April 30, 2010 Dear Mayo Clinic: My 47-year-old wife was
diagnosed with a rare granulosa cell tumor (GCT) of the ovary.
Her treatment included surgery to remove the uterus and ovaries.
The tumor was stage 1, but we are nervous about a recurrence.
What can she or her doctors do to monitor her health in the
future? Granulosa cell tumor is a slow-growing cancer that
starts in the granulosa cells that surround the eggs within the
ovary. Diagnosed and treated early, it's not likely to return.
However, GCT of the ovary requires regular and long-term follow-
up with a doctor, including an annual blood test to check for
markers that could indicate the cancer's return. Here's some
more background to help put GCT of the ovary and the risk of
recurrence in perspective: GCT of the ovary is most often
diagnosed at stage 1. That means the tumor cells have not spread
beyond the ovary. Symptoms often are vague and can include
bloating, discomfort in the pelvis area or bladder and bowel
changes. The tumor produces increased es