Hi I am in NYC too. Is there any chance you could recommend a gyb/onc for second opinion?
Thank you

Your comments here have really helped me.  I have been dealing with a situation since the beginning of November. I am 51, perimenopause and went to the dr. for right side pain.  I thought it was appendecitis.  After a ct scan, they said there was nothing on my right side but a mass on my left ovary.  Sent me to my gyn.  She performed a vaginal us which was not clear.  did determine that i had cysts on right ovary, fibroids on uterus and cysts on left ovary, but not sure what the mass was.

Sent me to an ultra sound specialist this past week--his determination was that the mass was not on the ovary but on the uterus.  he will send full report to my gyn and she will get back with me.  It measures approx 3 cm.  SHe said that depending on the expert's findings, she may refer me to gyn/onc.

Do you know if something that small can cause the pain I am having--right side, left side, and even up into the ribs.  

How long should I wait to have something done.  It seems like it takes an act of congress to have surgery.  Believe me I do not want surgery (never had any) but this pain is causing me to worry.



Regina

Many doctors, including GYN/ONC's will not operate on a cyst that is less then 6cms.  It is kind of a Catch 22....we all hate the wait and see game, I did it for years....they watched my cysts and there was no surgery until there was a change.  I was 42 at the time with only one ovary, they took my other ovary at 38 final pathology stage 1A....I was comfortable waiting and watching because I did not want to be thrown into menopause and even once you enter natural menopause, your body still produces some estrogen....but I also had 2 opinions, my GYN/ONC and my regular GYN....I believe it is always important to get a 2nd opinion.

And yes, being on the pill and having children both lower the risk of developing OvCa because ovulation ceases when on the pill or pregnant.  But this number is minimal....I am a member of the NOCC, national ovarian cancer coalition.  When I look around the room most of the members that are OvCa patients are mothers and many of them have taken BC

Hey Toadster, Sounds like I'm in pretty much the same boat as you were. I'm 52 & perimenopausal. I've never been pregnant, and that I understand increases your OC risk, but I was on BC pills for a few years which supposedly decreases your OC risk. But who knows for sure :-)  My complex cyst is a little smaller than what yours was - mine is around 5.3 cm. My CA-125 came back at 45; higher than what I was hoping for, but of course that's no real indicator of anything on its own. While I trust that my gyn./onc knows what she's talking about, I just didn't feel comfortable waiting yet another month to do yet another ultrasound. I want everything out of there so I don't have to continue to worry. I know the stats are on my side, but it's still hard not to think about the worst when you know you've got some "alien" growing inside :-)  

Just found out this afternoon that my appointment with the gyn who specializes in minimally invasinve surgery is Jan 8, so I should know then if he and my onc. are going to attack this via laparoscopy or not. I just want them to do whatever will give me the best chance of a good outcome, even if that means a bigger incision & longer recovery.

Karen

HI GIRLS
IF THIS HELPS, JUT MY PERSONAL STORY.  I HAD A COMPLEX CYST 7.2 CMS, FOUND BY ACCIDENT NO SYMPTOMS, THE FIRST GYN SAID LETS WATCH AND WAIT FOR 6 WEEKS - I AM 52 PERIMENPAUSAL. SOMETHING INSIDE ME SAID  PLUS THE GALS ON THIS WEBSITE SAID gEt AN GYN/ONC WHICH I PROMPTY DID, THEY ARE TOP GUYS IN THIS FIELD, DOESNT MEAN YOU HAVE CANCER AT ALL, ITS JUST ALL THEY DO IS STUFF LIKE OURS.  SO HE DID A 2ND ALUTRASOUND, BETWEEN HIM AND THE RAdIOLOGIST, I HAD IT OUT IN 5 DAYS..IT HAD TO GO THEY SAID, MY DR DIDNT SAY EITHER WAY  BUT HE HAD A COMPLEX LOOK ON HIS FACE, THE UPSHOT IS I HAD SURGERY DEC 9TH 2 WEEKS AGO TOLD HIM TO TAKE ALL OF IT OUT, UTERUS, OTHER OVARY THAT WAS MY CHOICE, AND GUESS WHAT THAT HUGE BENIGN CYST THE SIZE OF A TENNIS BALL WAS COMPLETELY BENGIN - BUT I DECIDED PERSONALLY AGAINST THE WAIT AND WATCH JUST BECAUSE I AM WHO I AM..........ALSO COMPLEX MEANS NOT CANCER REMEMBER THAT, BUT USUALLY ANY LARGER THAN 6CMS THAT ARE COMPLEX RARELY RESOLVE.......THEY LOVE TO STAY WHERE THEY ARE....IF I COULD SUGGEST GET ANOTHER OPINION PERSONALLY I DONT WATCH AND WAIT THE ANXIETY LEVEL IS VERY HIGH FOR SOMETHING THAT CAN MEAN NOTHING.,REMEMBER STATS ARE ON YOUR SIDE!!!    good luck and Merry Christmas,
Toadster

I was found to have a complex cyst with septations about 2 months ago. I was referred to a gyn. oncologist, and after looking at the ultrasound, she felt comfortable waiting another month and repeating the US. The repeat ultrasound showed the cyst had essentially stayed the same size, but it now appeared to have some small "nodules". The oncologist indicated that, while that has her starting to be a bit concerned, she still feels there's a high probability it's benign. She actually said it was up to me whether or not to wait yet another month and again repeat the ultrasound, or go ahead with surgery.

I decided I didn't want to wait any longer and , after discussing some options, I've decided to go ahead and have both ovaries & uterus removed. I asked about possible laparoscopic surgery, and I'm being seen in 2 weeks by another gyn who specializes in minimally invasive surgery to see if that's an option. Either way, I'll probably be having surgery soemtime in January. Hopefully it will be benign, but I just want to get the little "alien" out of there whatever it is.

Soooo, waiting & watching even for a complex cyst is apparently normal. But, at some point, you just have to decide if you're comfortable continuing that.

Karen