Can you still have ovarian cancer with a negative ultrasound

[fxmom]

I am concerned about symptoms I have been having since Sept. 2009.  I am 45 y.o. and went thru early onset menopause.  I completely stopped having periods at 42 y.o. In Sep I started having severe pain in my lower rt. abdom/pelvic area then spotting and bleeding with lots of cramping, also swollen stomach.  Went to gyno and he put me on antiobiotics went back 5 days later for transvag. ultrasound which he said looked great uterus 4mm thick no masses.  The pain had greatly reduced so i figured it was done.  3 wks later, pain started again with spotting went back, antibiotics again, he thought maybe appendix. Told him I can't even button my pants. He said go to ER if it gets bad and do CT scan otherwise back in 2 wks. for another TVU (which he said looked great again).  I told him the pain is back and I think something is wrong he said I need to see Gastro for IBS or Diverticulitis.  I asked him if those 2 conditions could cause post meno bleeding and he said they shouldn't, but....... The only blood work he did was to check for appendix infection...... Now I am at the point where even the right side of my tailbone really hurts and I can hardly sit for very long, I feel like I have the flu every day and I am losing my appetite.
Can you still have ovarian cancer if you have a neg. TVU?
Should I be asking for a CA125 or anything else?
Can the stomach swelling, pelvic pain, etc. vary in intensity with ovarian cancer?  
Any info would be very appreciated. I am mommy to 2 special needs little boys and really need to be here for them...

[gammy7]

A related discussion, detemined was started.

[jennerfennerbenner]

I'ma very interested in the results of this also.  So sorry you are going thru his

[lvfrogs]

I would definitely stay on top of this, let us know what the abdominal CT shows. Fxmom is right, don't rely on one test and keep pushing for answers. I am also sorry that you are suffering in pain. I hope you get answers soon and please post and let us know!

[fxmom]

I'm sorry to hear you are in so much pain.  I will be praying for you and hope you get some answers tomorrow.  Please keep us updated. The advice I've learned from these great ladies on here, it's to keep pushing for answers and don't rely on any one test as it seems that they can be hit and miss as far as detection.  You know your body better than anyone...

[nikkie080601]

hello everyone....im 30 years old...i have two children (8yrs,3yrs) since the beginning of december, I have had horrible pelvic pain..i went to my gyn, she did an ultrasound and she said i had a ruptured ovarian cyst but everything else looked normal...a week later, my abdomen began to swell and i looked like i was 7 months preg..since i was still in pain, i went back to her and she ordered a pelvic and abdominal ct..the pelvic ct was normal, i couldnt have the abdominal ct bc it was denied by my ins co bc i didnt get enough of a GI workup first...so, my gyn referred me to a GI spec. I have pretty normal periods. However, I havent had my period since 11/25/09...I had some light spotting the week of 12/15/09 but that was all...nothing since..i took a preg test two weeks ago and it was neg...my stomach is still swollen and i get asked all the time when im due..i cant wear any of my clothes....i asked my gyn about ovca but she said it was highly unlikely that i have it bc my pelvic ct and ultrasound were normal...i got a call today from gyn and they let me know that my abdominal ct was finally approved by my ins co...i have my ct scheduled for tomorrow morning..i also have a follow up with my gyn as well tomorrow and an appt with a GI spec on friday...im just curious to see what they will find...i dont feel my problem is related to GI issues since my pain is in the pelvic area...i dont have pain anywhere else....my stomach doesnt hurt, it just huge and its hard to breathe and eating is very difficult too...ive lost about 16 lbs in a little over 3 weeks bc i am unable to eat...my fiance also wont have sex with me bc it makes the pain much worse....if anyone has any suggestions, i would really appreciate it...thank you!

[fxmom]

Hi everyone,
Just wanted to update. Went to the gastro...he doesn't think it's a GI issue but wants to do a colonoscopy end of Jan. He still suspected it could be appendix even though  CT scan didn't show it.  He said he thought the pain might be a musculo-skeletal issue, I couldn't believe it, I asked him if that generally caused post menopausal bleeding.  I think he realized that sounded a little silly and said I may end up back at the gyno...so Colleen I think we may be in the same boat.  Colleen, I noticed your sign on is "lv" frogs.  If that's your locale, I'm an "lv" gal too!  Maybe we're getting the run around from the same docs!, LOL
I will keep pressing forward with this, but if the pain doesn't stop in the next couple of weeks I'm gonna push the gastro to remove my appendix and take  look around while he's in there...
In the meantime, hope everyone has a blessed and Happy New Year!

[lvfrogs]

To fxmom,
Please be persistant. We know our own bodies better than anybody else and we know when something is wrong. I have been battling my doctors for over 2 years, gyn and gastro - each saying it is the other's problem. In the meantime, I have all these symptoms, pain, fatigue, bloating, urinary, etc. and no one will do anything. I am finally scheduled for a hysterectomy in January, insurance willing, and also a standby doctor for my intestines. It took me this long to convince them!! All ultrasounds showed small cyst, little bit of free fluid, enlarged uterus and large endometrial stripe and with all my symptoms, they still didn't want to do anything.  So please stay on top of this and get answers!! It is hard but you can do it.
Let us know,
Colleen

[fxmom]

Thank you all so much for your information and support=0).  I had my CT scan on 12/24.  (did oral barium drink and had IV contrast) the report said
as far as Abdomen: no kidney stones, gallstones, pancreatic masses, duct dilatation.  No organomegaly.
As far as Pelvis: No adnexal mass cystic lesion or fluid collection. Appendix not grossly thickened, No evidence of significant inflammatory process.  In lower pelvis a few scattered small calcifications. No definite radiodense stones along expected course of the distal ureters nor within the bladder.

Don't know what it all really means except that little was found.  I googled pelvic calcifications and don't think they should cause post menopausal bleeding or this much pain?  Pain is now in my right vaginal area, right tailbone, right hip and right thigh
I am going to see a Gastroenterologist tom. and will take my CT report with me....hope I can find something out, this is wearing me down.
I am going to take a list of questions and tests, etc I should be requesting...will update when i know more.  Thanks again

[manneca]

I too had a transvaginal ultrasound that didn't show a 7.5 pound tumor that was 10 inches by 8 inches. I had several pelvic exams that didn't show anything either. My tumor only showed up on the ultrasound. Ovarian cancer is rare (really) and so lots of doctors have no experience with it. Get a second opinion. If you are can see an gynecological oncologist that might be great, too.

[wannasmile63]

The doctors didn't seem to find anything to out of the ordinary during my pelvic exam, but I don't know if that was due to me not having uterus or cervix already. Generally the pain was always on the right side, but towards the end ( or I should say before surgery) the pain was very severe and radiated to my right hip and middle lower back. After surgery the doctors were suprised I didn't have pain in the left side as apparently my left ovary was in very bad condition, but I probably had more adhesions and scar problems on right, that contributed to pain. Ask for every test possible. Good luck, I'm sure as long as you are armed with information, you will be able to get the right answers, take care,
Maurita

[MercyJ]

Always good to get another opinion from a gyn/ oncologist
Karen

[mart_amer]

hi, in general CT is more specific than ultrasound, but not any doctor can read it, and sometimes thing are too small to be visible on CT, so blood test are important. anyway what you said seems good, I think if there is something it should be visible, so probably you do not have ovarian cancer. but still there is problem, and you should search for the answer. take care, Randa.

[fxmom]

I tried to post before but don't know if it went thru, so sorry if this comes in twice.  Can I ask you if your dr. dectected anything during your pelvic exam? Both my gyno. and my reg dr. tell me that my ovaries feel "normal".  I am wondering how many others have heard that things felt normal but it was not the case. I'm going to press for the blood tests and request biopsy.  Glad to hear you caught things at stage 1A!  By the way, since yours was on rt side too, did you feel only right side pain>  That's all I'm having is right side.

[wannasmile63]

Don't want to scare you, but I think ultrasounds are very unreliable. I had one two days before my last surgery (5 weeks ago) and was told my 6cm simple cyst hadn't changed and that was good news. So I now find it extremely strange that when I had my surgery, exactly two days after US that they found my right ovary was twisted 3 times, necrotic and black. Also my left ovary was multicystic, which they never knew, one fallopian tube was completely blocked and full of cysts, and this week I finally recieved my pathology results from surgery, that showed stage 1A OVCA, fully contained to right ovary, PHEW, for that good news. Biopsy is the only way they really know whats going on, and although drastic, it is so much easier than the alternative of a wrong diagnosis. Good luck, and stay calm, but most of all, take charge of your own body, and don't give up until you feel you have been given all the answers.

[fxmom]

Thank you so much for responding. Your mom's symptoms sound alot like mine. I went to my reg dr yesterday and told him what is happening with my gyn.  He said I needed CT scan asap.  He did a pelvic exam and said ovaries feel normal and he couldn't detect any masses. I had the CT scan this morning, he wanted to rule out appendicitis...It was negative for append., but I don't have any other info as my drs office closed early for Christmas.  I am assuming everythings okay since he didn't call me right away, but I will contact him Mon. morning. The pain is still there.  Weird thing is a few days ago I got a nasty looking purplish-black mark on the skin on my ribs (right side again).  It has a mole in the middle.  I showed it to Dr at my appt and he said we'll watch it for 2 wks, but I think I'll see the Dermatologist.   Just strange everything is in the right ab/pelvic area....
I will request the blood tests
Can the abdominal ultrasound detect things the CT scan can't?
I just know they are missing something.  My mom is visiting with us and she took one look at me and said something is wrong. I'm generally very healthy but this is really getting to me.
Thanks again...I am sure I'll email you with more questions = )

[mart_amer]

I do not know why it does not show my email, but it is randabs2008 at yahoo. (maybe in this way it will show it) take care

[mart_amer]

hi, my mom had symptoms like abdominal bloating, abdominal discomfort, pelvic pain, decrease appetite, decrease weight, and urinary track infection and frequency, she did ultrasound and it showed nothing, they gave her many antibiotics, at the beginning of each type of antibiotic she was better but not for long, after period of time her bloating increase, she could not eat, she developed weakness so we took her to the hospital, physical exam showed that she had mass in the abdomen , CT showed mass, and increase fluid in the abdomen, and ca_125 was 8 thousand, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, they order ultrasound again, and guess what, it was still negative!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! at that time she was in 3c stage (advanced stage). I do not want to frighten you, but ovarian cancer is not easy, many cases are diagnosed in advanced stage because symptoms are hard to detect (not specific). you should be sure that this is not cancer, do abdominal ultrasound, ca_125, they also order ca_15, and ca_19.9 to see if there is metastasis, you should go to gynecologist, or oncologist. other symptoms of ovarian cancer may be increase in weight, back pain, nausea, vomiting, increase abdominal girth, fatigue, vaginal bleeding, ovarian cancer patients may also be asymptomatic. take care, go to the hospital as soon as possible, remember that other diseases may have the same symptoms, and you should know that ovarian cancer in early stages ( when cancer is still localize, inside the  ovaries) is easy to treat. if you have any other questions, you can email my at ***@****   , wish you a lot of health.