The first step after an initial ovarian cancer detection will be a conversation about whether surgery–to remove as much of the tumor as possible–is a good option. These first conversations can help determine how best to approach your surgery, or whether surgery is even the right choice with which to begin. SurvivorNet spoke to Dr. Amanika Kumar, a gynecologic oncologist at the Mayo Clinic, about what to expect during those first conversations about ovarian cancer detection and treatment.
Essential First Conversations – Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis
Kumar says that all patients should have a comprehensive conversation with their doctor about the sequence of their treatment (surgery or chemotherapy first) and what the different options are. Doctors can discuss these difficult treatment choices and include patients in their own treatment plans. Quality of life may differ for the patient depending on the treatment sequence chosen. “Every patient deserves a conversation about treatment versus no treatment, and if treatment, here are our pathways,” she says. For example, according to Kumar, there are two questions she asks women to determine whether surgery is the right next step:
- “Is the disease resectable?” – According to Kumar, if the doctor can remove a patient’s tumor completely and achieve no visible disease, then surgery is a viable treatment option. If not, then surgery isn’t recommended. The overall goal, however, is to remove so much of the tumor that no visible disease remains left behind.
- “Is the patient fit for surgery?” - If the tumor is removable with surgery, then doctors like Kumar determine whether a patient is fit and healthy enough for surgery, since it is such an intensive and radical surgery.
Patient Fitness and Surgery Eligibility
Read More- Age
- Nutrition
- Cardiovascular fitness
- Heart Disease
- History of Blood Clots
- History of Heart Attacks
However, it is key that women advocate for themselves, as we know that doctors may hold assumptions and contain biases about certain patients. For example, doctors may initially assume an elderly patient can’t undertake surgery or chemotherapy, but elderly patients may have just as good or better fitness than many younger women. That’s why it’s important that doctors take a complete patient history and fitness assessment as described above to understand each woman’s ability to take on ovarian cancer treatment.
She reassures us that if these conversations are had and patients are found to be informed and ready for the procedure, then surgery will likely be performed. “As long as the patient–who is fit–understands the degree of surgery and the benefits of surgery, as well as the risks of surgery, most of the time we’re going to try to do surgery up front,” says Kumar.
Be sure to have a comprehensive initial discussion with your physician to lay out your treatment options.
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