General Questions:

How soon before my appointment do I need to come to the office?

In order to assure that your doctor stays on time and has the most time to devote to your attention, you must come to the office a minimum of one hour prior to your new patient appointment. This will assure that all new patient paperwork and insurance forms are properly filled out, and allow time for our medical assistants to review your information

I don’t have ovarian cancer, but I am afraid of getting it. Should I have my gynecologist obtain a CA-125?

The CA-125 test is elevated in most women who have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. However, it is not a screening tool for ovarian cancer. The CA-125 test is not specific for ovarian cancer; it can be elevated in other disease processes that involve the abdomen including endometriosis, infection, or accumulation of fluid caused by liver failure. Investigators have done large scale studies evaluating the utility of a screening CA-125 and/or pelvic ultrasound in women that do not have ovarian cancer. These tests have never been proven to be sensitive or specific enough to detect ovarian cancer in the early stages. Therefore, we do not recommend routine screening with CA-125’s in most women.

Questions Related to Chemotherapy:

Can I take my routine medications and/or eat and drink the day I receive chemotherapy?

Absolutely. You should eat and drink a normal breakfast or lunch before coming to the office for chemotherapy. You may bring food with you if your treatment is anticipated to be long. In addition, bring a book or a project to make you feel at home. As a general rule, all routine medications can be taken the day of chemotherapy. There are some rare exceptions. Our doctors and staff will review your medications prior to starting your treatment.

Will I lose my hair?

Not necessarily.Not all chemotherapy causes hair loss. Some don’t affect hair loss at all, and others cause thinning, but not complete hair loss. Your doctor or nurses will tell you whether the drug(s) selected will cause you to lose your hair.

How long will it be before my hair falls out?

If your chemotherapy causes hair loss (known as alopecia), your hair will likely begin to fall out about two weeks after your first treatment. It may not come out completely until after the second treatment. If your hair is long, you may want to consider cutting it after your first treatment. This reduces some of the mess when long hair begins to fall out. It can often be distressing for women to see their hair on pillow, sheets or in the shower. In addition, consider purchasing a wig before your hair is completely gone. That way, you can pick a hair piece that looks comparable to your current hair.

Will I be sick (nausea or vomiting) with my chemotherapy?

As a general rule, the regimens we use to treat gynecologic cancer cause mild-moderate nausea or vomiting that can be completely controlled with anti-nausea medications. We are very aggressive with anti-nausea medications through your veins and by mouth. The newer regimens that administer chemotherapy into your abdomen (intraperitoneal chemotherapy) may cause some significant delayed nausea and vomiting. Our team of professionals will work with you to provide the most aggressive anti-nausea medication to prevent or treat and problems.

Can I/Should I take vitamins or antioxidants while receiving chemotherapy?

The use of vitamins with chemotherapy is controversial. Theoretically, the anti-oxidants or other vitamins could protect the “normal cells” from the toxic effects of chemotherapy. Alternatively, the vitamins, in particular the anti-oxidants, could protect the cancer cells from the effects of chemotherapy. We don’t discourage the use of vitamins with your treatment. We do, however, recommend that you withhold antioxidant therapy (C-Enzyme Q-10, other free-radical scavengers) for 24 hours before and after treatment.

Questions regarding surgery:

What time do I have to be at the hospital?

The hospital staff will call you at home the night before your surgery and tell you what time to be at the hospital in the morning. The order to surgery cases is often not finalized until the night before.

How long can I expect to be in the hospital?

If you are having major surgery (through an incision in your abdomen) you can expect to be in the hospital 2-4 days following surgery. Our average length of stay is three days. Some surgeries, such as laparoscopic surgery, can allow for discharge from the hospital the day of surgery, or the one day later.