Reoccuring Dermoid

Last year about this time I was diagnosed with a dermoid tumor that had gone unnoticed for about four years it was the size of a grapefruit and had very long hair, teeth and all. Not pretty. It was remove by traditional surgery with no signs of another on the other ovary. This seemed to be the last of my troll. But just this week having abdominal pain and discomfort just like last year I visited my doc again and she feels I may have another on the other ovary. My question is how did this tumor grow so fast when it took years for me to even feel the discomfort from the other one? how often have you heard of them recourring.Should I have a hysterrectory? I am only 32 years old.  

[Gatsby]

Welcome!  Dermoids can occur on both ovaries, sometimes seperately and sometimes one on each at the same time (as was my case).  If the dermoid is small enough, your dr. should be able to remove it laproscopically.  This is the least invasive surgery.  Also, dermoids need to be removed as they will not resolve themselves.  
~Tascha

[threedwoman]

Oh my that was somewhat of a concern for me as i too had a dermoid removed in oct of 03. I have a picture of mine and consider it my "evil twin" Have you been told the same about yours? My dermoid had black hair like me, teeth, bones, fatty stuff, nails it was clearly nasty but also a blessing because i have always considered myself "twin like" in my personality and this would explain why i am the way i am. If perhaps that was my twin(i was only 4 lbs at birth and the drs wondered why i was so small, this could explain alot eh?) Can you relate with any of this? Anyway how my dermoid came about was i had my fourth child in Feb 03 and had a permanent sterilzation procedure done in April of 03 well, my symptoms for pregnancy are thus and i was experiencing the same symptoms in Aug and just KNEW i was pregnant and the procedure didn't work! My teeth hurt, my belly was expanding significatly for others to begin questioning and i was so tired just like when you are pregnant! Those are my wierd symptoms anyway i let it go in sheer denial as i just COULDNT be, with no choice of my own i was bent over in excruciating pain not hardly able to walk! So i hobbled into the office thinking that they would tell me number five was on the way! Only to tell me to go straight to the hospital to confirm the drs suspicions. Sure enough he was right on and i was due for surgery ASAP! All is well now and wow how fast this "evil twin" grew! From April to August when i began feeling something different and finally going to the dr. in Sept! You have to have it removed as many of you know know it will grow at rapid rates and then you are at its mercy! Good luck and keep in touch! 3dwoman

[artist32]

I hope that is the case, do you know if they can cause infection? How did you know you had dermoids were you in pain? Did your doc say they might grow back again? Is someone who grows such tumors more susceptible to developing ovarian cancer?

[Gatsby]

I did not know they were actually dermoids until sx and the pathology was done.  Since I lost the left ovary completely and 90% of the right one, the chances of me having any more dermoids is slim, possible because I still have 10% of an ovary, but slim.
~Tascha