Complex Ovarian Cyst / Possible Ovarian Cancer Posted: 09-21-07 13:42pm
I am being told that I could possibly have
ovarian cancer. I dont think that I am
getting very good treatment and I have a
lot of unanswered questions. So if anyone
has any information it would really help
me.
I am not sure where to begin so I will
start from what I know.
My family history is full of cancer. The
entire time my mother was pregnant with me
she has cancer in her uterus. Also I have
family members with ovarian cancer and
cervical cancer.
I started my period when I was about 10 in
age. I had a very normal period every
month without any problems. When I was 16
I got pregnant and gave birth to a healthy
baby boy. A couple of years later I
started having issues with pain in the
pelvic area and my periods. I went to the
doctors and had blood work and ultrasounds
done. The only thing they found was a few
small simple cysts on both ovaries. Which
I was told that was not causing the
problems that I was having. After dealing
with this for a while I ended up in the
ER.. A day later I was in surgery having
my gallbladder removed. After the surgery
the doctors explained to me that they
didnt see anything wrong with my
gallbladder but removed it anyways just in
case. Well the pain never went away..
Finally after seeing 6 doctors I was
diagnosed with PCOS in 1999. I was put on
2 different birth control at the same time
to try to stop the cyst. Which worked.
In June 2001 I had a period that lasted 2
weeks after that ended I did not have
another one until October 2006. A little
over 5 years with nothing. And at that
time no doctor could explain. Well in
October 2006 I had an ultrasound done
because of an kidney infection. A complex
cyst about 2cm was found on the left
ovary. I was told that it was nothing to
worry about. In Feb 2007 I had another
ultrasound performed due to pain in the
area. The same cyst was present but this
time about 2.6 cm in size. The doctor ran
some blood work and told me there was
nothing to worry about. Well for the past
month I have been feeling very sick. I
have had a lot of pain in the area of the
cyst, lower back pain, ongoing bloating,
no energy, nausea, a major change in my
period, major headaches. I was finally
able to get an appointment to be seen by
my primary care doctor. During an exam he
noted that the cyst was now atleast 4cm
and that there was a lot of free fuild in
the area. He told me that there is a good
chance that this is ovarian cancer given
my history with PCOS (which I was told put
me at a higher risk) and my family history
of cancer. He referred me to the OB/GYN.
A couple of days ago they called to set up
my appointment and told me that there is
no rush and set my appointment for a month
from now. Which I dont understand because
if they are worried this is cancer why are
they waiting and not doing anything. I
honestly dont think that I am getting the
best of care but there is nothing that I
can do. My husband is active duty
military so I have to be seen at the
Military hospital that he is stationed at.
And due to a major baby boom here they
are putting all other appointments to the
side. It makes me feel like since my
doctors are not concerned I shouldnt be
either. But I am so confused. If someone
could give some advice that would be
great.......
|
Fairy*Godmother
Supporter
Joined: 11 Oct 2003 Posts: 1343 Location: , Georgia USA
Thanks: 39
Thanked:42
Hi Sweetie! Me Fairy*godmother Posted: 09-21-07 13:51pm
I feel so sorry for you, wish I could give
you a big hug and tell you everythign is
gonna be ok. It will be......I would call
your doctor and tell them taht you will
take any cancellation that becomes
available, that might get you in quicker.
The other only alternative is for you to
find an OBGYN and pay for them from your
own pocket. I understand the feeling of
anxiety and you ask why are they acting as
though its nothing. You are worried and I
understand that too. Oh, and when you call
the physicans office try asking to speak
to someone directly and tell them you are
high risk and are very worried as to why
they can't make a sooner appointment. Feel
free to PM me if you'd like. I'm a Mom to
a 24 year old and have a history of cancer
in my family as well!
|
Ingi
Supporter
Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 8437 Location: Grinning like a Cheshire Cat,
Thanks: 121
Thanked:156
Posted: 09-21-07 14:25pm
First off, they shouldn't have said the
cancer word at all until they knew for
sure ~ because nothing is as scary as
thinking you may have cancer and not
knowing. Knowing is way easier than
worrying about it.
Cysts do not have to be cancerous. Lots of
women have common every day cysts all the
time. Even if you have a family history of
cancer. Although, for your information,
cervical cancer IS NOT hereditary. It is
caused by the HPV virus. So if the doctors
led you to believe anything differently,
then that was wrong. Also, I have not
heard that your risk of Ovarian Cancer
would be greater with PCOS, but that
endometrial cancer can be higher. PCOS
causes missed periods. So that could
potentially explain why you wouldn't have
had a period for 5 years.
By some of your complaints, it sounds like
it could be endometriosis:
Quote:
What are the
symptoms of endometriosis?
Pain is one of the most common symptoms of
endometriosis. Usually the pain is in the
abdomen, lower back, and pelvis. The
amount of pain a woman feels does not
depend on how much endometriosis she has.
Some women have no pain, even though their
disease affects large areas. Other women
with endometriosis have severe pain even
though they have only a few small growths.
Symptoms of endometriosis include:
Very painful menstrual cramps
Pain with periods that gets worse over
time
Chronic pain in the lower back and pelvis
Pain during or after sex
Intestinal pain
Painful bowel movements or painful
urination during menstrual periods
Heavy and/or long menstrual periods
Spotting or bleeding between periods
Infertility (not being able to get
pregnant)
Fatigue
Women with endometriosis may also have
gastrointestinal problems such as
diarrhea, constipation, or bloating,
especially during their periods.
Who usually gets endometriosis?
About five million women in the United
States have endometriosis. This makes it
one of the most common health problems for
women.
In general, women with endometriosis:
get their monthly period
are 27-years-old on average
have symptoms for two to five years before
finding out they have the disease
Women who have gone through menopause
(when a woman stops having her period)
rarely still have symptoms.
What can raise my chances of getting
endometriosis?
You are more likely to develop
endometriosis if you:
began getting your period at an early age
have heavy periods
have periods that last more than seven
days
have a short monthly cycle (27 days or
less)
have a close relative (mother, aunt,
sister) with endometriosis
The only way to know for sure if you have
endometriosis is to have a surgery called
laparoscopy. In this procedure, a tiny cut
is made in your abdomen. A thin tube with
a light is placed inside to see growths
from endometriosis. Sometimes doctors can
diagnose endometriosis just by seeing the
growths. Other times, they need to take a
small sample of tissue, or a biopsy, and
study it under a microscope.
That all said, speak up about the care you
are receiving. If you are having
problems, make noise. Let people know. You
have to advocate for your own health.
Good luck!! And let us know what happens.
|
erica80
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 21 Sep 2007 Posts: 2 Location: ,
Update Posted: 09-21-07 21:07pm
I talked with my primary care doctor today
and after testing the free fluid he is
scheduling an ultrasound and some other
test to be done prior to my appointment
with the OB/GYN. He said he wants to be
able to have all results in for the doctor
to read at that appointment. Either way,
I am still confused about what is going on
because they are not giving me too much
information.
|
Fairy*Godmother
Supporter
Joined: 11 Oct 2003 Posts: 1343 Location: , Georgia USA
Thanks: 39
Thanked:42
Hi Sweetie! Me Fairy*godmother Posted: 09-22-07 09:04am
Because they DO NOT KNOW................
I have so many friends who are doctors
and the honest ones will tell you...its
usually an educated guess. They have the
degree to say what it is and what it is
not....based on the findings.....which can
take weeks and months.....You are going to
be confused until you persist to sontinues
asking questions until you find an answer
or go back to your original doctor.
|
Ingi
Supporter
Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 8437 Location: Grinning like a Cheshire Cat,
Thanks: 121
Thanked:156
Re: Update Posted: 09-22-07 10:55am
erica80
wrote:
I talked with my primary
care doctor today and after testing the
free fluid he is scheduling an ultrasound
and some other test to be done prior to my
appointment with the OB/GYN. He said he
wants to be able to have all results in
for the doctor to read at that
appointment. Either way, I am still
confused about what is going on because
they are not giving me too much
information.
Make a list of questions you have for your
doctor so when you see him/her you won't
forget them. Take someone with you to help
you remember what is said. When we get
emotional about things, we don't always
hear the information we are given. We tend
to hear only what is worse or what we want
to / fear to hear.
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