BC Mets to ovaries?

Sandy H · 07-11-2006, 07:28 PM

Has anyone had bc mets to the ovaries? Someone asked me yesterday, if I had ever heard of it. I told them I had not but I would post here and see. I only know those that had ovarian cancer it was primary and not mets. I suppose it can happen. hugs, Sandy

Barbara H. · 07-11-2006, 07:32 PM

Hi Sandy,
I think that mets can go anywhere, but a friend just told me today about a friend of hers who had breast cancer 14 years ago and last year was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer. Apparently, we are at higher risk for it as well as colon cancer. This was not mets, but an additional primary cancer.
Best regards,
Barbara H.

karenann · 07-11-2006, 07:46 PM

I had the genetic testing done and I was told that having bc puts us at a greater risk for ovarian cancer. I also thought that I had read, that women with lobular cancer tend to get mets to the ovaries. Not sure.

Karen

Mgarr · 07-12-2006, 06:41 AM

Sandy,

I am terribly sorry about your sister I echo everyone else, you and your family are in my prayers.

Not sure how much this helps but I am currently debating the removal of ovaries. I have had 4 opinions none of which seem to agree except the genetic docs. Like Barbara said my o.b. told me yesterday we are considered at a higher risk for ovarian & colon cancer - The reason both genetic doctors gave me for the ovarian risk is that they are comprised of the same tissue as the breast.

There is not enough data for some doctors to warrant removal of ovaries since I am er/pr- and negative for BRCA I & II

Interestingly enough my onc. believes that 10% of people tested for BRAC are not found to have the mutation but in actuality they carry it. Which is reasonable as it is a new area of study/practice and we are just learning about genetic makeup and the role it plays in cancer growth.

MJo · 07-12-2006, 07:10 AM

I am interested in everything about ovarian cancer, since my paternal grandmother died of it, and I have breast cancer.

In my Wellness Community support group, there is a women who had a recurrence of OC in March. Since her doctors were watching her so closely they found it when it was only 8 mm. She got in a clinical trial. She can't pronounce the chemo, so she calls it Platypus. She hasn't had a PET scan yet, but her C125 test is down to 30, a normal range. This is good news for her and for all of us.

I know there is a lot of research for curing and controlling this disease, but I sure hope scientists are also looking for better tests. She was treated for more than a year for diverticulitis before the doctors found that her pain was caused by ovarian cancer. I am lucky my breast cancer was found early, but I think it was a matter of timing. If I wasn't months late for my mammogram, my small tumor might not have shown up and it would have had another year to grow. We need better testing!! Down from my soapbox. MJo

AlaskaAngel · 07-12-2006, 09:53 AM

MJo,

Because I have a big family history that includes an aunt who died of OC, after I finished chemo and rads I started looking for anything that would help protect me from OC. I was accepted into the Ovarian Cancer Early Detection Study, which provided several years of annual transvaginal ultrasound and quarterly blood draws in the hope of developing some kind of better marker for OC than the current CA-125. The CA-125 was part of the blood draw as well. I asked the coordinator at the site where I was having the TVUS's whether people who were chosen for the trial tended to complete the trial, and was very happy to hear that a high number do carry out their commitment. I recently completed the trial and was asked if I was interested in being part of BCEDS (Breast Cancer Early Detection Study). I replied that I had already HAD breast cancer -- but found out that as long as I am continuing to get mammograms they wanted to do blood draws to try to find a better bc marker. So I am now part of that study for the next few years.

Check out the clinical trials website clinicaltrials.gov frequently. You never know just what you might find there... or where it might take us all.

AlaskaAngel

StephN · 07-12-2006, 11:07 AM

This is a new subject on this board. We don't talk much about risk of OTHER cancers since we are so busy fighting the one we already have,

These are good questions to ask my med onc when I see him on Monday.

I asked for a CA 125 last year and had 2 drawn for a baseline 3 weeks apart. Med onc had no hesitation in ordering that test.

Saw my GP on Monday and he wants me to have a colonoscopy, so I have to get that scheduled.

Seems my docs are all on the same page about screening for other cancers.
(Guess it is because I have made it almost six years since diagnosis.)

Cathya · 07-12-2006, 12:32 PM

Sandy;

My understanding is that lobular bc (vs ductal, inflammatory, etc.) tends to spread to the ovaries more often than other types. It tends to be bigger on diagnosis and is one that is difficult to identify on mammogram.

Best regards,

Cathy

Sandy H · 07-12-2006, 06:24 PM

Steph am right behind you with having a colonscopy because my stool test showed blood but I do have hemorrhoids so she said it can be a false positive. My oncologist does not want his patients to have one while on chemo and so have not had one and don't know when I will. I am off chemo but waiting to take Tykerb and that is used with Xeloda. We will see what they decide. Sandy

Mgarr · 07-12-2006, 07:38 PM

My ob wants me to have baseline CA-125 although both him & the genetists don't take much stock in them. So what is the point? Scheduled for a ultrasound of ovaries and they would also like me to have colonoscopy but the doc. is concerned insurance won't cover it as I am only 40.

Mary