Ovarian Tumors

Hello, I'm 29 years old, never had kids and had my right ovary removed 4 weeks ago. My gynae found my ovary had pretty much died and would have gone gangrenous had it been left as a tumour had twisted and cut off its blood supply.I had a cystectomy and oopherectomy (sorry if the spelling is wrong!) I suffered no ill effects and had a positive follow up this week but I still feel in the dark The doc called it an ovarian tumour and the report said it was borderline pappilary which he says means they don't really know what it was, also because the tumour was actually damaged itself. It was the size of a four month old fetus. What exactly is an ovarian tumour? Is it like tumours that develop elsewhere on the body? What could cause it to grow? My aunt also had one removed when she was 29, are they genetic? Most importantly, how likely am I to get one on the otherside? (which was found to be perfectly healthy) I know whatever answers you may be able to give would be theoretical or suspected but not proven fact, I accept that, I just want to know more. What percentage of woman with one ovary enter early menopause? I read somewhere that woman with one ovary are more likely to have a child with down syndrome, is this true? Why? I still can't comprehend how there could have been something growing in my like that or that my ovary is gone. I just think understanding a bit better will help. I do know the other one will regulate everything though. Lastly, I'm on Yaz, could it have caused my tumour? the gynae told me it's more likely to prevent the tumour than cause it, but if I've been on oral contraceptives since i was 19 then why did i get it? Aside from contraception, is there any reason why to not go off the pill and just be normal? I also skipped the placebo's for a almost a year because my period is always followed by a terrible migraine and i had terrible PMS and pain, could this have caused it? Any any answer or info, good or bad, would be GREATLY appreciated!    

[Annekathryn Goodman, M.D.]

Hi There
it sound slike you had torsion of your ovary which means twisting around the bloodsupply. The blood supply is occluded and the ovary becomes gangrenous.
Then it is very hard to know what type of tumor it is because all the cells look dead.

you should ask your doctor for a copy of the operative note and pathology report.

Bordeline tumor are slow growing malignancies that are cured by surgical removal

here is a link  http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/_files_nhmrc/file/publications/synopses/cp98_4.pdf

take care