Bad symptoms and CT scan that WASN'T cancer

[PamelaD]

I've read so many posts from women here and other sites that are worried about symptoms that seem to indicate cancer.  I thought I would post what I went through and that it doesn't have to be cancer.  I am 43, very regular periods for decades after a tubal ligation 20 years ago.  I skipped a period in Feb this year, then when it started it lasted for almost 2 months off and on, some days almost nothing, others very large clots.  I saw my gyn who did a CA125 test (which was at 2), a pelvic and vaginal ultrasound and an endometrial biopsy.  Everything was negative and concluded it was peri-menopause irregularity.  I then got a UTI which I took antibiotic for.  The pain did not go away and it started to hurt in my groin and leg.  I got a mild pain reliever, the doctor thinking it was a pulled muscle.  The pain got so bad in my lower abdomen over the next week that I was doubled over and crying from it. There was also agonizing pain right above the pubic mound when I urinated.  Urine test showed no infection but there was blood in my urine.  I had a dye x-ray for kidney and bladder and there was nothing found.  I did point out to the urololgist that it felt hard right above the pubic mound.  He felt it and scheduled a CT scan since he didn't know what it was.  -continued-

[Annekathryn Goodman, M.D.]

thank you for sharing your story

[PamelaD]

The results from the CT scan were:

There is a complex pelvic mass which appears to arise from and involve the uterus.  This has a maximum transverse extent of 10 cm, and AP extent of 12 cm.  There are cystic and probably necrotic areas within this.  This abuts the anterior abdominal musculature and there is infiltration into the musculature.  This is suspicious for neoplasm though abcess (abscess) or other infectious process in not completely excluded.  There is a 3 x 5 cm fluid collection in the left pelvis which may represent a new ovarian cyst or free fluid.  The visualized portion of the cervix is heterogenous and irregular.  Findings suggest uterine cancer or other neoplasm.

My gyn sent me to a Woman's Cancer Center and the oncologist said that he didn't "think" it was cancer but a fibroid.  Surgery was scheduled for about 3 weeks away.  I was in such pain that Tylenol 3 and Darvocet didn't do anything to relieve it.  I went to my gyn on a Friday to request better pain medication and he prescribed Vicodin extra strength.  On Monday his office called to tell me that they had re-scheduled my surgery for that Thursday.  My gyn saw how badly I was doing and called the oncologist (who was going out of town for 2 weeks that coming Friday) and got the surgery moved.

It turned out that the mass was an abcess (abscess) and my bowel and bladder were also fused to everything else because of the infection.  I had a total hysterectomy; uterus, cervix, tubes, and ovaries were all involved.

It was a hard first week of recovery, considerable pain and my bowels were not working.  They did not have to remove any bowel but they did remove tissue from the outside of it that was infected.  I still have a suprapubic catheter (going through my abdomen into my bladder) that will be removed next week.  This s to give my bladder time to heal.

I was so scared and know that any other woman would be.  Don't delay in taking action and keep looking for answers.  In my case, the same symptoms as cancer WAS NOT cancer.

Pamela

[akg]

Dear Pam,
thank you very much for sharing your story. The bottom line is that most things are not cancer but pain is not normal and can be a very serious problem such as an infection.
I am glad that you are alright.
best wishes