23 with ovarian cancer?

[keps83]

I am 23 and am scared to death I have cancer. I have had the following symptoms for months and have not seen a doctor because I am so scared but I have finaly found the courage to do so. (Please do not yell at me for not getting to a doctor, I know what a stupid mistake this can be).

I have had lower pelvic pain that was first only in my right side but has now been bothering both sides. I am having a lot of dull aching pain in my thighs constantly. Also have been burping a lot more and am always very tired and weak. After looking up these symptoms online I have pretty much diagnosed myself with this cancer and have been having EXTREME anxiety over it. I am on the internet several hours a day looking up the symptoms and am a wreck. Is this ovarian cancer?

[Annekathryn Goodman, M.D.]

Hi There,

The Internet sure can be a scary place! I am glad that you are going to get checked up. At your age there are several very common conditions that I would think about:

Irritable bowel syndrome causes cramps, pain, bloating. It is worse with stress and certain foods.

Gyn conditions: infections, endometriosis, pregnancy, benign ovarian cysts.
Cancer is just about the last thing I worry about in your age group. However there are many benign conditions  (as listed above) that can cause alot of suffering and can easily be treated.

take care

[nobull2]

I just realized I had ovarian cancer and got both tumors removed.  There was absolutely no symptoms until the very last . . . which was weight gain and a feeling of fullness. There was never any pain.  If your pants are not fitting you very well lately and you feel full all the time, then it could be a sign.

[sayoko]

I am also 23 and have the same sort of symptoms. I have a Dr appointment at the end of the week, I'm scared to ask about ovarian cancer because of my age I think I am to young to get it, so I don't know if they would even want to check but i think my Dr thought i had ibs when i was 14 but lately they have been weird. my ibs never really bothered me, never had to take anything for it, but about a year or so ago i started getting frequent urination i never thought much of it i thought i was drinking more water. but about 4 months ago  i started getting urgent urination constantly always feel slightly like i need to go, some days the urge is stronger it seems worse when I get bloated which i also get frequently. so much stomach and pelvic rumbling i can sometimes feel the air moving (like a baby kicking ,not pregnant) i also get a sharp deep pain when my husband and I have intercourse. I used to only get a dull akeingness (sorry for the spelling) in my left ovary comes and goes, sometimes pain would be a short sharp stabbing like pain in my left ovary the past few days now my right ovary is doing the same thing has never did it before. please post back here if you find out what was causing your symptoms if you could. Dr aren't sure yet what mine is i have had blood work ultrasound a year ago and urine test and bladder sensitivity test (for interstitial cystitis) all normal  thanks hope all is well

[Holly23]

Well, I too am only 23 and am going through pretty much what you described. I am a cry baby when it comes to going to the doctors because I never want them to tell me that there is something wrong with me. Let me be the first one to tell you from our point of view (being young and independent and all) GO TO THE DOCTOR!!! When I finally went to the doctor for my annual exam (I am one of those people that put it off for years so I know where you may be comming from) she felt a mass on my tummy. Long story short they made me go in for a CT Scan. (Which scared me to death but it reallly wasn't as bad as I had made it out to be) My scan showed that I have a HUGE 16x10cm mass! I don't have a choice but to have it removed as soon as next week. I am the biggest baby you will meet and I am scared to no end about the surgery. Since my mass is so big they can't do the lap. surgery they have to make a 6 inch incision on my bikini line. (I can only hope that they can pull this big thing out from such a small incision!) They are telling me that I have ovarian cancer at only 23. It is a scary place out there but please know that you are not alone! My final advise to you is STAY OFF THE INTERNET!!!! Stop researching and diagonsing yourself and go to the doctor. It has taken me about a week to realize that by reseraching all I am doing is freaking myself out more. My prayers and best wishes are with you.