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Avatar universal

Not yet diagnosed?

Ok, my wife was diagnosed of having an ovarian cyst about a year and a half ago. She has recently went back to the doctor with pain in her abdomen, constant bleeding, weight loss, nausea and a frequent urge to urinate. The doctors did an array of blood tests and an ultrasound and found a mass on one of her ovaries (the size of a golfball) as well as her uterus. They also did a papsmear and found cancerous cells in small numbers. She has an appt on the 5th to do more tests. The doctors have even said they will try and schedule surgery at this time. I'm curious if there is anyone out there who has been treated like this as far as a diagnosis? It seems like the doctors don't want to diagnose her or they can't and we're both scared to death (me more than her). She keeps trying to believe that there is another problem mostly because the doctors are refusing to diagnose anything. She is 29 and her Grandmother died of ovarian cancer 4 years ago. She doesn't fit anything that goes along with having this type of cancer BUT........from all the information I've read I realize it can happen to anyone. Any help I can get would be greatly appreciated.
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Avatar universal
thank goodness they are doing "somthing".Have they indicated how long your wife will have to wait to get the surgery done?.It must be awful for you to be so far away and to feel so helpless. How much longer before you get back home?.Yes please keep us posted or even start a new thread as this one may well dissapear. We will be watching and praying for you both.Dawn
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Avatar universal
Well..............Mono is rulled out and her gyno did more testing to rule out more illnesses. He's going to test her twice a week till he figures out what's wrong or the gyn/onc does the surgery and the biopsy. Not exactly the answer we were looking for but it's better than take these pills and we'll see what happens in 2 months. I still think things would be different if I was there but my wife is doing the best she can with these.......people. I'll post more when I know it.
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Avatar universal
Please let us know how it goes.It may be endodemetriosis(hope thats spelt right)so it may be worth you googleing that to see if it makes sense.Give your wife our regards for a better outcome today.Dawn
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Avatar universal
Reading all of this sounds like what I have been dealing with... I was just dig. With what the doc thinks in Endo and Andnomyosis... I have surgery on the 19th to take a look and hopefully laser a lot of it out... The Doctor did tell me that I may have to have my Uterus out but will not know until a couple of weeks after surgery because it will depend on what the reports show from my Uterus... It really sucks to be in pain all of the time... I am only 38... As for the Military Docs there are a few good one but I really do not think that they are that good and if they misdiagnose you you have nothing to go back on... The are protected by the government... My husband was in the Navy for 11 years and had a problem with a Lymph node in my arm pit that I have to get another doctor in the room to be able to prove the other doc wrong... You know your body and if you feel that something is wrong then make sure that you push them to get the care that you need...
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Avatar universal
I too had ovarian cysts on both ovaries and it took a few months to get them diagnosed. I was first thought to have IBS which is what a lot of ladies are told on here.Most ovarian cysts are from ovulation,hense why the birth control pill is given(it stops ovulation and gives the cysts already there time to get re-absorbed)as a lot go of their own accord. The general rule is that any over 4-5 cm they remove. Those under are put in the "watch and wait" catagory.Ovarian cysts do not spread, either they get bigger(some can twist and burst,both really painful )or more can develope.Does your wife go on her own to the specialist,if not can you speak to whoever does go with her and get them to be a little tougher. I know i had to take my husband with me before they listened and took me seriously,we women somtimes have a way not letting on how bad it really is for fear of being a wimp. I really feel for both of you. It's time she got a second opinion and really pushed for better treatment. I can totally understand your anger and frustration and feel you are justified in every way.A lot of women on this forum have been in excatly the same situation,some have even taken up residence in doctors offices to get action.I pray that your wife gets better treatment soon.
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Avatar universal
Thank you for your reply.  She has another appt tomorrow at 12 and she's taking her Mom since I can't be there.  She's going back to her original doctor and telling her how she was treated and how she was NOT diagnosed.  I also told my wife to call the patient advocate number and file a complaint (she may or may not go that far).  Her original gyno told her that he's seen both ovarian cysts and different ovarian tumors and it didn't look like cysts to him (not to mention the fact that she has one on her uterus as well).  Hopfully all goes well and we get a diagnoses this time (good, bad or ugly we just want to know what's wrong at this point).  The gyno told her regardless of tumor or cyst the mass on her ovary needed to be removed because of it's size (6cm), when she saw the specialist that was disagreed with and a wait approach was taken (like I said before we already did the birth control thing over a year ago to no avail).  I'm very proud of her for going back and not just taking the word of one doctor who obviously does not care about patients.
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Avatar universal
The specialist she saw told her that women under 40 DO NOT get ovarian cancer and has not diagnosed her with anything. Even though my wife has had 2 ultrsounds (which showed 2 masses, 1 on her right ovary and 1 on her uterus), MRI, blood work and of course the pregnancy test thing the specialist does not believe she has anything serious. She has all the symptoms but they're all from 3 other things...........She had Mono which affected her kidney's (the reason her back hurts). Her spleen is enlarged from the mono which is messing up all her blood work and causing her irregular periods. Her heart is swollen and causing her potassium levels to drop to a 2. Basically the so-called specialist dismissed any tests the other doctors did as unreliable and won't do anything for 2 months. She listened to the symptoms my wife had and treated her like she was a liar. The specialist wants to see her every week to see if the growths shrink or stay the same. My wife already did the birth control thing when she was first diagnosed and nothing happened (because she still has the same problems). My wife went ahead and tried to do as the doctor said and took the pill (she got sick and puked all day yesterday). She's going back to her original doctor and going to try and go downtown to a civilin doctor tomorrow. I also told her to call the patient advocate line and make a complaint for how she was treated. She has pain all the time now and she should not have to wait 2 more months to feel better. DOES ANYONE KNOW IF OVARIAN CYSTS CAN SPREAD?

If this doesn't make alot of sense it's because I'm furious with the military medical system. I'm the deployed service member and I expect my family to be taken care of while I'm out of the country.
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Avatar universal
birth control pills seems to be the norm and first line of treatment for simple benign cysts. They must be fairly confident that it is not too much to worry about. What are they going to check when she goes in every wk. Are there any other health issues involved, as wkly check ups for ovarian cysts seems a little extreeme.Let us know how it all goes.Dawn
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Avatar universal
Ok, she just got back from seeing the so called specialist.  I'm not sure why we can't get a straight answer but......They gave her 2 months of birth control pills and want her to come in weekly to check on her.  In 2 months they'll reevaluate her.  The doctors are so lucky I'm in Iraq right now because I'd be raising hell with their diagnosis of nothing.
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Avatar universal
She does not have to join if she does not want to but maybe you could give she the web site address and ask her to just take a look. I have told many people about this site and i must say i get a few odd looks(people are very sceptical of internet sites due to lots of bad publicity)but without this site i would have worried myself silly and would not have made so many"friends"across the globe.Again good luck.Dawn
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Avatar universal
I've actually asked her to join and she still insists that I worry too much. She handles serious matters way better than me, I'm a worrier. The information she gives me is sketchy because she doesn't want me to worry myself sick especially since I'm so far away. Thank you all for your kind words and I'll be sure to post what happens over the next 2 weeks.
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155056 tn?1333638688
Just remember that a CA125 is not at all conclusive and can mean a lot of other things, especially in pre-menopausal women.  Your wife seems to have a few gynocological issues going on, and that will have an effect on her CA125 and could send you both into an unnecessary panic.

It must be so hard for you being so far away from her....is there anyway you can suggest that she too join us....the women here can answer so many of her questions and offer support....believe me, these people have all made a huge difference in my life!!!!
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Avatar universal
I am a bit confused here. As far as i know cancerous cells can not be seen on a transvaginal ultrasound. They can see and measure growths,determine if they are liquid,solid contain anything such as teeth ect. They may suspect all is not right but as simlpystar says the only way for a 100% certainty is via removal and biopsey of the growth.As far as the papsmear goes there are varying degrees of results from mild abnormal changes through to actual cancer cells being present.I had cervical cancer at 25 and had just my womb removed. Recently had both ovaries removed due to benign cysts(my mother died from ovc at 52)so it is poss to have one without the other. A word of warning be careful of reading too much on ovarian cancer it can be really scarey and needless.Its not that the doctors wont diagnose your wife its more like they can't until either further tests are done or surgery.Good luck to you both and please let us know how it all goes.Dawn
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158939 tn?1274915197
I just wanted to say how lucky your wife is to have you.  I've been through cancer on my own and it's so difficult.  I commend you on caring so much for her and for looking for answers to help her.  Bess you both.
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Avatar universal
I'm hoping for the best but can benign cysts spread? I'm still learning about ovarian cancer which is why I ask. She had one transvaginal ultra-sound and it came back showing cancerous cells (I'm not sure how bad that is but it sounds really bad to me). She has another one scheduled for the 5th with the specialist. I'm trying to be as supportive as I can from Iraq. I've finally just convinced her to look at ovarian cancer info online about 2 days ago. We're still praying for the best but we're prepared for the worst. I guess we'll all know soon enough (it just won't be soon enough for me).
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Avatar universal
As far as I know they have not done a CA-125 test yet. I've asked her over the phone numerous times and she always say's no. I've told her to make sure she asks for that test on the 5th and not to leave until she gets it (realizing that a CA-125 is not all inclusive). I want her to have it if only to use as comparison for later on (worse case scenerio).
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167426 tn?1254086235
Ovarian cancer cannot be diagnosed without surgery.  did she have the CA125 test?  Her chances are good that is is something else though because most cysts are benign.  glad you are getting there soon  as the longer you wait the harder it is on the nerves. be sure you have a surgeon that is an onocogist present for the surgery should she need it. they are the best in the field for this. Good Luck and keep us posted , all the women on here are ready to help in any way they can.
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