ovarian cancer, metastases

My friend was diagnosed with stage IIIc Ovarian cancer over 2 years ago and after debuliking surgery and a full series of chemo she was NED for almost 24 months. The cancer has recurred and has metastasized in her Liver , Stomach and Lymph nodes. She is now undergoing another round of chemo. She said that the metastases to those organs is very common. Is she being honest and telling the truth or is it as ominous as it sounds. Would someone please give me a straight answer?

The most common areas ovarian cancer spreads to are the lining of the abdomen or pelvis and organs of the abdomen - the bowels, bladder, uterus, liver and lungs.

There are four ways ovarian cancer can metastize:

1. It can break loose from the ovarian mass, travel down the blood stream and invade distant organs. This one is rare in ovarian metastasis.
2. It can spread by direct contact with the nearby organs like fallopian tubes, uterus, bladder, rectum, etc.
3. By separating from the ovarian mass and going to the lymphatic system and through this system to the distant organs.
4. The most common way of ovarian cancer to spread is by shedding into the abdominal cavity just by dropping from the ovary to the for example liver, stomach, colon or diaphragm


Now, there are many factors to include in order to say what the outcome would be like: histologic cell type, age, performance status, the amount or volume of residual disease, etc

That is so sad that u question your friend like that. Why on earth would someone wish something like that on themselves..just doesn't make sence. Shame on you.

Hey MEL123, I think you're the one who is sad. If a friend trys to seek out information in order to better help her friend then I don't see it as being sad at all. Often times, when people are told of their cancer, and especially when it has metastasized to a major organ, they can certainly "not hear" what the Doctor is telling them. For the friend to seek out information is not sad but smart since she will be informed and better able to help her friend on her journey.