In the two weeks between my surgeries I took it easy and slept quite a bit due to the pain medication I was prescribed. I also took this time to research the gynecologic oncologist that was recommended to me. I read rave reviews about him and one of the reviews that stood out was that someone specifically stated he had saved her life after she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. After reading this I felt more comfortable with him performing my surgery and also scheduled an appointment with him during this time per his request.
I researched granulosa cell tumor and ovarian cancer and wrote down all the questions I could think of to take to my appointment. I wanted to know what the recurrence percentage was; would I be having a fertility sparing surgery? Were chemo and radiation needed?
I met with him and I spent nearly 2.5 hours in the waiting room which is what I was warned about via all the reviews I read. Most of his patients said, “Expect to wait. He is one of the best and as a result his office is always filled.” This time around he was very patient, provided great information and thoroughly answered my questions. However, that didn’t take away the fact that he was still very direct, but now I came to accept that is just the way he is. I assume when you deal with cancer patients over the years it’s best to be totally upfront and honest with them.
What I learned was that granulosa cell tumor is usually unilateral; meaning it typically only affects one ovary. With any cancer, reoccurrence is possible, but with this particular kind, the chances of reoccurrence are typically lower and usually happen much later in a life. He also informed me that needing chemo and/or radiation would depend on both of my pathology reports. He said the first report which I should have prior to my second surgery would help determine how aggressive the tumor was and certainly how fast it was growing. The second pathology report would help determine if the cancer had spread and I would have those details after the second surgery. He told me that I would soon have the results from my first surgery. He then examined both my incisions and did a pap smear as well, which I have now come to learn he does every time you meet with him. If you are a woman you know how much fun that can be. ;)
It was nearing my second surgery and I still hadn’t heard from his office on the results from my pathology report and I started becoming a bit impatient and worried, so I decided to give his office a call. I spoke with his nurse who read over my report with me. She, like him, said some very technical words to explain everything, but in simplest terms what she said was that the tumor was not very aggressive, it was slow growing and on a scale of 1-10 it was less than a 2 on the rate of growth. That was the best news in all of this I had heard so far. I spent that evening rejoicing and praying. I prayed a simple prayer of thanks because although things weren’t perfect I still serve a perfect God and I knew that He was in the details. This was one way He showed me just that and I believed and prayed that the second surgery would go just as well and that the results of that pathology report would be great news.
No comments:
Post a Comment