CA 125 Normal, going for lap for 'complex cyst'

[Lauriette]

Hi

I'm learning but still confused. THis is my story. My mother, who is 74, is very ill with Ovarian Cancer (it was malignant and the size of an eggplant), undergoing chemo etc.

I am 47 years old, have MS, but am in otherwise good health. They said as a "normal" screening I should have a vag sonogram and this indicated a cyst. He said "a cyst" and proceeded to go for a 2nd one. He also did the CA 125. That was normal, no cancer cells. The cyst grew slightly and he is now calling it a "complex" cyst and wants to do a lap and because of my age is removing my right ovary. He scared me because he said "parts of the cyst are thicker than other parts which could mean a malignancy and if so a complete hysterectomy"

?
I guess I need reassurance. I've never had a irregular period, a bad pap, or any other gynocological problems and I assume he is being conservative and preparing me for the worst scenario. Because of this, I am converned I will have an MS attack and trying to say calm, but seeing my mother die in front of my eyes is scary as hell. She says "have everything removed" and even though we have no children and plan not to, I think that is radical and worry about hormones.

Please help by sharing your experience, strength and courage.

Peace
laurie

[Lauriette]

thanks for your detailed response.  I also heard that pre menopausal women are generally "cystic" and I recently had a cyst on my leg removed (that i had since high school that got REALLY BIG and required surgery) and I have cystic breasts.

It's scary though and I appreciate your response. Good luck. I think it's the right thing to do, just having one ovary removed and doing a "Wait and See"
and THAT must lower the chances yes? Pray that this is a benign situation.

ANd I know I know, but it IS a good sign about the CA125 right? Better a negative than a positive?

peace
laurie

[Maritime Girl]

Hey ladies!
Its me i just wanted to comment on the CA-125 and some of the symtoms.  I finally got in the Gyno and was quite impressed with her knowledge and study in the area of OVCA, she told me my cysts was septated which is two cyst fused together on side complex and the other fluid, not a dermoid as my family doctor previous describe, and that when the radiologists screen fro OVCA that the have 10 critera, that being shape,the thicksness of the septation or wall between the two, and I can't remeber the rest only that she said other then the fact that Im 44 Ihave none of the 10 criteria. But she was sending me for the CA125 and a few more test including one for colon cancer, and thyroid.  I can tell you that I felt pretty good about things when I left her office on Wed but when I went for the test this moring it hit me like a ton of bricks that this could be it. I broke down outside the blood lab But she called me a 3 oclock I was at Costco shoping and siad my resluts were back i thought "game over" and she said everything came back normal ca was low.  Shea also told me that false postives were extremely rare. I want to tell you I tried real har to fight back tears i felt like i won a million Bucks!! She also exmaed me and siad she could not feel the cyst so its either shrinking or not growing.  So i go for another US 1st part of jan and if its not gone she will do lap and remove ovary and cyst to prevent roccurenc.  I'm not sure how my smytoms will go but I can tell you that my nerves in the last 2 weeks I have had more symtoms then a I don't know what. But since i got the call I feel pretty good. So well see how it goes maybe a few days of worry pas and r and r will do wonders. I know its so easy to tell someone not to worry, but unless your there you have no idea how hard it is NOt to worry. And I beleive its the stress that make everything worse, also if the gyno goes through everything with you thoroughly and takes the time out of thier busy day to call you the minute they hear and give you the good news ( which most wont) not just the bad news they are worth hanging on to. May god bless her!!  Hang in there were all going to be ok!!  I'll keep you guys posted after the holidays about surgery in the mean time God bless you all this holiday season and I pray you get favourable out comes or even just good test results(it really makes a diff) before xmas so you don't have to carry this burden throught out the holidays.  Merry Christmas from Atlantic Canada (hence the nickname maritime girl) Thanks for everyones comments and I'll keep checking on yougys from time to time, and I'm sure I'll have more questions as time goes on.