Ascites

[Borgs]

Does presence of ascites necessarily indicate a malignancy?  Is it possible to have a cantaloupe-sized complex cyst, postmenopausal, with ascites, and not have a malignancy?

[Borgs]

Thank you all for your responses.  My mom's gyn is doing the surgery but there will be a general surgeon there, and an oncologist on call if they suspect anything.  He also said if things look benign, it should be a 40 minute surgery, but if there is signs of malignancy, the surgery could last up to 4 hours.  My mom said the gyn said all indications are it is benign from the ultrasound and she got the "99% are benign" speech.  To me, however, all her symptoms are pointing the other way.  Postmenopausal, large, complex, rapidly growing it seems, onset of fluid, weight loss, large abdomen, constant feeling of discomfort, no pain.  Are doctor's usually overly optimistic in these situations, or are they usually honest about it's potential?  Or is she lying to me?  

[lillmisstn]

I have a question for you all ... When I had the fluid in my abdomen three weeks ago, the dr said that the majority of it was actually in between my skin and mucle (in my abdomen wall) ... He said there was some fluid in between my organs (when he did the exploratory laparascopy) ... they drained it and it came back the same day .... In about 5 days it has drained (I believe by way of urination) .... Have any of you had the ascites hang around or have you lost it as well?

Mitzi  

[PF_PVD]

Like freshair, I had ascites which they drained for the first time the day after diagnosis.  After the pathologist took a look, this was the first of many things to be labeled cancer.  Not to say all ascites is cancerous, just that mine was drained to alleviate my discomfort first as well as to add to the differential diagnosis.

[rmarie]

Does your mother have a Gyn/oncologist?  She should have a copy of her ultrasound so she knows what they believe it is.  The Gyn/Oncologist is best trained to do the surgery necessary if it is a malignancy, so you at least want to know that one is available do the surgery if is not benign.  You want your mom to have the best chance she can have. Good luck, see a Gyn/Onc if you haven't already.

[Borgs]

The gyn who did the ultrasound noted the presence of fluid around the cyst, and this is why my mom thought the cyst had grown (but the cyst probably didn't grow, it was just the presence of fluid around it that made the abdomen get larger).  The abdomen is unusually large.  Surgery is scheduled for next week, but the doctor has known of the presence of the cyst since November 6.    

[freshair]

I'm not absolutely sure on this one. Someone else should post the correct answer.

Did a cat scan say ascites or fluid in a small area. Is you abdomen unusually large?

I had ascites when I was diagnosed. That's when I knew it wasn't an intestinal bug but something else and was diagnosed quickly.

You have to see a gyn/onc.

Best wishes.

[Borgs]

Does presence of ascites necessarily indicate a malignancy?  Is it possible to have a cantaloupe-sized complex cyst, postmenopausal, with ascites, and not have a malignancy?