For the last three months, gynecologic oncologist Dr. Larry Kilgore has had 120 reasons for spreading the word to women about ovarian cancer.
After successfully removing a 120-pound ovarian tumor from a 61-year old patient at the UT Medical Center on Jan. 8, the UT alumnus is helping the Maryville resident share a medical story she feels is very important to discuss.
The patient requested to remain anonymous and wouldn’t allow any photographs to be released, but “Mamaw” — as the patient’s family refers to her — asked for her medical story to be shared so that other women didn’t make the same mistake she did.
“If you have any doubts at all, go to the doctor,” Mamaw said in a press release. “It’s really important, especially for women to have their female organs checked.”
Georgette Samaras is the education coordinator at UT’s Cancer Institute; according to her research, the symptoms for ovarian cancer are pressure pains in the abdominal region, fatigue and stomach swelling. Family history of ovarian cancer can also increase chances of a woman being diagnosed.
Samaras said its best to get an annual pelvic examination with a physician, and the best age to begin screening is 21.
Gynecologic cancer, one of the fields Kilgore has practiced in leading up to the abnormal surgery, is the fourth most common type of cancer in women, affecting approximately one in every 20 females. In the U.S. each year, there are about 80,000 women diagnosed with gynecologic cancer.
In 2009, an estimated 21,550 new cases of ovarian cancer were reported; about 14,600 deaths were pronounced due to the illness.
The state of Tennessee saw 310 cases of ovarian cancer deaths in that same year.
“Ovarian cancer is not a silent killer,” Kilgore said.
The UT doctor went on to add that it’s important for women to “know the signs of ovarian cancer” because the changes are “very subtle.”
An average ovarian tumor, from Kilgore’s experience, ranges from 30 to 40 pounds.
In the 20 years that Kilgore has practiced gynecologic oncology, the 120-pound “mucinous tumor of the ovary” may have been the largest he’d ever removed, but it wasn’t the first.
The heaviest tumor Kilgore had removed was a 75-pound tumor for a patient during his tenure at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Ironically, Kilgore said the four-hour process was nearly 10 years to the day of Mamaw’s surgery.
Kilgore said the serious health condition was because of Mamaw overlooking her health condition.
Since the procedure, Mamaw has been making a full recovery at home and her health condition has improved dramatically; the Maryville native went from weighing around 300 pounds without the ability to lie on her back in January to now weighing 140 pounds and being unquestionably grateful for her recovery.
“Dr. Kilgore is such a fantastic person, and I’m really glad he was my surgeon,” Mamaw added. “He’s always really sweet. There just aren’t many doctors who will come up and give you a hug and a kiss. He sure does care about you.”
Kilgore is also pleased with the outcome.
“She feels great; she looks great,” Kilgore said. “(And) she’s pleased people will find out about this story.”
