Wanna hear another frustrating story? Talking about the hospital sending you a form for the wrong cancer, how about the hospital sending you a form telling you that you have cancer when the doctor said you didn't??
I had a total hysterectomy in 2006 because they found masses in both ovaries. After the surgery, the surgeon said, "Good news! It's not cancer and you won't need chemo." Yay! Fantastic news!
Followup appointment at two weeks, again he says, "So we won't be doing chemo. We'll just keep an eye on it and if you have symptoms, call me." I thought, "That's odd. Why does he keep talking about chemo when it's not cancer."
Two weeks later I get a letter from the hospital addressed to Ovarian Cancer Survivor.
The whole letter was about a study for ovarian cancer survivors in which they wanted me to participate. I called my surgeon's office and asked them to send my surgical report and I looked up the terms online. Turns out my tumors are in a gray area where there isn't a solid consensus whether they are cancer or not. The American Cancer Society lists them as ovarian cancer, but doctors are still debating the issue. They are also debating the best followup treatment. I asked my surgeon at the next appointment and he said they are "borderline" cancer in his opinion. But on my hospital records and my GP's records, it says I had a hysterectomy for ovarian cancer.
The tumors for the "borderline" cancer were also in my lymph nodes so when they found the tumor in my rectum, they told me they would check to see if it was a colorectal primary or spread from the ovarian. If it can spread, how can it be borderline?? So I guess I am a "borderline" two-time cancer survivor?
This medical stuff can drive you insane.
Judy