Newbie--scared to death over possible ovarian germ cell cancer--please help

[Thuney]

Hi, I am brand new and scared to death I have ovarian germ cell cancer.  I have a lot of dull pain in my back, sharper pain in my ovaries, and pain in my uterus and bladder.  Mostly left side until the last two days.  My gyn found "significant amount of blood in my urine" even though I can't see any.

My other died 10 year ago this month from the male version of germ cell cancer (testicular).

Can anyone tell me what your symptoms are?  Anyone out her have ovarian germ cell?  Is there any chance of survival?  I have a son and this is killing me.  I am taking tranquilizers just to make to my next appointment and test.  Please help!!

[afmucky]

Hello all,
Recently I have been feeling dull pain on my lower left side.  I have also experenced abnormal periods (it starts off very light and becomes normal, but it last 2 to 3 days longer than normal).  I worry very easy...so I am praying that this isn't something serious.  I also feel nausea sometimes...I dont know if its due to over worrying or...something else.  Any thoughts?

[Nat2]

Welcome to the forum - it's a great place to get advice, share experience, and get support from people who know what you are going through. Oh and give support to people too!!!

I know how worried you must be, I went through all the worry, crying, stress, "what if ... what ifs" before the final diagnosis came back, almost two months of it! So when I finally got the news I had in a way prepared myself.  As it turns out the worse case senario that I had imagined does not seem that bad at all.  I don't think we are sent things that we can't deal with.

I know you can't make yourself stop worrying but try and take your mind off it and keep busy until you know exactly what is what.  Your symptoms could be lots of other conditions to - but I know my mind at least has the tendency to skip to the worst!

There have been studies that have shown if you repeat something over and over to yourself again that eventually you will start to beleive it - almost like programming your mind.  Why don't you get a mantra and keep repeating it to yourself - in front of the mirror in the morning and over and over in your head - something positive and inspiring that you think will help you get through this!  I know it sounds a bit strange - but hey, whatever works!

[Thuney]

Thank you all for answering me.  I was pretty good most of the day today, but the pain is back tonight--so I am feeling down, down, down.  Thanks for being here.

[Thuney]

I have to sign off for now--my son and his friend just got here bringing me cheesecake.  i don't want him to see what I am typing because I don't want to worry him

Thanks again

[MickeyVicki]

Well, I think better safe than sorry.   I am glad that your doctor is taking this seriously.  I know  too many people with doctors who dismissed their symptoms, and with rather tragic results.  

That is just the way it works.   And it also seems the further away your doctor is from his or her office, then the worse your symptoms are likely to be! We also joke in my family about whether we will get through a holiday without anyone dying --- dying during holidays seems to be a family tradition.

[Thuney]

Thank you--thank you.  I feel better since coming to this site tonight.  I have been so frightened--and frightened alone.  mu husband is a great guy, but in no way deals well with stress.  I have always been the one to handle any "issues."

I don't want to unnecessarily worry my son or Mom--especially after we lost my brother to this, but then I am going crazy alone with this.

Thanks so much for listening and talking to me--ALL of you!!

[MickeyVicki]

Only 10 to 14 percent of cancers are found to be "inherited" cancers.   Furthermore, most cancers that do have some genetic component tend to run with like genders.  Thus,  having a brother with a germ cell testicular cancer is NOT as great a concern as having a mother or a sister with a germ cell ovarian cancer.   Have any female relatives with ovarian or breast cancer?

[Thuney]

No, but the doctor really thought it was a big deal and said he'd have to do a body scan after the TV and colonoscopy.  Really scared me.  Plus, I was really expecting for find a polyp or fibroid or cyst in the TV.  i had one last year and I had a cyst and an "abnormally large polyp" which he wasn't sure it was a polyp or fibroid because of its size.

But this TV came back clean--and crazy as it sounds, that scares me more with what he said about my brother's being hereditary.
So thanks again for talking to me.  I am feeling calmer.

Why does this stuff always happen on a long weekend when it takes even longer to get these tests run?  Isn't that the way it seems?

Thanks so ever much!

[birdcarver]

Just to let you know, I have had blood +++ in my urine, sometimes it was beet red as well as microscopic (not visible to the naked eye) and it was always just a bladder infection easily treated with antibiotics (usually sulfa drugs). I do not have CANCER!!!! Please take a big breath and relax. Very few of us ever get the diagnois and you are most probably among the majority. Cheers, and be well,
Michelle

[kathy o]

I have stage 3 OC and none of those symptons are any I had except for a sharp pain once in a while. Get yourself to a good Dr and we are here for you!!!

[Thuney]

When you had the blood in your urine, did you also have a lot of lower back pain, sharp overy pain, and the need to urinate and have a bowel movement every 20 minutes to an hour?

I am asking all these questions because it is really helping me cope tonight.  I am so thankful I found this site!!

[MickeyVicki]

That sounds a lot like an  'E. Coli' infection.  Was blood all that was found in the urine?  Any bacteria?  Crystals indicating stones?

[birdcarver]

Yes, Yes and Yes!!! Mostly an urge to go every 10 seconds and lots of pressure in the bladder and rectum. Drink lots and lots of water (I'm talking a couple of litres here). It really helps! Get to the doc ASAP as just one or two doses of antibiotics will clear up the symptoms!
Michelle

[Thuney]

They didn't get the full culture back yet--not until Tuesday after Memorial Day.  But they did a strip test in their office which showed "a significant amount of blood in the urine" even though I couldn't see any.

I will let you know next week.

[Thuney]

I am worried because he said it is ofter hereditary and runs in family.  Well, my brother died from a testicular germ cell tumor 10 years ago this month.  I thought it was only a male cance, but it turns out, there is a female, ovarian version.

Plus, what are the chances this is passed on to my son, too?

[Thuney]

I already had the TV ultrasound and the tech said everything looked fine.  However, my gyn has already talked about doing a colonoscopy and a full body scan due to my family history--and that really worries me because normally they try to keep you calm and positive as long as possible, but he brought this all up in the first visit.

Plus, he prescribed an antibiotic which he said should help me feel better in a few days, but I don't.  I feel more pain.

I am taking the antibiotic, Aleve and a tranquilizer just to function.  I just want to know NOW, but I'm also scared to death to know.

[MickeyVicki]

You could have any number of conditions, from  ovarian cysts to uterine conditions as well as urinary tract conditions.  The symptoms are the same, whether the "situation" is cancerous or not.

I am guessing here...is it that you are worried about germ cell cancer...because you think you have 'caught' it like a virus?

[Gatsby]

Welcome to the site!  Now, take a deep breath and calm down.  Have you been to your gyn yet?  You need a transvag ultrasound.  Try to remember that 99% of ovarian cysts are benign.  This does not mean that you can ignore your symptoms.  You are in my thoughts and prayers.  Godspeed
~Tascha