Post menopausal pelvic cyst

I am sitting here feeling paralyzed with fear. My mother who will be turning 60 this weekend. About a decade ago she had a hysterectomy and a oopherectomy of her right ovary. So in essence she only has her left ovary. Not sure if the left fallopian tube is there or not.

The Dr. found during an ultrasound a cyst on her right side in the pelvic region. Since she is in menopause the Dr. is concerned about ovarian cancer. Though she no longer has a right ovary, he still called it an ovarian cyst. He sent her for blood work immediately yesterday.

I felt all the blood drain out of my head when she told me what her Dr. was concerned about. I think I was more scared than she was. She has had thyroid cancer before, but I knew her prognosis was good with the kind of cancer she had. But Ovarian cancer....I know the prognosis is poor and that is why I felt sick when she mentioned the possibility. Not only what that meant for her but the implications it may also have for my future health as her daughter.

I have been having panic attacks this morning just thinking about because I am already assuming that is just what is is.

My question is, are all pelvic cysts in menopausal woman automatically cancer or does the possibilty exist to be something other than cancer?

[Annekathryn Goodman, M.D.]

Hi There
it takes a biopsy to determine if something is malignant.
Most cysts are benign

However fear is an awful experience
I hope everything worked out
best wishes