Curious about Ovarian Cancer

[bearx2]

Hi Ladies.  I am 33 y/o.  I post a lot on the Ovarian Cyst community.  I have a 10cm ovarian tumor which i'm having removed along with my left ovary and my left tube on the 24th.  I realize that i am not considered high risk for ovarian cancer, but the concern is there.  My dr has not ruled that out and said she will be testing it after removed to be sure.  I have had a lot of weird symptoms lately, most of which (all by heredity) follow symptoms of ovarian cancer.  I thought i'd ask anyone out there who may know, if you have a swollen lymphnode in your groin area, would you be able to feel it from the outside?  if so, where?  The reason i ask is that i have a lump on my groin next to my "v" in the crease between my leg and my "v".  it's small, but i noticed it.  i thought at first that it might just be a clogged pore or somethin (if that even happens), but the more i think about it...i wonder if it could be a lymph node.  

is that where it would be?  if so, is this something i need to have my dr check soon?  just curious.

thank you for your help.  :)  God Bless.

[nyc lady]

The symptoms of ovarian cancer are bloating, fatigue, change in urination/bowel patterns, feeling of fullness, gas.....but there are many women that do not ever have symptoms....I am lucky, an early stage survivor and that is only because my GYN was wise enough to send me to a GYN/Oncologist....please....if cancer is suspected and your doctor mentioned it....you MUST get to the experts...remember this is your life not your doctors!!!!!  Yes you are young, and chances are it is not cancer, but, if it is, you owe it to yourself and your family to be seen by the expert....as Cindy said....you get one chance to do it right....don't screw up that one chance....and in the end if it is benign....well, either way you were having surgery, but, it was done by a GYN/Oncologist...nothing lost there!!!!  PLEASE, PLEASE....no one is trying to scare you, we want to help you.
The average delay in diagnosing OvCa when first presenting to a doctor is between 3 and 12 months....because it is often mis-diagnosed...doctors do not know enough about this disease...listen to those that have lived through it and living with it.  Fight for yourself!!!!
Best of luck,
Pam

[bearx2]

Cindy, you're the best.  I really appreciate it.  I will print this and take it with me.  

What kind of symptoms did you have?  Do you mind if I ask?  :)

[Cindy809]

Hello it's me again, Cindy ... First let me say when it comes to cancer your doctor is not serious enough and you are not overly cautious. You are reacting to what SHE said to you.   I'm sure she is well respected in her field but not in the field of oncology.  When I was your age (I hate starting out that way) anyway, when I was your age I knew nothing about ovarian cancer.  I am still learning everyday.  I went for my yearly paps, exams and thought everything was okay.  One day when I was 48 I woke up with full blown Ovarian Cancer.  There is not enough information out there to help young women like you.   I have no family history (repeating myself).  You sound so sweet and I have a daughter about the same age.  She only knows about ovca because of me.  Your doctor sounds more like a family friend and it also sounds like you do not want to disrespect her.  I understand that completely.  I went to your profile and there are many things happening with your body.  I am truly concerned.  On another forum that I visit there are four women in their thirties that I correspond with that are dealing with this disease.  Looking back at my disease, I started having symptoms when I was in my mid thirties.  I ignored them.  I thought it was just my period and my paps were clear so I moved on with my life.  Unaware of the dangers of Ovca.  I also fooled myself  by saying that their is no family history.  Your mother is a nurse.  She will give you good sound advise.  She loves you. The respect you both have and the communities respect your doctor has from everyone, has nothing to do with your health.  Health professionals should direct their patients to move on to a specialist when it is out of their field.  Gyn oncologists have to go to school for 3 more years than your doctor.  Too many times mistakes are made!  Do you want to ask a year from now "What If?"  I had one bad experience with a nurse after my first surgery that said "How could this happen, didn't you get your yearly pap smears?"  I was so upset because she was a professional.  That is around the time I  became pro active with my health care.  I went and researched everything!  Your doctor sounds very nice and you are comfortable with her.  This talk she gave about the possiblity of cancer and then say the opposite about not being a high risk due to family history is where I have difficulty accepting.  No family history is not a test for ovca.  Is there anyway you could copy and past this whole thread and bring it to her?  I wish you the best.  Wouldn't it be nice to be in the hands of a qualified gyn onc when you open your eyes and he/she says "It is not cancer".  Another thought for your doctor is to do a biopsy.  A CT scan or a PetCT would also be a good way to rule out cancer.  Don't let her open you up before you have all the testing done.  That could clear things up without the fear going into surgery if you decide she's the one to do the surgery.  This disease can be cured if caught early!  Your doctor could be the one to save your life by giving you better advise to get a second opinion with a gyn onc.    Best wishes and prayers ...Cindy

[bearx2]

Excellent advice from all of you.  I called my dr earlier to see what she had to say about doing a CA-125 test.  She said, the levels are probably elevated due to the tumor and then she said even if they are elevated, she would do the surgery the same way.  She said that the results of that test won't change the type of surgery she will do.  I'm so upset now, I don't know what to do.  I'm kind of freaking out.  I don't want to make a wrong move here.  My dr said that she's not terribly concerned w/ cancer, but it's always a possibility.  I would rather err on the side of caution.  She is a very good dr and is very well respected in my community.  Has been my dr for years as well as my mom's dr and my sis in law's dr.  Again, she is well respected so i tend to trust her, but I have to wonder if she's taking this seriously enough or if i'm just being overly cautious.  :)  

I so much appreciate the candid advice i'm recving here.  Thank you ladies.  You are all wise from your experience!!!!   I have a call in to my mom (who is a nurse) to see what she things.  :)  Any more advice is welcome!!!

[Cindy809]

Thank you!!!  I was hoping that someone with a similiar situation would post.  Bearx2, please have a gyn onc's opinion!!!  Ireneo's doctor had one available.  Praying for you ....Cindy

[ireneo]

The women here know about ovarian cancer so take their words to heart. They're not out to scare you at all but to inform you and they do it well. Even when I had my 10 cm "cyst" taken out, my doctor made sure the onc was on hand. I didn't like to hear that but I'm glad she was being careful. Also, she did bag my cyst and all before she removed it so it wouldn't spread any contents into my abdomen.

These are just a few things to ask your doctor when you go for your appt. before surgery.

[Cindy809]

Hello again .... I have a lot of experience with this disease.  Read my profile.  If you have any medical questions, please go to ovarian expert forum.  There is a link to it down to the right of this page.  Ovarian Cancer does not run in my family!!!!  Most of the ladies that I have met since I was diagnosed had no history of ovarian cancer in their family.  I have met many!  My intention was to make you aware of what might be going in inside of your body.  Your doctor is NOT qualified to determine whether or not you have cancer if she suspects that you do!!!  I cannot make that any clearer.  You have one chance to get this right if you have ovarian cancer.  The first surgery should be done by a gyn oncologist because if it is cancer he will have to do a debulking surgery and check to see if the cancer has spread.  This is a very serious disease!!!  To answer your question, if the tumor is not cancer...nothing else to do but take care of yourself post surgery.  If it is cancer, chemotherapy will follow to clear up microscopic disease.  I can't imagine a doctor telling someone they might have cancer and that they will tell you after the surgery.  She is not an oncologist !! Do you know how many gyn oncologists clean up botched surgeries by physicians that are not qualified for cancer.  Ovarian cancer especially due to the extensive surgery needed.  Please take this seriously.  I only say that because your doctor doesn't seem informed.  She put the concern about cancer out there.  Why?  I'm not trying to scare you into anything.  I'm trying to help you only from the information you are giving me.  Your doctor should be the one telling you these things.  It is nonsense to say that their is a concern about ovarian cancer and at the same time determine that you are not a high risk due to family history without the proper testing before the surgery?  Are there any tests scheduled?  She cannot wait to see after she takes the tumor out without a gyn oncologist!!!  Is this doctor for real?  Again, I strongly advise you to get a second opinion with a gyn oncologist.  Tell him/her what your doctor has suggested.  Then you will have the proper care!  What do you have to lose?   You only gain.  Even if their is the slightest indication of cancer, precautions should be taken.  If she takes the tumor out and it is cancer then it might spread and the second surgery would take time because you would have to recover from the first.  During that time if the tumor was cancer all the cancer missed by your doctor could spread.  It could delay chemo.  If it is confined just to the ovary it is very important that it does not burst if it is cancer.  It could be early stage if confined to the ovary and cured with the proper care and the skill of a qualified gyn oncologist.  Your doctor put the cancer concern out there, now it is up to you to be an advocate for your health.  It is your body!  You are a young person!!!  Please take care of yourself and don't rely on one opinion!  God Bless you....Cindy

[bearx2]

Thank you ladies.  I have an appiontment with the Doctor on the 19th of this month.  I will be sure to express my concerns.  (that's a week from yesterday, is that to long?).  

This leads me to another question......when they remove the tumor/ovary and tube, that would take care of it right?  weather it's cancer or not?  I'm sorry, i don't mean to sound uneducated on this, but I am.  :)

Thanks for all of your advice.  FYI...the doctor said that she really wasn't concerned about cancer because it doesn't run in my family, but she will be testing it to be sure and then if it is, take appropriate action.   I understand that if it doesn't run in your family, the risk is very low?  is that right?  but like I said, i have many of the symptoms.  :)

[Cindy809]

Hello ... I am concerned about what your doctor thinks about not ruling out cancer.  I was not a high risk for ovca either.  My gyn referred me immediately to a gyn oncologist when he thought I had cancer.  I don't want to upset you but if your doctor has mentioned that cancer is a concern, then I would react.  Has she done any testing for ovca?  A Ca125 blood test?  Sometimes not very reliable but a place to start.  Has she ordered any scans?  A petct or a ct scan?  If the thought crossed her mind that she suspects cancer, why hasn't she done any of the appropriate steps?  Any doctor that suspects cancer should refer one to a specialist oncologist.  If it were me, I'd have a gyn oncologist give you a second opinion.  Your gyn can get the ball rolling.    It might not be cancer but why take the chance?  Did she give you any reasons why she suspects cancer?  With this disease the first surgery is the most important!!!!!  Anyone here at the forum will tell you that.  I think some testing and scans should be done first to determine what is going on.  Then the next step should be taken.  Surgery with a doctor (who doesn't rule out cancer) that is not qualified for cancer without a gyn oncologist is not a good idea!  Hope this helps.....Cindy

[Janet535]

Hi there,

I would strongly suggest you mention this to your Doctor and him/her check it out, sooner rather than later. It could very well be nothing to worry about but I would err on the side of caution.

I have had swollen lymph nodes in the same area as you described. And I could feel them. In my case, it felt like 3 tiny little hard lumps each about the size of a pea. They did however become so large that they protruded and were easily visable.    

Wishing you all the best with your surgery and a speedy recovery.... Janet

[bearx2]

i meant all BUT heredity are the symptoms.  Sorry.  :)