3 That’s the Magic Number Yes it is It’s the magic number De La Soul,... Continue Reading →
3 – That’s the Magic Number
My.Left.Brain (part 2)
So today I got the results from my brain scans and my EEG.The good news: there’s no brain tumour and there’s no dementia. The MRI was, apparently, good. According to the experts, my temporal lobes appear (appear?!) intact and the rest of my brain is “essentially normal” (essentially?). [I think someone may want to chat... Continue Reading →
My.Left.Brain
“A diabolical and absorbing experience”Roger Ebert reviewing the film Momento, Chicago Sun-TimesNearly three years ago, I wrote my first post about My.Left.Ovary. It was the day I had ultrasounds, and - unknowingly - two days before I underwent radical surgery. It was also the first time I’d ever blogged… Today, I’m writing my 86th post.I’ve just... Continue Reading →
Lizzie
I’d like to point out that if I had have been given full clearance surgery while this was at BOT stage - this would not be happening.There’s been a lot of talk on here in the past few weeks about how scary menopause is, and how you should try to hang onto your ovaries.While I’m... Continue Reading →
My story
This is the first in a new series of guest blogs where other women who are experiencing a BOT diagnosis and/or surgical menopause share their stories.
Want to share your experience?
I’ve been thinking about setting up a section on my blog for guest contributions for some time. Recent discussions in online groups have reminded me of the importance of finding spaces where we can share our experiences. There is currently very little available online or in the mainstream media about our experiences of BOT (and all... Continue Reading →
Let’s talk about it: prognosis v’s diagnosis
A great prognosis doesn’t remove the difficulties of living with the associated diagnosis. With appropriate treatment, a diagnosis of a borderline ovarian tumour (BOT) has an excellent prognosis. BOT - grade zero ovarian cancer (OC) - is normally treated with surgery alone. BOTs are slow growing, so chemotherapy is of no use [i.e. it’s not needed].Surgery, however, is... Continue Reading →
BOTs: evolving concepts, evolving diagnostic criteria
evolving concepts + evolving diagnostic criteria = my evolving confusionBut bear with me; this is a v helpful review article, published in December 2016.Based on a review of existing data (i.e. published literature), Hauptmann and colleagues have reviewed all the best-available-data about BOTs. They make some helpful conclusions, and relate existing data with the the... Continue Reading →
Latest data on fertility-sparing surgery
This study was published in December 2016 and is available online (open access).It’s the first prospective cohort of women who, after a BOT diagnosis, initially underwent fertility-sparing surgery (FFS). All participants (34 women) experienced recurrence. They received high quality follow up - including 2 experienced ultrasound examiners, with 15 years of experience in gynecological oncology ultrasound —>... Continue Reading →
It’s a new year and I’m still confused (about BOTs)
It’s a new year - and two and half years since my diagnosis and surgery. Despite trying to keep up with new research findings and trying to become gynae-oncologist-pathologist-surgicalmenopause literate, I still get confused about the confusion about BOTs (borderline ovarian tumours). And, frustratingly, I watch - through our ever-growing (closed) Facebook group - newly diagnosed BOT-ladies... Continue Reading →
jozi-ovari 