16 cm Ovaraian Cyst

[brolyn]

I am 30 years old and have been feeling bloated with slight pressure on my abdomen. I went to my obgyn yesterday and I have a 14 x 16 cm cyst on my left ovary. They said it looks fluid filled and I shouldnt worry to much. I do need to have it removed and they want me to go to a Gynecology Oncologist due to the size of it. They also ran a CA 125 but I wont know the  results for a couple days. I have been a worried mess since yetsterday morning. My appt isnt until the 18 th with the obgyn Oncologist. They said these are usually harmless but I am scared to death. I have never been under anesthesia and surgery frightens me. Also my father was diagnosed with colon/lung/brain Cancer last November and passed away this Feb. So with the family history I am reallly scared. Any advice or thoughts?

[Annekathryn Goodman, M.D.]

Hi There,
You are getting the right recommendations. It is scary to go through this but you will be OK! You will feel so much better when that big cyst is out.
best wishes

[brolyn]

I got the results of my CA 125 and it was slightly elevated at 47

I have read alot about this test and its false positives but I am really worried now. Please let me know your thoughts.

[chapter11]

I suspect your doctor is right to advise not to worry.  I had a 12 cm ovarian mass and a high CA-125.  After surgery with a gyne-oncologist, it turned out it was nothing more than endometriosis.  Before my surgery, I was a mess.  My priest summed it up best.  If something that large is malignant, it would have killed you by now.  Stay calm, take care of your health, and don't stress.  If your doctor has run simple blood tests, take comfort if your white cell count and liver functions are okay.

[brolyn]

Thanks for your reply. I have not had recent bloodwork done but have not been ill or sick in anyway for approximately 2 years. They just did a urinalysis and that was all ok, and a reg pap and breast exam. I am sure next week they will do all my bloodwork etc. I have read alot on the internet about the false positives of the CA 125 test but im still worried...
Ill just be glad when its all over.

[chapter11]

A 14x16 mass that is malignant would have its own blood supply, and would be a combination of mass and fluid.  It would be septated and have thick walls and nodules.  Your doctor is telling you it is fluid filled, which is a totally different thing.  Also, a mass that large which is malignant would show evidence of spread.  If it were maligant, the images  would show cancer nodules in your abdomen and swollen lymph nodes.

A CA-125 is not a diagnostic test.  It is a treatment marker only. They have to do the CA-125 before they operate to establish a baseline.  I have endometriosis, and my CA-125 was 121 before my surgery.  After the surgery and a month of being on birth control pills, it went down to 7.  They will continue to monitor my CA-125 to make sure the birth control pills are keeping the endo under wraps.  You can make yourself crazy with this stuff.  Do yourself a big favor and keep it in perspective.  If this is the worse thing that happens to you, I think you will be in very good shape.

[brolyn]

I had my consultation with the gyno oncologist this past thursday. He was very nice and very thorough. He informed me that the cyst was a little suspicious and that it may be borderline, if it was borderline or cancer he would remove everything including appendix and do a lymphectomy as well as staging. I had my surgery friday morning and was relieved to find out it was not cancer.!! They removed the huge cyst as well as the left ovary and left fallopian tube and I returned home on Sunday. He said take 6 weeks off and relax! We will repeat the CA 125 test in 2 months but he assumes the reason for it being slightly elevated was due to the cyst.
Anyways thank you everyone for your thoughts! This was a very stressful ordeal for me and I wish you all the best.