can ovarian cancer be misdiagnosed as poly-cystic ovaries ?

[MrsTrip]

i went to ob/gyn for amenhorhea . my doc ran a few blood tests n asked a few questions and diagnosed poly cystic ovaries syndrome prescribed provera and recommended a d&c ,a laporoscopy ,and a hysteroscopy . due to financial concerns i asked the purpose these exploratory surgeries and was their any reason to suspect he would be checking for cancer. he said purpose was only to determine size of cysts and that there was no need to be concerned w/ cancer. w/out cancer as a factor i declined surgery as financially unfeasible and started estrogen for 18 months lost insurance and have been unable to return to doc . 5 yrs later i have all 5 common symptoms of ovarian cancer . i have lost over 15 lbs in 2 months and have chronic gastrointestinal problems ,my ab is distended as if i were 3 months preg and while i think i'm starving i never eat more than a child sized portion anymore should i be concerned that i caused my doc to miss something important and is it possible that the poly cystic ovaries was a mis diagnosis as the only symptoms i've had consistent w/ poly cystic ovaries was amenhorhea ?i have always been able to eat what i want and never be more than 15 lbs over recommended weight and have no excessive hairiness please help i'm scared ty MrsTrip

[TrudieC]

I'm sorry you're having such a hard time and the waiting and wondering can be awful.  Over 95% of all cysts are benign.  Did they indicate what type of cyst it is?  If you look at the health pages (top right) there is a listing describing types of cysts and symptoms.  Please relax.  There is very little chance that you are dealing with cancer.  Have they given you anything for pain or your anxiety?  Don't be afraid to ask.

Do ask any other questions and update us after your surger on the ovarian cyst forum.  This forum was created about 4 months ago to handle cyst related concerns.  Good luck!

[Mockabee]

I was told and have seen the cyst in several ultrasounds, it's the size of a golf ball and growing.  I have been in constant pain with re-occuring bacterial infetions after my period. My private doctor never re-commended an ultrasound, onle pain meds and antibiotics.  I hav been in pain for over a year.  I had to be taken to the emergency room for severe pelvic pain.  That's where I learned I had the cyst.  I'm concerned aout cancer!   How common is it that a ovarian cyst that size is cancerous?  I'm 37 and I had my tubes ties after giving birth to my beautiful daughter.  I had a D&C for re-occuring pain and was told I may need a hysterectomy if the pain continued.  My surgery to remove the cyst is on 08-15-08.   My left ovary and tube may have to be removed in the surgery as well.  What do you suggest?  In constant pain, bacterial infections and nausa. I also learned that I have fibroids and a polyp in my uterus that needs to be removed.  HELP!!!!

[Susieb]

I had a hyterectomy in 1995 because of displasic tissue and constant periods for over two years.  My ovaries were left intact.
Over a year ago I started with terrible hotflashes which continue to this day.  Very dibiltating and prevent me from getting more than 4 hours sleep on any given night.  
I had an ultrasound done over a year ago and my left ovary is twice the size of the right.  The doctor did not seem concerned and said we'll check it again in awhile.  I just had the ultrasound repeated today and it is still twice the size of the right ovary.  I had bloodwork done Jan last year and all was normal except a little high on the tryglyerides.  I had a specific blood test to see if I was in menupause or perimenipause and both were negative.  I find that hard to believe with the mood swings and constant hotflashes.
Should I be concerned with this enlarged ovary? Should cancer be a concern? Should it come out?  Does anyone think that the hot flash/mood swings are caused by this?  I am now 46 yrs old and I have not talked to anyone who has these hot flashes as often or as long as I have.  Sometimes they completely overlap each other for hours on end.  I have tried Estroven, black cohosh, mecca root, and even progetrone cream to no avail, but I am more worried about this ovary than anything else.

[cindy76]

i have had pcos for 5 years have not once had a pregancy have tried clomide had my ovaries drilled tried glucophage and had a cancelled ivf cycle  my last ultrasound showed left ovary to measure 60mm and my progestrone level was high.  Now i have alot of pain to my left ovary and pain doing intercourse with my husband my pap was normal. what can cuse all this discomfort

[shellyB]

I suffered horribly before changing doctors and am not suprised whatsoever by medical errors. Friends lent me money to pay for a second opinion. If you can get to a university hospital do so asap! I would encourage you to get a copy of your medical records in there entirity. They may try to give you a summary but do not let them, get everything including hard copies of xrays. One of my old doctors who was the head of my case had written that a very important test was normal but according to the radiologist report and two other specialists it clearly was not. I have to point this out to my new doctors every time and the shock on their faces speaks for itself. They all say, "but it says normal" If I had not taken copies of the actual report no one would have believed me. Good luck and get well! Shelly

[mari16]

i had left ovary and large cyst removed. they said it was as large as baseball. i am 50 and am in menopause but they never bothered to be sure of that with a bloodtest. they have made tons of errors on all my blood work done lately too. i have no menopause symptoms and have vague pains on the side where ovary was. maybe they did not get all the ovary out or something. 2 months after this surgery i had laproscopic surgery for scar tissue and urethral strictures and incontinence. this surgery cased much heavy bleeding and the doctor could not implant the mesh for the bladder problems due to this. i ended up with pancreatitis and almost died then was in hospital 3 days with iv fluids and constant monitoring with urine tests and blood tests etc. had to also get iv of potassium because i was severely depleted in this apparently. this just about drove me up wall because of the intense pain it caused my arm so they had to have me drink this potassium instead. i got out after 3 days of this and was told i was lucky to have survived this ordeal. i again had surgery 2 years later on the adhesions and scar tissue now formed from one main abdominal surgery to lift bladder 5 years previous to these surgeries and of course the 2 recent surgeries and the ovary/cyst combo removal. the urethral surgery did not accomplish a thing except increase blockage and incontinence as well. when i came out of this surgery i had gerd symptoms and now take pills every day for this. i also got a gallstone and was told that gallbladder would have to now be taken out. then they changed their mind and now i still have gallbladder intact with the gerd problems and swallowing etc at times. after the first scar tissue urethral block surgery my throat had some loose tissue in it and i never had this problem previous to the surgery at all! it seems that these 2 surgeries messed me up and made more problems...oh and now they found heart valve regurgitation and want me on heart meds. and thyroid abnormally low...i am on neither as i do not believe their blood tests any longer since they messed them up so many times before...i do not have low thyroid symptoms nor do i have symptoms of any heart failure or problems associated with heart valve disease. now however i have constant sinus problems and they did admit to a nasal polyup and did not remove this. ear conditions now along with the sinus and ear tube infection and narrowing with fluid also at times causing dizziness at infrequent times. antibiotic use has caused severe yeast infections and recurr after heavy doses of antibiotics which they now say i have to take if having teeth even cleaned or having colonoscopy which i now need to undergo being 50 and also heavy times of bleeding from the anal region and much pain. was not in so much medical need until after these 2 disasterous surgeries occurred. seems that the ovarian cyst problem happened after a copper 7 iud device was put in place...when he removed it after i complained of side pain....he punctured something and i nearly died that time as well...the bleeding from anal region happened after a student nurse at a local women's clinic put a speculum up in that area in error...have had troubles ever since and also a female doctor at the local hospital where i had past surgeries such as d and cs and the like also put a speculum up the urethra! i was too shocked to say a thing and this could be also why my bladder is now urethral blocked and need dilations in 2 to 4 weeks timeframes to control blockage and illness which they say could also kill me since it is blocking up to the kidneys...and have had kidney colic at times of most blockages. i tried to obtain a lawyer with no success..no one will take on the doctors and they have done this to me....such is life i guess..i also could not breath when i was in recovery room and they had to put oxygen on me for a short time. after this i had hard time remembering things and getting back into my job etc...one last thing is that i developed back and neck pain like they maybe dropped me after surgery or something and yanked left arm as well. felt like car accident after the surgery etc...i also have fibroids in the ueterus that could be blocking flow of urine etc but they refuse to remove these fibroids...also have cysts in ovary on other side also but these are much smaller...and hopefully are gone for good....the fibroids are a bit large and should be removed but of course certain ob clinics do not believe in treating a gyn patient with any semblence of courtesy or treatment for such things that do not involve children etc...is very much a terrible thing when ob/gyn does not help single women with no kids and urology has not a clue for female urethral blockage but tend to cure older men with prostate the best...where is a doctor who treats single women who have enlarged abdomens from the fibroids and cysts but cannot obtain a hysterectomy due to womens groups who will not let this happen due to funding only for ob oriented patients only. this seems very unfair and seems some type of special interest groups are to blame here. funding is stopped due to these same groups so is a viscious circle indeed. have had heavy periods when i did have a period and much near fainting conditions with it and abdomen pain and still have abdomen pain and can not eat certain foods at times and can only eat small amounts without the problems now occurring with much bm and bleeding and diarrhea as well at times very frequently and of course dehydration from the constant diarrhea. have near blood clot like problems in legs now and swelling too in feet and ankles and upper legs pain and numbness at times...go to chiropractor every 2 to 3 weeks for continual pain and stiffness and of course am expecting to self catheterize myself for life and i cannot do this hence the blockage gets worse and life threatening as well..have 2 family medical leaves for these conditions and am missing much work and will be going to mayo clinic soon so hope to clear some of this mess up soon. mary

[MrsTrip]

thank you for your prompt answer but now i'm wondering why my doctor made his diagnosis from 1 round of blood tests and then immediately requested surgery without performing any of the other tests you mentioned guess its time for a new doctor thanks for the help  mrs trip