Ovarian Cancer Prognosis

Question: Ovarian Cancer Prognosis? Basically, I had Ovarian cancer. I have been in remission for about a year now, but now my concern is, after reading up on it, that I guess there is a 5 year prognosis? Does that mean even after being cured and in remission? I had level 3. Somewhere I read up that if it is caught in time you have a good chance that you will live over 5 years, but I don't think I understand that. Does anybody have any answers to this? I'm only 17 years old.

Answer: Based on your Q&A history, you are a male with a huge interest in marijuana. How did you develop ovarian cancer, in light of your male gender?

Question: why does ovarian cancer have a poor prognosis? I am doing a paper on different cancers.

Answer: Mainly because there are no early signs or symptoms. Also, there is no good early screening test such as mammograms for breast cancers. Most ovarian carcinoma patients present with advanced disease. For almost any type of malignancy, early detection is the key for improving the prognosis.

Question: What is the prognosis of stage 4 ovarian cancer that spreads to colon, liver and spleen? What is average time?

Answer: From http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/255771-overview The 5-year survival rates for ovarian carcinoma are as follows: * Stage I - 73% * Stage II - 45% * Stage III - 21% * Stage IV - Less than 5% From this 1990 study http://www.springerlink.com/content/q071u3837210328q/ - the estimated median survival times for stage III and IV ovarian carcinoma patients was ~ 20 months. A word of caution - median survivals do not help tell us much about any one individual. Some do much better than 20 months, and some do not live as long. There is a wide variation in lengths of survivals. There are many factors that would affect an estimation of prognosis - factors that the oncologist following this case knows and we do not. How old is she? What is her overall health status? What therapy has been tried? Is she refractory to front line chemotherapy? What is her overall health and performance status? What is the estimated bulk of her malignant disease? Has the cancer been optimally debulked surgically? Is she a candidate for aggressive surgery? Every person is unique. We cannot predict expected times of death months ahead of time. Family members often push for a guess, and we usually wind up being wrong when we try to make long term predictions. The end is easy to see only when it is near - in the last few weeks or days.

Question: 5 year prognosis of Ovarian Cancer? My friend had ovarian cancer last year but she is in remission now. It was stage 3. I heard that victims of ovarian cancer only have about a 5 year life span even after being cured and in remission? Can anbody confirm that? She is only 18 now so am I supposed to expect that she probably won't live much longer? Or are these numbers figured for older women since that is typically when women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer? She has been in remission for a year and 2 months now and is totally fine and doing good and her protein level is still going down lower into the normal range, her oncologist says that she doesn't expect it to come back and that she can look forward to a long and healthy life but are they just telling her what she wants to hear? Is there any real risk?

Answer: Prognosis and treatment is determined by stage. You can’t expect a stage 1 to have the same prognosis as a stage 4. Cancer survival in most cases is measured in 5 year survival rates. This is the percentage of people still alive 5 years from diagnosis with the same kind of cancer at the same stage. Doctors do not tell patients what they want to hear it is their job to tell them the truth good or bad. Unless the cancer can be completely removed while it is localized there is always a real risk of recurrence.

Question: prognosis for stage 111 ovarian cancer at age 33? i am a hospice nurse who has just learned today that my 33 year old daughter in law has stage three ovarian cancer. she is to have surgery on weds. nd i am sure that there will be further staging done. i am distraught over this dx as is my son, husband and the rest of the family. jennifer has two children, ages 14 and 10 . i need to know how long she might have to spend with them and us. i want to make whatever time that she has be the best time fo her life.

Answer: The 5-year-survival rate is a statistical way of looking at the death rate in a cancer. You can look it up online (I have to say, it is a rather depressingly low number) but please keep this in mind: It cannot tell you anything about your daughter's individual chances since statistics only deal with groups. Some people can die from othe stage 2 cancer in 6 months, others will live with a stage 4 cancer for 10 years. Your best bet is an honest discussion with the oncologist but always keep in mind, noone can give you an absolute number. They just don't know. How you react to treatment, how fast the cancer grows - it is different for different woman. My mother died last year of ovarian cancer, between diagnosis stage IV and death were only 9 months. In this time we just did our best to be there for her, helped her with everyday work as much as possible, talked to her when and about what she wanted - including death. Towards the end we all put our lifes on hold while hers ran out, just to be there for her. Most people aren't lucky enough to be able to do this. But she was very grateful to have her family to rely on. I don't believe this is much of a comfort for you. I wish you and your daughter the very best of luck.

Question: How early should ovarian cancer be detected? If ovarian cancer is detected early, there is a greater chance of treating it and better prognosis. How soon after the cancer first begins does it have to be detected? Are we talking days, weeks, months?

Answer: I always thought is was undetectable. FYI, It is unknown what percentage of early-stage ovarian cancer produces symptoms. The vast majority of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer do experience symptoms. However, since most of these women are diagnosed in more advanced stages, it's impossible to tell how many of them had symptoms before the cancer started to spread. It IS known that 90% of women who are diagnosed in Stage I come to their doctors with symptoms before diagnosis, and also that far too many cases of ovarian cancer take months to diagnose - a recent study showed that almost half took more than three months, and 11% took longer than a year. So it seems logical to assume that some substantial percentage of women do have early symptoms. - The common symptoms are non-specific - usually caused by other things. The list below contains a number of possible symptoms of ovarian cancer. But these symptoms can also result from a wide variety of non-cancerous conditions. If a woman has trouble zipping up her jeans, she's more likely to blame middle-aged spread than ovarian cancer. Thankfully, a gas pain isn't ordinarily a dire signal. Still, if a woman suddenly starts experiencing any of the symptoms below, and they persist for more than a 2-3 weeks, she should get those symptoms checked out. - There is no one "marker symptom". Although abdominal swelling/bloating is the most often-mentioned first symptom, some studies show that even this is true only for a minority of ovarian cancer cases. Because each symptom will affect only some women, it is vital that women educate themselves about the whole constellation of symptoms associated with ovarian cancer. - Denial. Of course, no one wants to think about cancer. But think about this: The lifetime risk of women worldwide for ovarian cancer is 1 in 70. In the U.S. it is 1 in 55. Think about your high school graduating class. Your church. Your workplace. The numbers of women you know. How many of them are likely to get ovarian cancer? OVARIAN CANCER IS NOT RARE. Women MUST begin to educate themselves about this insidious disease. WARNING SYMPTOMS OF OVARIAN CANCER Contact your MD if you develop one or more of these symptoms and they persist for 2-3 weeks: -Abdominal Swelling/Bloating/Clothes Too Tight -Abdominal/Pelvic Pain or Pressure or Feeling "Full" -Gastrointestinal Symptoms (such as gas, indigestion, nausea, or changes in bowel movements) -Vaginal Bleeding or Discharge -Urinary Problems - Urgency, Burning, or Spasms -Fatigue and/or Fever -Pain During Intercourse -Back Pain -Difficulty Breathing

Question: Ovarian cancer questions? I am just nervous because my midwife (gyn care provider) told me my ovarian cyst on a recent ultrasound couldn't be identified so the doc could "not rule out cystic neoplasm", i.e. tumor. In the past, I had laparoscopic surgery to remove a baseball sized fluid filled cyst with a "dermoid element" in the same ovary. That was 13 years ago. They couldn't suck out the dermoid part and so just left it in there. It used to be a lot smaller than 2 x 2, so I think they just thought it would be ok. Meanwhile, I always had ovarian fluid cysts (NOT polycystic, but one or two per ovary of, say, 3x4 cm...for many years.) I kept the condition monitored with ultrasounds for about 8 years. Then, I sort of realized that I was no longer going to have huge ovarian cysts, so I stopped telling my gyns to give me ultrasound. While pregnant last year, ultrasounds discovered small fibroids (common condition that should be monitored) in the wall of my uterus. During routine gyn care this year, I reminded my midwife of this fact and she ordered an ultrasound to monitor the fibroids. "Oh," I said, "you may as well look at the ovarian cysts while you are at it." So, I had them examined, and a new result came up...no fluid cysts, but something more solid. Could this be the dermoid, just identified differently because it's a different office? My midwife told me she wants me to go to a gynecologist now to check this out. She said either they would do another test, if they didn't trust the ultrasound I just had, or just go ahead and do exploratory surgery. I am nervous. Ovarian cancer is more common than I anticipated. What is the likelihood my 2x2 thing is cancer? And what is my prognosis if it is? I am overweight, put on 70 pounds with pregnancy and weigh 215 now! How does this affect any abdominal surgery? Will they really do that? Thanks for any advice you have.

Answer: Exploratory surgery? How old is this midwife? Exploratory surgery for anything is rarely done anymore. I’m not sure I’m completely following you as it seems you are asking 2 different questions. A cystic neoplasm is not a tumor. Tumors are solid. Dermoid cysts are nearly always benign, but they should be completely removed preferably in one piece. They can recur if not completely excised and the association of dermoid cysts with pregnancy has been increasing. I’m surprised they left some of it behind and it is the most important part. Ovarian cancer is not real common and guessing you are under 35 less than 5% of the 25,000 cases each year are diagnosed in your age group. So I wouldn’t worry too much about that. Try to get your hands on any of your past records and give the doctor a copy. If you get copies of past scans make them available for comparison when you have a current one done. As a patient this is probably one of the most important and often overlooked thing you can do for yourself.

Question: small cell ovarian cancer? My 19 year-old neice has been diagnosed with this very rare form of cancer. I have been online for days trying to find any info I can about this. I have found "small cell lung cancer" and of course "ovarian cancer" but cannot find "small cell ovarian cancer." She has been through one major surgery already and they are starting chemo this week, and do not have a positive prognosis. Has anyone out there known anyone who suffers/suffered from this form of cancer? If so can you offer any information on it?? Please help...

Answer: First off I want to say I'm really sorry to hear about your neice, I to suffer from cervical cancer no chemo but I do take a lot of different pills. I faught it once and trying to fight it again, I also have PCOS. I found this website for you, its a group you would have to join the group but its a forum where you can get more information, its always best to talk to someone that's been through it. Good Luck and prayers are with you! http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/smallcellovca/

Question: How to tell when a Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer patient's health is deteriorating? My mother was diagnosed with Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer in mid-December 2007. After all of the reading i've done on the subject, they're normally given a timeframe of 5 years or less as prognosis. Sometimes that will go up or down. I have a hard time bringing the subject up with her, and don't know how to ask this directly to her. She may have a few more months, or a few more years, who knows. But once it looks like her time is nearing, what symptoms should I begin to notice? She already has constant stomach pains and body aches, but that is normal for any time during her condition.

Answer: Sorry for your news. I would suggest taking your mum to her doctors appointments?? That is what i did with my Mum who was diagnosed last may with stage 4 kidney cancer that had spread to her liver and lung. There was nothing they could do it was so aggressive she pasted away 4 months after diagnosis aged 60. You WILL know when she deteriorates, you cant miss it. She will sleep more not eat and will have less energy to do anything. the pains and aches are normal reactions to cancer. Is she on the appropriate pain medications??

Question: How early is early (cancer)? If ovarian cancer is detected early, there is a greater chance of treating it and better prognosis. How soon after the cancer first begins does it have to be detected? Are we talking days, weeks, months?

Answer: FYI, If your body is telling you something, you better listen. It depends on how aggressive the cancer. Cancer can live in ones body for years. We have have cancer cells. Ovarian cancer has long been called "The Silent Killer", because it usually isn't discovered until its advanced stages. 70-75% of the time the cancer has spread to other parts of the abdomen before it is detected. However, there is something that can be done, now, to improve these dismal statistics. The truth is that some substantial portion of the time, early-stage ovarian cancer does produce symptoms - and the new battlecry of ovarian cancer activists is "It Whispers - So Listen!". Early Stage Ovarian Cancer Detected With 99 Percent AccuracyFeb 13, 2008 ... Early Stage Ovarian Cancer Detected With 99 Percent Accuracy ... helped us to create a unique picture that can detect early ovarian cancer. ...

Question: How long can a terminal patient last without fluids? Specifically, a terminally ill patient that cannot digest solid foods and has a PEG tube was getting 250cc of IV Fluids each day. Patient has begun to not tolerate this amount, now is down to maybe 200cc once every 3 days or so. Patient is drinking a lot of fluids, but I'm unsure how much is actually being absorbed. Patient also has only one functioning kidney. Terminal illness is metastatic ovarian cancer with malignant bowel obstruction. Patient has lost roughly 25 pounds in a month and a half and is receiving no IV nutrition. Initial prognosis about a month and a half ago was days to weeks. I'm looking for a rough estimate of time left, as well as an estimate as to how long until patient is comatose.

Answer: If the patient is still tolerating oral fluids, then this could go on for a while. It really depends, no person is the same and alot has to do with the patients desire to live. From my own experience, both as nurse and someone who lost their mother to cancer, that will to live can be very strong. I have found that once they give in to the cancer, the end comes very quickly, within a matter of days. It all depends on the function of the internal organs also. Once the patient develops multi organ failure....liver and kidney, being the main contributors, then the end will also come within around 3-5 days. Keep talking with her Dr's, ask about her organ functions. Make sure that she is not in any pain. A subcutaneous infusion of Diamorphine could help and will prob send her into the comatose state. But to answer your question, a patient can usually last around 3-4 days without any fluids. I hope that this is a little helpful and i hope that your friend/mother/sister/aunt/grandmother has a peaceful passing when the time comes. God bless.

Question: How would I know if my mom is dying from cancer? My mom was diagnosed with Uterine and Ovarian cancer a little over one month ago. She had surgery about two weeks ago to remove the very large tumor (was larger than a grapefruit) and all of her reproductive organs. Right now, she seems to be recovering fairly well from the surgery, but I am very confused about everything because I have not received any information from her doctors on her prognosis and I just don't know a whole lot about this sort of thing. We are going on Monday to talk with her surgeon about the results of the surgery. Before she had the surgery, the doctor had said he believes her cancer may be in a late stage and already in the lymph nodes. We'll find out on Monday, I guess. What I want to know is how to tell....or what does it look like when someone is going to die from cancer? Could it happen suddenly? Could she be appearing to be doing ok and then suddenly die, or does it happen more slowly and what are the signs that the cancer iis soon going to kill? Thanks.

Answer: I have read many many many books about cancer. There was a survey taken by doctors at the Cancer Care Alliance in Seattle and in it there were listed many ways they had to choose to die from. Over 80% picked cancer as the way they would want to die from. Why? It was because death from cancer gives you time to say "goodbye". You have time to mend things with family and friends. For example a mother had a fight with her son in the book I was reading. A car hit him and he died instantly. Of course the mother regretted that the fight was the last memory she had of her son when he was alive. As far as your case goes, when I talked to my wife's surgeon and oncologist they about agreed upon my wife's prognosis in her surviving the cancer. I personally was scared to ask but I felt I had to know her chances of survival. So, it is something you can ask and your mom might want to know too. My wife's cancer had gone into her lymph nodes also 3 of 14 that they examined had it. With chemotherapy it was discovered in only one when they were surgically removed with no evidence of clear margins so they did not think it had entered her blood system. Her chances are 85% of survival after 5 years, and then after that it gets better. The surgeon will know from the results of the surgery a lot about your moms condition. If asked they could tell you her chances of survival. We both wanted to know. If there is any blessing in dying of cancer it would be the time allowed to say goodbye to our loved ones and to heal whatever wounds that have happened to relationships in the past. In the book one cancer patient planned her entire funeral. It sort of gave her a thrill to have the music she wanted and gave her time to write goodbyes to everyone. Wishing the best news possible from the surgeon on Monday!

Question: Sibling of autistic child dealing with death of a parent? I am 21 years old, and my younger brother Alex (13) has autism. He is high functioning and is very independent. Our mother is in the hospital with Ovarian Cancer, which from my understanding does not have an overly positive prognosis. My father is not much good in helping with the autistic education/school-parent connection. I've told my mother many times that I would take care of Alex when my parents pass, and that i would stay living at home in order to help will bills and companionship for him. I feel that if my mother passes, the time will come for me to take on a lot of the issues she had (school, IEPs, etc.), and I will be pretty much on my own with it. Anyone with similar experience care to lend me any advice or tips? Are there any books out there that cater to a similar situation i am going through?

Answer: I am so sorry for what you are going through now..please know I will keep your family in my thoughts during the holiday season and beyond. What you are wanting, willing and realize will need to be done is a positive thing. However, there will be a few issues that you may need your parent's to help you address so you can help your brother, especially when it comes to dealing with the schools. You are not your brother's gaurdian and therefor can not sign any IEP's or other paperwork to change or affect his current or future education plans. Only a parent or legal gaurdian can, which means your father will either have to contact the courts and arrange for you to have a legal power of attorney in these areas or have to attend these meeting himself. I will be honest in that I think it is time he step into the role of addressing your brother's needs as you are still young and finding your own path in life. However, you know the likelihood of that happening so if you truely feel it will fall to you no matter what, then approach your parents now about arranging it. The next thing to do is familiarize yourself with his current IEP and introduce yourself ( if you haven't already) to his teacher's and the staff he works with. If they have not been told of your mother's illness, they should be. This both gives them an understanding of any behavioral changes they may be seeing now and any that may occur later on if your mother passes away. I would also contact local autism awareness and support groups, as well as support groups for families with terminally ill members. They will be the best ones to understand what you are dealing with now and facing later on. YOu may also want to consdier finding a therapist with experience in working with families of children with autism. They can support you and give suggestions on how to cope with the feelings your brother is more than likely experiencing but may not understand, as well as help you understand things like eval tests, IEP recommendations, etc.

Question: how can we tell out sister that her lack of fear bothers us? our sister went away to college in washington last year. she was having the best college experiences that any of us (her siblings) have had: the perfect boyfriend, great grades, cool friends, awesome job, her own apartment. then, in november 2007, she was diagnosed with cervical and ovarian cancer and had to have a hysterectomy. she didn't tell anyone in the family about it until nearly a month later. (we got over it.) well, on new year's day, she gets diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia and doesn't tell anyone for a week. pretty soon she starts chemo and radiation and going off to get treatment at sloan-kettering in nyc. when she was in nyc, the doctors gave her a really bad prognosis: 79% of relapsing, and 11% chance of living past 5 years. well, she takes off from nyc, goes up to canada, travels around montana (RANDOM!), and finally goes back to washington a couple weeks later where she finally called the family. our family was completely freaked out because she had just up and disappeared. anyway, she ended up going into remission in may, but then she left again for europe. she traveled all around and was gone for nearly 4 months. she ended up moving back to california and has started college here. she relapsed in late september, but hasn't shown any stress or fear...she just goes to her chemo appointments. she's really calm about having cancer, and that really freaks us out. every time we talk to her about it, she says that we don't understand what she's been through and she keeps saying that she's "at peace". she travels around so much and i wonder if that's her running from cancer. like, she's going to fairbanks, alaska in a couple of weeks to see the aurora borealis, and then she's going to australia to in june to go scuba diving in the great reef. what the hell is our 19 year old sister doing--a bucket list or something? it just annoys us that she doesn't seem scared, because all of us are scared $hitless.

Answer: My aunt died in this past year of Breast cancer, and she said the only thing she ever regretted was not living her life to the fullest. Let her be happy. Instead of bein scarred and annoyed, get out there and make a few memories with her. One day your gonna wish you saw the northen lights with her, took a road trip, anything. cuz one day your gonna try so hard to remember what her smile looked like, how her laugh sounds like,what gave her strength to live another day.