Ovarian cyst+pain+age = cancer?

I'm writing to all of you because I want/need information that I'm not getting from my GP. Here's my stats: I'm 40 years old and had a hysterectomy 4 years ago (adnomyosis) leaving both ovaries, I noticed pelvic pain a week ago during intercourse and it had gotten worse over the following few days so I called my GP.  They got me in right away and during the pelvic exam my Dr. noticed a lump on my right ovary (VERY painful during palpation).  She scheduled an U/S for the next morning and with a call report so that the results would be given a.s.a.p. The results: 3.8cm Complex Cyst, R-Ovary, some fluid in the cul de sac.  That was the day before Thanksgiving.  The soonest they could get an Ob/Gyn to see me is today, Monday, 6 days later.  I'm still in pain and the time I've spent waiting for this appointment has given me ample time to worry/research my symptoms.  I do believe that knowledge is power and the more I know, the better informed decision I can make.  From what I have been reading, the pain I'm feeling makes this serious and it scares me. I want to be prepared to meet with this Ob/Gyn today and ask all the right questions so, I'm asking for your help, "what questions should I ask?".

[sweetpea221]

I might not worry too much about your age unless you are in menopause. They worry more about woman after menopause getting cysts because they shouldn't be getting cysts with the lack of hormones, but if you are premenopausal I wouldn't worry too much about your age. Of course I'm not a doctor. The best advice people have given me is too get a second opinion about things like this.

[studiogirl67]

I should have mentioned that my GP believes me to be entering perimenopause.

[Angie_Lou]

Like sweetpea, I'm not a doctor.  I was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer in April and I did not have pain.  Not all cysts are cancerous.  So, the question I would ask is, if the cyst is suspicious enough to be considered cancerous.  Your Ob/Gyn may want to schedule a different test (such as CT) to rule cancer out.  If it is not suspicious enough, your doctor will tell you.  If you are uncomfortable with the answers your gyn gives you, seek a second opinion as sweetpea has suggested.  Never settle for one doctor's opinion if you feel unsure about something.  Ask a family member or friend to go with you on the doctor's visit and bring a pad of paper & pen to document what is said.  It's always good to have the support and someone else to hear what the doctor has to say.  Good luck to you and hope all will be fine.  Angie

[Brownie3321]

I would recommend asking for a CT scan if you are truly worried. Ditto on what Angie said, everyone experiences different symptoms and although pain can be one, it's no where near being an indication that you may have ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer is a rare disease. I would suggest buying a mini tape recorder and taping all your appointments so you can go back and research what is said, this helped for me. Always get a 2nd opinion!! Think positive, and keep us updated. With love, Deandra

[rmarie]

The vast majority of ovarian cysts are benign, greater than 90%, so percentages are in your favor.  I wish the symptoms of ovarian cancer had pain in them, I would have been in the office much sooner.  I don't have much to add to the above however I would recommend that you consider seeing a Gyn/Onc, for a second opinion.  If there is any question of ovarian cancer, you want the Gyn/Onc to perform the surgery and do the correct procedures that give you the best chance.  Good luck

[studiogirl67]

Thanks to all of you who have commented and given advice to me, you are all very much appreciated by me and I'm sure others will be able to use your advice as well.  I just returned from the Ob/Gyn appt.(He's new to me, mine couldn't get me in sooner) He looked over my ultrasound pictures and written results, gave me a pelvic exam and told me this:  "you have a cyst" (I knew that part). "I think it's probably a blood filled tumor and it will probably go away or burst and then go away" (what the...?) I told him that I want to rule out cancer and he said, "Then what we will do is laparoscopy to excise the tumor and test it". So I asked, what do I do???  He said it depends on if I want to be conservative or aggressive with this. Conservative = wait 6 weeks and repeat U/S or aggressive = laparoscopy and test the cyst for cancer. I asked him, "What would you tell your daughter to do?" He said, "I would have her blood tested for CA-125 and then make my decision based on the findings". We had the conversation about the false-negative findings and I decided to go ahead with the blood test.  So here I am, waiting again. It looks like I have two options really, 1. Do nothing and it may go away, it may burst and cause a great deal of pain, it may be cancerous and I've wasted a month and a half of my life and if it bursts during this time and it's cancerous then it will become a class 3 automatically OR 2. I have the surgery, the cyst/tumor is removed and tested, it is either benign and I feel ridiculous that I've over reacted or malignant and I made the right decision.   As I wrote this a friend of mine called and said I should get a second opinion and I thought it best to see a Gyn/Onc like rmarie suggested.  

[Jan214]

A CA 125 is not a bad idea but it is not a true indicator of OVCA.  It is mostly used to tell if your chemo is working or if your cancer is coming back.  I have had numerous cysts bursts and yes it is painful and the scar tissue is worse than if you have the cyst removed.  If you have it removed you definitely want a GynOnc to do the surgery as they are more qualified (3 extra years of school) to deal with it if it turns out to be cancerous.  Get a referral from your gyno as gynoncs won't take patients who just call them.  Did you have a CA125 test done today?  Don't ever feel ridiculous for being concerned about your health, even if it turns out to be benign.  If it is cancer you won't regret taking care of it sooner rather than later.  Good luck and keep us posted.
Jan

[studiogirl67]

I did have my blood drawn for CA 125 today and I will hear, hopefully, by Thursday the results of it.  I've decided, with the help of all of you, that I will contact my old OB/GYN and ask for a referral to a GYN/ONC for a second opinion.  This will, at least, keep me busy until I get the results back.

[studiogirl67]

New symptom....stomache pain. I'm having sharp pains in my stomache now and it's like a hunger pain X 100,  brings tears to my eyes and I have to take deep breaths. It comes in waves, like labor and I can feel it comming on.  It's more frequent when I'm walking or sitting up but not so terrible that I'm running to the E.R.  Although my appetite is less than normal I do eat, I'm not starving and I haven't eaten anything acidic that would cause such pain.  As of now, I'm waiting for a call back from my original Ob/Gyn. I called this morning and convinced them that it was important that I have a second opinion with him or have him refer me to a Gyn/Onc.  So, I'm waiting again.........

[hatgal]

Studiogirl67:  I know exactly what you are going through.  I had 2 cysts (septated) removed in May of '04; they caused alot of pain and turned out to be benign (especially after sex - that's what got me to go to the dr.).  Had another child after that so all was o.k.

Then a year ago this exact time I had an awful sharp pain in my groin that radiated around my side into my abdomen and back and thighs.  They thought it was a kidney stone - CT showed ovarian cyst.  Lots of pain, but I think it dissolved on its own (unless the one I have now is still the one).  Then in January of last year, had the same pain on my left side; went to ER and they thought it was diverticulitis - wrong - it was an ovarian cyst (upon CT). Went and got totally checked out at the gyno/onco at Rush in Chicago.  Was in great pain and he pretty much told me I shouldn't be, after all it was just a couple cysts, adeno, and fibroids.  The pain eventually subsided and I don't know why or how.  But my periods are murderous!

Now fast forward to now - back with gynos, ER's and TVUs; I have two cysts again upon TVU (one on each ovary with the right one being septated, possibly - need CT to further check this out).  The pain is much worse than last year with it going all around my hip, groin thighs, calves and abdomen (like a burning pain).  I also have lost my appetite within the past several months (gone from size 10 down to 4-6).  That was last week; this week I got my period and it is so awful as I am bleeding right through the tampon.

I'm know exactly how you feel and I feel for you!  Please keep posting on your progress.  I hope you get much better satisfaction from your gyno/onco than I did.  I'm afraid to go back to him and will not because he intimated me so.  So what I am going to do now is this:  I have "refound" my gyno that did my cone biopsy several years ago and also delivered my middle child via c-section.  He is a wonderful gyno and I am waiting to get an appointment with him.  I know he will listen to me so I have great comfort in that.  I forgot all about him and found him in a new practice near where I now Iive.  I think his speciality, although not onco, is of diseases.

I agree with all above that you must pursue if you feel something isn't right; we know our bodies and please just don't be intimated as I was.  I will sue the pants off that other doctor if this new doctor finds something.

Janalene:  What do burst cysts and the scar tissue feel like?  As I described above, I am in so much pain that I would be at the ER if I didn't already go last week.  I am not satisfied with the TVU results as they were very vague like "possibly could be, perhaps could be, blah, blah, blah........"  I had a lower back MRI last month and wonder if any cysts could be seen on those.  Obviously they would not have commented on them as it was for my neurosurgeon.  I would very much appreciate your advice and information.  I know something very wrong is going on inside of me; I just can't get the doctors to listen to me.

Thanks both and I hope all turns out well Studiogirl67.