Scared about Complex Mass on Ovary

[jerseygirl0329]

My Aunt died of ovarian cancer 5 years ago. I have always had trouble with ovarian cysts but they never got too large. I had a hysterectomy (LAVH) and RSO on May 25, 2005. I kept my left ovary. I recently had a CT Scan for LRQ pain and they found the cyst on the left side. It hasn't caused me any pain so far though. I had two ct scans within a week and the first one reads that there is a 3.1 cm septated cyst on the left ovary. Then I had a repeat CT scan with the dye and it reads there is a 4.5 cm complex mass on the left adnexa. Can anyone offer any input on what I should do and is there a possibility that this is cancer?

[jerseygirl0329]

Thanks for everyone's input. I really appreciate it. Here is the latest update. I had the ultrasound which confimed that the cyst is a complex cyst but slightly smaller than thought on the CT scan. My gyn has ordered a CA-125 (on tuesday July 11th) and it still isn't back as of today July 14th. While I was in the office she said that it would be back in a day. Go figure. I have an appt on tuesday July 18th to discuss surgery options.
Oh and also my ovary is enlarged too.
To answer the question about my right ovary, I used to just have simple cysts on my right ovary. It always caused me a lot of pain too. So, when I had to have the hysterectomy due to adenomyosis, I just had the right ovary removed too. I never had problems with the left ovary. I also have never had a complex cyst or a cyst bigger than 1 cm in the past.
Again thanks!
Melissa

[wubbie3]

To add... sometimes they don't grow at all! I had an endometrioma, and it never changed size in the nearly 6 months before it was removed. It was 3.5cm at finding, 3.5cm midway through, and 3.5cm when removed.
Just goes to show, huh... :)
~Marianne

[RavenLady]

Hi Jersey,
     So what kind of cyst was the right ovary removed for?   I have always had cystic ovaries too,  I think as we get older maybe our ovaries just try to get creative on us!  I had a dermoid and a brennor removed with the lift ovary last November and the dermod was fast growing so don't really believe you can go by that!  I am curious as to the Doctor's choice of CT over US.  Keep us posted Jersey!  Mary V

[MickeyVicki]

Actually, you only have a slightly greater chance of developing the disease from this family connection.  The correlation is not that great - however, this is not an invitation to let down your guard!

Also, having suffered from cystic ovaries is believed to reduce your chance of developing ovca.

Still, you will need proper follow-up. It may well be that you must have this mass removed.   That it is this large, and complex, reduces the chance that it will just resolve on its own. Just remember that, statistically speaking, there is a great chance of it being benign than malignant.

[MickeyVicki]

Well, that depends on who gives you the advice!  When I developed my endometrioma (in my case, a large complex mass with solid components) a retired gyn surgical nurse told me that in her experience, the faster growing masses tended to be endometriomas or dermoids.    Both of these tend to be more commonly found benign.

However, at least one woman posting on this forum was told the exact opposite - that the faster growth is indicative of malignancy!  

So, I cannot give you a real answer...other than to explain there are many factors in the testing that give clues as to what will be found, if the mass does need to be removed surgically.  Your doctor will best be able to discuss these factors, and how these factors apply to your particular case.

[jerseygirl0329]

Thanks for your info. Should I worry that the mass has grown so quickly and that it is septated? Thanks again.