Scared I have cancer from ovarian cyst!

[pokabelly]

I am so scared now. I wasn't too worried before when I found out a week & 1/2 ago that I have 4cm complex cyst on my left ovary. Radiologist said re-check in 12 weeks with ultrasound but my regular doctor (not a gynecologist- just regular doctor) said lets do in 6 to 8 weeks. Anyway, he calls me today and says he doesn't want to wait and wants me to go to a specialist that knows what he is doing and deals with ovaries, etc all the time which I found out is a  gyn/onc. He said he did not like that fact that the radiologist had wrote down complex cyst on report as it sends out a red flag! I am scared to death now I have cancer and that is why he wants me to go to this dr. Why else would he want me to go right away to this kind of dr? I have not had any blood tests done or anything like that...All my family says he just is covering his behind as he is reg dr. and may not really know wwhat he is looking at. I am 35 with no history in family of cancer (just my 1 aunt had sinus cancer) so I am sure the chances are lower but how many of you have had complex cyst and it was NOT cancer. I am a wreak now. Crying and everything. Please help. Thanks :)

[pokabelly]

Thanks :) I have been trying to keep myself busy which seems to help. I don't think too much about it then. At night though I keep dreaming all night about the big C. Ugh. I thought 1st he wanted me to go right away because he thinks it is cancer but then was thinking more about it. I have been going to him for a very long time and he really likes our family and I think just wants to make sure and does not want to wait in case there is something not that he definately thinks there is something. Anyway, I think I have to believe that or I would just lose it otherwise. Well I just want to say Happy Mother's Day to everyone for tomorrow!

[crecco]

  The other girls have given you good advice. I know that something like this all of a sudden is very scary, but it sounds as though you have a great Dr who does not want to take any chances. For that you are very lucky as many girls who do have cancer end up waiting months for it to be diagnosed while they are treated for other ailments or their Dr just does not think of cancer. Granted, waiting is very hard, but try to calm down and keep yourself busy so you don't think about it so much. Chances are everything will turn out just fine.
      Chris

[pokabelly]

Thank you to everyone. I appreciate all your comments :) It makes you feel better to have someone to talk to as no one I know in my family has ever gone through this.

[gah_70]

There is some discrepancy in the percentage said to be benign/malignant.  I have seen numbers ranging anywhere from 85% to 95% are benign.  But still, the odds are in your favor.  Complex means it has solid as well as liquid properties to it.  It does not, however, mean it is absolutely malignant.  I think the GYN/ONC is a good call because you want the best you can get.  You are much better off getting information from someone who does this sort of thing every day.  Best wishes to you.  I know it is really scary to think about such things, but take a deep breath and try to relax.  Feel good knowing you will be seeing a good doc!

Gail

[Tybear]

I know your worried but you should be happy that your doctor wants to take care of this now - and especially that he's sending you to a gyne/oncologist to do the surgery. It does not mean that you have cancer or that your doctor thinks you have cancer. When I was first told that I had some tumors in my stomach (yes, they even called them tumors and I didn't once think it would be cancer!) I met with a gyne surgeon who told me he would do the surgery, but would be much happier if I would go to a gyne/onc "just incase" it was more than he could handle. I was kind of mad ( I didn't want to go have my surgery at a hospital 2 hours away!) but I respected that he cared enough to want the very best care for me.
I tried to Google some stat's for you and from what I read about complex cysts, I got anywhere from 85-95% chance that they are benign. Those are pretty great odds...
Surgery is scary but a necessary evil, I suppose. It wasn't so bad for me, but I had pretty good pain meds :)
Aren't you glad they aren't waiting to do surgery?
I hope we can ease your fears a little...
Becky

[pokabelly]

Thanks I am trying to stay calm it is just scary that at first he says wait 6-8 weeks then all the sudden he calls and says to go to specialist and not even just gyn but a cancer gyn because it is complex! Does anyone know the % of these things that are benign?

[gls2824]

Your doctor is doing the right thing.  Go to the experts and set your mind at ease.  The odds are it's nothing, but isn't it better to know absolutely?

Just remember the majority of these are benign.  Good luck!

[ravewaker]

Hi, I feel for you and how worried you must be.  If it's any consolation to you at all, I had a large mass discovered on my ovary 15 yrs ago.  I had surgery to remove it 4 days later, and it was a benign, fluid-filled ovarian cyst.  It weighed 5 lbs and was the size of a soccer ball.  Surgery isn't the most pleasant thing in the world, but they gave me good meds (morphine) for the pain during my 3 day stay in the hospital.  And afterwards the standard pain meds like lortab, work well.  I don't recall much of my recovery period, as I was well medicated.  I don't recall having much pain either.  I know I was up and about mountain biking within 6 weeks of my surgery. So rest assured that the Drs. will take good care of you, and surgical examination and/or recommendations from a gynecological oncologist is really the best route you can go for the most proper care.  Take care and let us know how you're doing! -ravewaker

[pokabelly]

Hi, thanks :) how did they remove your cyst? I am guessing yours was a complex? It was actually a surprise to me that mine was even complex because when I had my us done there was a black egg shaped thing on the screen and I asked what it was and the girl doing the test said it was a cyst. Then later I saw a whitish grey area with like lines that looked liked veins or fingers on it and she said that was my ovary. Never anything about a weird cyst. I have never had any kind of operation before and am scared to death of that as well. I am glad to hear yours was benign.

[ireneo]

I don't know if he's "covering his behind" as you put it. He's actually doing you a favor to send you to a specialist. Your regular doctor doesn't want to just guess and make a mistake. A gyn/onc is the best person to handle this. I had a 10 cm cyst removed last year and there was an oncologist on hand. The thought made me nervous but at least I knew they were prepared for any situation. Mine turned out completely benign.

There are many forms of complex cysts and most are benign. The hardest part for you right now is the waiting and not knowing. Go forward with the testing. That's the only way you'll get peace of mind. Wishing you only good news.