Aa
Seeking your thoughts...
I'll soon be 63 yr. old, 5 pregnancies, 3 live births, took oral contraceptives several years, had a tubal ligation, childhood appendectomy. On Sept. 3rd I felt bad, had generalized abdominal discomfort, 99.4 temp - thought from something I had eaten. Sept 5th saw urgent care physician - temp 100.6, painful to walk. Due to my history of IBS and his abdominal palpation he prescribed Cipro, Flagyl and pain pills; also sent me for pelvic CT scan to rule out diverticulitis. Sept 8th saw him for follow-up - CT ruled out diverticulitis but showed a 5cmx6cm left ovarian "cyst" with some "elevated density" - a rounded mass, right ovary unremarkable. I had my annual gyn exam Aug 27th with pap smear normal, then saw my gynecologist the afternoon of Sept 8th and had trans-vaginal ultrasound. U/S showed 73mmx50mmx58mm ovary (68mmx51mmx55mm heterogeneous mass) and uterine fibroid, right ovary not visible; CA-125 26.3uts/ml - gyn said "normal", also said the cyst/mass pain may have been due to torsion. Saw gyn oncologist Sept 12th - his findings "mobile palpable mass left adnexal region, uterus WNL, mass on CT 5cmx6cm. Impression: There is a question of enhancing septa".
I no longer have pain or elevated temperature but feel occasional pressure in left abdomen and rectum. I have not had a fully formed "normal" BM in over a week. BMs are soft, not liquid diarrhea, but if formed at all they are only about half the diameter as usual. I have no bleeding and no urinary symptoms. I have experienced some nausea and little appetite. The previous two days and this morning I actually feel pretty good and have been eating and drinking, even if it is a reduced amount.
When I pressed the gyn oncologist for his thoughts he said his hunch was that it was okay but "you know I can't say for sure until I see inside". I am scheduled for Sept 29th robotic(possible incision and open) total hysterectomy and possible staging/debulking at a regional medical center. I am interested in the experience of others or any doctors' ideas.
I no longer have pain or elevated temperature but feel occasional pressure in left abdomen and rectum. I have not had a fully formed "normal" BM in over a week. BMs are soft, not liquid diarrhea, but if formed at all they are only about half the diameter as usual. I have no bleeding and no urinary symptoms. I have experienced some nausea and little appetite. The previous two days and this morning I actually feel pretty good and have been eating and drinking, even if it is a reduced amount.
When I pressed the gyn oncologist for his thoughts he said his hunch was that it was okay but "you know I can't say for sure until I see inside". I am scheduled for Sept 29th robotic(possible incision and open) total hysterectomy and possible staging/debulking at a regional medical center. I am interested in the experience of others or any doctors' ideas.
I apologize for the novel but hope it helps in this life-altering decision.
My ovarian cyst and symptoms were very similar to yours although my cyst was larger, 9.5 cm. It ended up being benign, as most are (even in post-menopausal women). But my surgeon removed all my organs anyway. I have been suffering all the nasty side effects for 8 years now :(
I wish I had known MUCH more before I signed those consent forms. And I wish I had not trusted my gynecologist of 20 years nor gone to the oncologist to whom he referred me.
The prevalence of hysterectomy makes us think it is a benign surgery but it is destructive in many ways (if you do not have cancer) and more so when the ovaries are removed since the ovaries of intact women produce hormones into their 80's for optimal health / normal aging. Medical studies clearly show the harm of ovary removal or post-hysterectomy ovarian failure. Hysterectomy changes the figure too as well as other things (such as bladder, bowel, and sexual function).
Hysterectomy and ovary removal (along with c-section) are the most overused surgeries. Only 2% are done for a cancer diagnosis. Even ACOG says that most hysterectomies are unwarranted with 76% not meeting their criteria.
If the frozen section biopsy done while you are in the operating room is benign, there should be no need to remove any other organs. If you have a surgeon who has good cystectomy (cyst removal) skills, you should not even need to lose your one ovary. Of course, if the frozen section shows you have cancer, then it makes sense to remove more. But again, MOST ovarian cysts, even in post-menopausal women, are benign. There are some good books by gynecologists who use organ-sparing procedures for benign conditions such as "A Gynecologist's Second Opinion" by Dr. William Parker and "The Hysterectomy Hoax" by Dr. Stanley West.
Please research robotic hysterectomy. There have been a number of news articles in major media about the over-marketing of this medical device (hospitals have to recoup the exhorbitant costs of those machines) and the lack of adequate training in its use. I personally know some women who have suffered injuries from robotic hysterectomy (burns, nerve damage, and torn vaginal cuff). Of course, these injuries can also occur with traditional methods. But there is something to be said about hands-on / being able to feel tissue. This is discussed in some of the articles.
Sadly, the medical industry is no different from any other. It is profit driven and there are good, caring professionals and those who are not so good and/or do not care about the consumer/patient. We have to do our own research and decide what is in our best interests.
My ovarian cyst and symptoms were very similar to yours although my cyst was larger, 9.5 cm. It ended up being benign, as most are (even in post-menopausal women). But my surgeon removed all my organs anyway. I have been suffering all the nasty side effects for 8 years now :(
I wish I had known MUCH more before I signed those consent forms. And I wish I had not trusted my gynecologist of 20 years nor gone to the oncologist to whom he referred me.
The prevalence of hysterectomy makes us think it is a benign surgery but it is destructive in many ways (if you do not have cancer) and more so when the ovaries are removed since the ovaries of intact women produce hormones into their 80's for optimal health / normal aging. Medical studies clearly show the harm of ovary removal or post-hysterectomy ovarian failure. Hysterectomy changes the figure too as well as other things (such as bladder, bowel, and sexual function).
Hysterectomy and ovary removal (along with c-section) are the most overused surgeries. Only 2% are done for a cancer diagnosis. Even ACOG says that most hysterectomies are unwarranted with 76% not meeting their criteria.
If the frozen section biopsy done while you are in the operating room is benign, there should be no need to remove any other organs. If you have a surgeon who has good cystectomy (cyst removal) skills, you should not even need to lose your one ovary. Of course, if the frozen section shows you have cancer, then it makes sense to remove more. But again, MOST ovarian cysts, even in post-menopausal women, are benign. There are some good books by gynecologists who use organ-sparing procedures for benign conditions such as "A Gynecologist's Second Opinion" by Dr. William Parker and "The Hysterectomy Hoax" by Dr. Stanley West.
Please research robotic hysterectomy. There have been a number of news articles in major media about the over-marketing of this medical device (hospitals have to recoup the exhorbitant costs of those machines) and the lack of adequate training in its use. I personally know some women who have suffered injuries from robotic hysterectomy (burns, nerve damage, and torn vaginal cuff). Of course, these injuries can also occur with traditional methods. But there is something to be said about hands-on / being able to feel tissue. This is discussed in some of the articles.
Sadly, the medical industry is no different from any other. It is profit driven and there are good, caring professionals and those who are not so good and/or do not care about the consumer/patient. We have to do our own research and decide what is in our best interests.
They will not no for sure until they see inside. It sounds like they are taking it seriously if they are talking about debulking. If they are using the robot the are thinking it might be okay. They did not give me the option of the robot even though that is what my surgeon was known for because my Cancer was too wide spread.
It is important to like your doctor you may spend a lot of time with them. I changed hospitals because I did not like the first one's set up. Plus I never saw the doctor he had a rock band and was busy touring. Also with Ovarian you want to latest treatments. I got into a clinical trial which ended up saving my life.
Alex
It is important to like your doctor you may spend a lot of time with them. I changed hospitals because I did not like the first one's set up. Plus I never saw the doctor he had a rock band and was busy touring. Also with Ovarian you want to latest treatments. I got into a clinical trial which ended up saving my life.
Alex
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Ovarian Cancer Community
Learn how to spot the warning signs of this “silent killer.”
Diet and digestion have more to do with cancer prevention than you may realize
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
