whether to take up chemotherapy, as I have heard a lot of unpleasant stories of people undergoing chemo. It killing all bad and good cells, the body's resistance and coping level, nausea, and the wait for the good cells to develop again, etc. In addition I have to manage post surgical menopause which has its own consequences as well. I know that the internal wounds have to heal first before I undergo chemo. Will that be my focus for now?
Dr XXXXXXX occasionally I feel a slight pinch on the area where the 2 ovaries used to be. This caused pain, and I can feel that its from the inside. My mom said its the sign of "healing". is this true. So far I can handle the pain.
By the way, prior to surgery my weight was 69.5kg, post-surgery its now 65.7kg. I am 163cm tall.
Appreciate yr views. thank you
Thank you for replying my question. I am still doubtful whether to take up chemotherapy, as I have heard a lot of unpleasant stories of people undergoing chemo. It killing all bad and good cells, the body's resistance and coping level, nausea, and the wait for the good cells to develop again, etc. In addition I have to manage post surgical menopause which has its own consequences as well. I know that the internal wounds have to heal first before I undergo chemo. Will that be my focus for now?
Dr XXXXXXX occasionally I feel a slight pinch on the area where the 2 ovaries used to be. This caused pain, and I can feel that its from the inside. My mom said its the sign of "healing". is this true. So far I can handle the pain.
By the way, prior to surgery my weight was 69.5kg, post-surgery its now 65.7kg. I am 163cm tall.
Appreciate yr views. thank you
Brief Answer:
As below
Detailed Answer:
Well, chemotherapy is advisable.
You will have side effects, but it is better to handle the tumour cells in one go, rather than be anxious for the rest of your life about a recurrence / persistence.
It is not pleasant, but then a cancer in itself is not pleasant.
ANd you will be having a few mild cycles, nothing very radical.
And it would start only 4 - 6 weeks after your surgery.
Yes, the internal wounds have to heal first , and you have to be feel fine enough to cope with the chemo.
At the end of the day, it is your choice, nothing will be imposed on you.
You should focus on eating right, relaxing and thinking positive - the body is as well as the mind feels !
Yes, the slight pinch, pain and discomfort is normal, it is a sign of healing, as the tissues get back to normal.
You can have a scan and evaluation by your surgeon if the pain gets out o hand.
You need atleast 1300 calories per day as a basal metabolic requirement, and more for tissue healing and if you are mildly active.
It is best to have a diet plan charted out by a Nutritionist.
Meditation will help a lot in healing and calming yourself.
Take care, let me know if there is anything else you wish to talk about.
You can contact me directly anytime, by clicking on the following link -
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-aarti-abraham/64623
As below
Detailed Answer:
Well, chemotherapy is advisable.
You will have side effects, but it is better to handle the tumour cells in one go, rather than be anxious for the rest of your life about a recurrence / persistence.
It is not pleasant, but then a cancer in itself is not pleasant.
ANd you will be having a few mild cycles, nothing very radical.
And it would start only 4 - 6 weeks after your surgery.
Yes, the internal wounds have to heal first , and you have to be feel fine enough to cope with the chemo.
At the end of the day, it is your choice, nothing will be imposed on you.
You should focus on eating right, relaxing and thinking positive - the body is as well as the mind feels !
Yes, the slight pinch, pain and discomfort is normal, it is a sign of healing, as the tissues get back to normal.
You can have a scan and evaluation by your surgeon if the pain gets out o hand.
You need atleast 1300 calories per day as a basal metabolic requirement, and more for tissue healing and if you are mildly active.
It is best to have a diet plan charted out by a Nutritionist.
Meditation will help a lot in healing and calming yourself.
Take care, let me know if there is anything else you wish to talk about.
You can contact me directly anytime, by clicking on the following link -
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-aarti-abraham/64623
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you Dr XXXXXXX
I will have a checkup with my gynae in 2 weeks time, and the oncologist in one weeks time. How will I know that my internal wounds are healed. via scan? just a feeling of less pain?
And will the oncologist do a blood test, or something, to check if mild is good enough and not extra mild, or something like that. You can tell, right, that I am more scared of the onset of the chemo rather than the effects of TBHSO & the lackof hormones, menopause, etc thereof . I dont know which to fear most, although I have come to terms with the menopause thing..
Yes, I guess I have a positive mind, sort of. for now..
Regards,
XXXX
I will have a checkup with my gynae in 2 weeks time, and the oncologist in one weeks time. How will I know that my internal wounds are healed. via scan? just a feeling of less pain?
And will the oncologist do a blood test, or something, to check if mild is good enough and not extra mild, or something like that. You can tell, right, that I am more scared of the onset of the chemo rather than the effects of TBHSO & the lackof hormones, menopause, etc thereof . I dont know which to fear most, although I have come to terms with the menopause thing..
Yes, I guess I have a positive mind, sort of. for now..
Regards,
XXXX
Brief Answer:
As below
Detailed Answer:
See, basically you will know that healing is fine when you feel near normal, and the scan is good.
The pain and discomfort will ease off, and normal activities will feel normal once more.
There will be blood tests done before starting chemo, but that will not impact the type of chemo.
Chemo therapy intensity is determined by the biopsy , which is already done.
I can understand that you are apprehensive and scared, that is natural.
Also, menopausal changes will be difficult to tide over, but you might just be one of those lucky women who get over it pretty smoothly.
Just as menarche is different for each female, so is menopause.
And why assume the worst, instead it makes sense to hope for the best , right ?
Often I have seen that what we think, comes to be.
Hence it makes sense to think and hope for the best possible outcome.
And chemotherapy and its aftermath will be only temporary, as will be the menopausal transition.
I hope it will help you to know that at the end of the day, it will all be a phase, it will pass.
That should be your perspective.
Prayers for you.
As below
Detailed Answer:
See, basically you will know that healing is fine when you feel near normal, and the scan is good.
The pain and discomfort will ease off, and normal activities will feel normal once more.
There will be blood tests done before starting chemo, but that will not impact the type of chemo.
Chemo therapy intensity is determined by the biopsy , which is already done.
I can understand that you are apprehensive and scared, that is natural.
Also, menopausal changes will be difficult to tide over, but you might just be one of those lucky women who get over it pretty smoothly.
Just as menarche is different for each female, so is menopause.
And why assume the worst, instead it makes sense to hope for the best , right ?
Often I have seen that what we think, comes to be.
Hence it makes sense to think and hope for the best possible outcome.
And chemotherapy and its aftermath will be only temporary, as will be the menopausal transition.
I hope it will help you to know that at the end of the day, it will all be a phase, it will pass.
That should be your perspective.
Prayers for you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you Dr XXXXXXX . I really like your answer. And yes, I do hope that I m those women who can get over menopausal changes pretty smoothly. You are right, it is a phase I m going thru. Towards being a better person and reconnect with God.
Kind regards,
XXXXX
Kind regards,
XXXXX
Brief Answer:
YEs, you are so right.
Detailed Answer:
Exactly.
This is a phase, that is going to make you stronger, fuller and more complete.
All ordeals are trials by fire, but ultimately they help you to find yourself and your God more closely.
I am sure you are one of those people.
I like the way you think and take care of your mind and body, that is always the first step.
Keep me posted, you have the direct link to my profile, so that the question comes to me directly, instead of going to the general pool where any doctor might pick it up.
Take care.
YEs, you are so right.
Detailed Answer:
Exactly.
This is a phase, that is going to make you stronger, fuller and more complete.
All ordeals are trials by fire, but ultimately they help you to find yourself and your God more closely.
I am sure you are one of those people.
I like the way you think and take care of your mind and body, that is always the first step.
Keep me posted, you have the direct link to my profile, so that the question comes to me directly, instead of going to the general pool where any doctor might pick it up.
Take care.
Note: Revert back with your gynae reports to get a clear medical analysis by our expert Gynecologic Oncologist. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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