Aa
Can postmenopausal cysts twist?
Does anyone know? I have my growing cyst, now 5.7cm. Heard of someone whose postmenopausal cyst twisted. She ended up with an op with everything out - though I don't quite understand why. (That is I do understand about the cyst and perhaps the ovary, but why everything else?) Anyway, I have so far regarded my cyst with a mixture of nonchanlance and a niggle and an irritation how long it's being tracked for (over a year now) - and now it appears to be growing. But nothing happened suddenly. Then now this. I have no idea if my cyst is on a 'stalk' as it were, have never thought of it though I have seen the pictures. And then of course I basically find it all tedious(assuming I am in the 97% club - I am post menopausal so my malignancy chances are marginally higher), and a bit scary, but now I may have to get my head round at least the theoretical possibility of it twisting and becoming an emergency? So what brought this on? Well, trivially enough (compared to most stuff on this site) my travel insurance is due and what exactly do I say?
Waiting for over a year was MY choice - and it was offered freely. Eg if I had been worried they would have had it out there and then - almost. I just don't want unnecessary ops - but that is MY choice and I wouldn't lay such a decision on anyone else - in these circs I think we have to go with what feels right for each and everyone of us. And of course in the end I may well end up with an op anyway, unless my cyst obliges and goes away.
I am aware you can have benigh cysts larger than 10cm - what I referred to was somewhere re postmenopausal cysts where some (that otherwise looked OK) were left, safely until 10 cm. It is some big US studt I found on the net. But at that point my eyes do bulge: How on earth could they get something that large out through a laparoscopic hole????? I think they draw the line at 8cm. I have had a lap before for infertility investigations - my scar is approx 2-2.5cm, no more. How would you get a 5.7 cm cyst out through that? I will ask when I see the gynonc.
I will also ask all the quenstions - and if adviced to do more I will certainly listen carefully!!!! I wouldn't refuse more if that's adviced. So far it hasn't been, just offered.
By the way ShawnP - I am sorry if I sund defencive (and I suppose I am a bit of my body): What you have said and adviced I have really valued!!!! And I am certainly bearing it in mind! I don't want your situation!
I am aware you can have benigh cysts larger than 10cm - what I referred to was somewhere re postmenopausal cysts where some (that otherwise looked OK) were left, safely until 10 cm. It is some big US studt I found on the net. But at that point my eyes do bulge: How on earth could they get something that large out through a laparoscopic hole????? I think they draw the line at 8cm. I have had a lap before for infertility investigations - my scar is approx 2-2.5cm, no more. How would you get a 5.7 cm cyst out through that? I will ask when I see the gynonc.
I will also ask all the quenstions - and if adviced to do more I will certainly listen carefully!!!! I wouldn't refuse more if that's adviced. So far it hasn't been, just offered.
By the way ShawnP - I am sorry if I sund defencive (and I suppose I am a bit of my body): What you have said and adviced I have really valued!!!! And I am certainly bearing it in mind! I don't want your situation!
You can have a benign cyst much larger than 10 cms. Size does not correlate with malignancy above 5 cms.
Anna x
Anna x
You know at first I thought why are they removing a healthy womb, and surely taking out the omentum is the equivalent of a sledgehammer to crack a nut? I was being quite defensive about it.
However having talked to the gyn/onc about all the possibilites, the bottom line is I would hate it for my womb and omentum to become diseased and so am relaxed about the course of action they are taking. Prevention is so much better than cure. Like you Shawn I too cannot do too much for fear of getting the pains - they are so debilitating.
The first tumour they removed 16 years ago, although of low malignancy potential, did destroy my ovary (the pathology could find no ovarian tissue).
Benign tumours can cause a lot of damage. I have other pelvic organs such as my colon and bladder that I need more than my reproductive organs.
These are the conclusions that I have come to and I am happy to proceed with the surgery. It's the outcome of that, that is now my main worry.
But Aquinnah, if you can wait for over a year, then I can wait a few weeks.
xx
However having talked to the gyn/onc about all the possibilites, the bottom line is I would hate it for my womb and omentum to become diseased and so am relaxed about the course of action they are taking. Prevention is so much better than cure. Like you Shawn I too cannot do too much for fear of getting the pains - they are so debilitating.
The first tumour they removed 16 years ago, although of low malignancy potential, did destroy my ovary (the pathology could find no ovarian tissue).
Benign tumours can cause a lot of damage. I have other pelvic organs such as my colon and bladder that I need more than my reproductive organs.
These are the conclusions that I have come to and I am happy to proceed with the surgery. It's the outcome of that, that is now my main worry.
But Aquinnah, if you can wait for over a year, then I can wait a few weeks.
xx
I am sorry to hear about your troubles! And wishing you the best with your surgery. Was it on the 12th?
Yes, you're right about size and all that. At present I don't have that problem - though some mild discomfort - but would I notice it if I wasn't aware of my cyst? After all, after a life time of period pains and mittelschmertz what's a little discomfort in that area. Or could it be wind? (No, I don't actually think it is, I think it's the cyst). I have certainly thought that I don't want a cyst that's causing me pain, and I don't want it above a certain size as it increases the chances of needing a laparotomy, as you say. If before October my discomfort became something akin to pain I would certainly contact the specialist, but if all carries on as now, I would rather wait - it took many months for my cyst to grow from something less than 5 cm (something like 4.5cm to 5.7) and if I go too soon so little may have changed that there may be more of a wait. At one point last year it seemed to have shrunk if anything. I can now only assume it was the angle of the US photo or something. Also, unlike yours it isn't complex, 'has no worrying features'. And there is research over you side on the Atlantic that suggest you can have benigh cyst up to 10cm - though I certainly don't want to wait that long!!!!! I read somewhere that up to 8cm they can do a lap, after that it's laparotomy. I suppose both the specialist and I hope that it will have gone by October........
Yes, you're right about size and all that. At present I don't have that problem - though some mild discomfort - but would I notice it if I wasn't aware of my cyst? After all, after a life time of period pains and mittelschmertz what's a little discomfort in that area. Or could it be wind? (No, I don't actually think it is, I think it's the cyst). I have certainly thought that I don't want a cyst that's causing me pain, and I don't want it above a certain size as it increases the chances of needing a laparotomy, as you say. If before October my discomfort became something akin to pain I would certainly contact the specialist, but if all carries on as now, I would rather wait - it took many months for my cyst to grow from something less than 5 cm (something like 4.5cm to 5.7) and if I go too soon so little may have changed that there may be more of a wait. At one point last year it seemed to have shrunk if anything. I can now only assume it was the angle of the US photo or something. Also, unlike yours it isn't complex, 'has no worrying features'. And there is research over you side on the Atlantic that suggest you can have benigh cyst up to 10cm - though I certainly don't want to wait that long!!!!! I read somewhere that up to 8cm they can do a lap, after that it's laparotomy. I suppose both the specialist and I hope that it will have gone by October........
I am having a laperotomy (vertical incision) to remove both ovaries. I have a large complex cystic lesion on my right ovary and due to my age and history of fibroids and the usual symptoms, my gyn and gyn/onc recommend surgery. I am all for it since over the last 2 months I have been pain and the last few weeks it's gotten worse. My activities are down to nothing since my back and leg hurt so much. It's been quite frustating. I just would hate for you to end up in too much pain down the road and you could have just the one ovary taken out. Let me know what your plans are and I'll be here to chat.
Best of Luck...
Shawn from Texas
Best of Luck...
Shawn from Texas
If you have both ovaries then you could get one removed - the other ovary will still function. What explanation did you get about the bleeding?
The RCOG guidelines for postmenopausal women presenting with cysts are very good (it was thought that I was postmenopausal so I read up on them). It seems that you are being treated in accordance to these guidelines. Although I think they use them for women who are perimenopause like myself (well basically anyone over 40).
Only 6% of postmenopausal women get cysts on their ovaries and a good portion of those fall into the RMI index that you are on i.e. wait and watch.
I suppose the concern would be that if you opted for surgery you might awake with everything removed, but they can only remove what you sign for.
You are understandably anxious - when I read the guidelines I did think that it must be worrying to be on a wait and watch for a year and then have to go back up to the top (visualising the diagram here) to be reassessed again.
Take care.
The RCOG guidelines for postmenopausal women presenting with cysts are very good (it was thought that I was postmenopausal so I read up on them). It seems that you are being treated in accordance to these guidelines. Although I think they use them for women who are perimenopause like myself (well basically anyone over 40).
Only 6% of postmenopausal women get cysts on their ovaries and a good portion of those fall into the RMI index that you are on i.e. wait and watch.
I suppose the concern would be that if you opted for surgery you might awake with everything removed, but they can only remove what you sign for.
You are understandably anxious - when I read the guidelines I did think that it must be worrying to be on a wait and watch for a year and then have to go back up to the top (visualising the diagram here) to be reassessed again.
Take care.
Yes, it was discovered during an ultrasound for bleeding over a year ago. I'm 57 now, so it's definitely postmenopausal. I am under a gynonc for it. I think we both hoped it would have gone at my approx 12 month checkup and that that checkup would be the final one, but instead it had started to grow to now above 5cm. I am seeing him again + an ultrasound in October. Apart form size it looks benign. I was offered to have it removed if it made me worried to 'keep' it when first discovered, but opted to'keep' on the assumption they tend to resolve naturally. This was after the gynonc had triaged me and come to the conclusion that the possibility of Ca was very small (my Ca125 was normal). Reading about it, ovaries can have positive benefits even at my age - seems to help prevent heart disease and I have heard something about increased chances of Alzheimers if you have them removed, so though I would abxolutely take it out if either is developed any kind of suspicious features or if it just got bigger, it hasn't been something I wanted to rush into.
Thanks for your comments and your sympathy!! Yes, it was a wobbly moment when what I though would have come to an end, sort of continued - or shot back up to the start of the RCOG guidleines (I know them well!! I have studied them many times!) And as you say, the likelyhood of a nasty is small. The bleeding was sorted - it happened again so I was sent for a hysteroscopy last September and that came back all clear. And no bleeding since. At present I am worrying - probably more than the situation warrants and more than is good for my own comfort. I don't want to go back to the gynonc before October, because I suspect it will be pointless - to be sure of a change it needs time. And if I have any worries in the meantime I have been invited to contact.I did that once before, a year ago (how time passes!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and was given a speedy appointment to sort out what was then a real anxiety. I am being treated exactly along the RCOG guidelines, and I find that rather reassuring!
sorry, missed your last question. yes, I am from the UK, with a very elderly mother in North Sweden and visiting soon. anyway, we have decided my husband will sort the travel insurance, so I don't need to worry about it.
by the way, best of luck on the 12th - what exactly are you having done? A lap or the full works?
by the way, best of luck on the 12th - what exactly are you having done? A lap or the full works?
From what I understand a cyst can twist around and cause more problems and if your menopausal, most just go ahead and have it all removed since they are being operated on anyway. Have you had Ultrasound or CT scan of your growth? If it's growing it definitly needs to be addressed especially if you are over 45. I'm only 41 and my gyn is "going in" on the 12th because of my age and my history of fibroids. I had a hyst years ago leaving my ovaries in due to being so young. I too have had a nagging pain for about a year but, recently has turned into all kinds of issues requiring surgery. I think it would be best to get it checked out. As for travel insurance, are you overseas???
Shawn
Shawn
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Ovarian Cancer Community
Learn how to spot the warning signs of this “silent killer.”
Diet and digestion have more to do with cancer prevention than you may realize
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
