Hello. I'm new to this message board and this is my first posting. However, I've visited the site before and I find you all so encouraging and informative.
By way of introduction, my name is Tony and my mother was diagnosed with stage 3c ovarian cancer in March 06. We are from Sydney, Australia. I have been trying to give her all the support that is humanly possible so that we can get through this.
My mother's ovarian cancer spread to her colon (small bowel, rectum, appendix), omentum and to a para-aortic lymph node. She had a complete hysterectomy and her omentum was also removed, however, the surgeon could not remove the lymph node as it was too risky, the cancer having attached itself too close to the para-aorta. My mother then had 6 rounds of standard IV carbo/taxol chemo for 3 months, ending in July 06 (Australia doesn't offer IP chemo right now).
About 2 weeks ago, my mother went for a PET scan which revealed something suspicious in the groin region. We then went to have a pelvic/abdominal ultrasound which revealed a mass near/on the abdominal rectus muscle in the right groin. At the same time during the ultrasound, a fine needle biopsy was performed and yesterday the results came back saying that the ovarian cancer has recurred IN the abdominus rectus muscle.
Our surgical/ gyn oncologist - Professor Neville Hacker from Sydney's Women's Hospital says he's never seen anything like this and I guess that's saying something considering he's quite a high-profile gyn oncologist who has come across many different cases of ovarian and gyn cancers. We don't know how serious this is or what it means.
Has anybody heard about an ovarian cancer recurrence in the abdominal rectus muscle or metastasis in this region? The doctor is suggesting some surgery and radiation to this muscle mass and perhaps some chemo.
Her CA-125 is about 28 although if tested now it's probably gone up more.