Re: Best hospital in North America for ovarian cancer? (mom just diagnosed)

PaulF_at_NoSpamPlease.com
Date: 06/06/04 

Date: Sun, 06 Jun 2004 23:33:52 GMT

> As to tumor masses, you mean that there are none that
> have been detected. One won't know definitively until
> one takes a look.

            Yes. But I think that at least I can be somewhat
confident that any masses are small or flat. Surely the CT
scan would pick up a 1cm mass. (I understand it's resolution
is down into the millimeter range).

> She needs a diagnostic laparoscopy with ovarian biopsies or removal,
> subdiaphragmatic washings for cytology, omentectomy. Many gynecologists
> won't do this laparsocopically.

     That you for this bit of very valuable info. I'll be sure
to ask about it.

   I don't know if the surgeon will opt to do it laparsocopically
or by laparotomy. She may also choose to just do a single
operation to diagnose and remove tissue. I understand
that it's even possible to make the tests "live". (as in:
open the patient, do washings/sample tissue, get an answer
from the lab while patient is still on the table, and decide
on what tissues to remove immeditely)

Thank you.