doctor called today..unsure what to do!

[summer22]

I have bilateral cysts/nodules the gyn has been watching since April 2006. The last u/s showed a slight increase of both and calling them "hypoechoic solid lesion and a solid nodule"
The ca-125 went down from 41 to 25 but the doctor said even though that is reassuring it is not for diagnosing.
He said I could either be conservative and wait 6 weeks for another trans u/s or he could remove both ovarian lesions along with the ovaries (i am 48 yr).  He said he is not worried about them, but it was up to me. I asked his opinion and he said he advises waiting 6 weeks and getting a repeat u/s.
I told him I would wait 6 weeks for another u/s .
I was surprised that he said when and if surgery happens, it will be removal of the ovaries. Which opens a whole new bunch of questions for me. I am thinking that the doctor feels with my age, it is best to just remove them to avoid cancer risk later. I don't know if I should wait 6 weeks. He said the lesions are small (2.4 x 2.3 x 2.2 cm for one) and (2.2 x 1.5 x 1.9 cm for the left ovary)
Is it better to just get the ovaries out now since I will be going through menopause in the next year or two???
I'm afraid of hormone replacement too, but that is something I would have to face in 3-5 yrs anyway. I was thinking about looking into bio-identical.
I also have a fibroid on my uterus that is 1.2 cm, grown since last u/s. Should I get the uterus removed as well.
ANy info or similar experiences out there?
Why don't guys have to go through all this decison making as they get older!!!!???

[turtledovemom]

ne'chee...
I can read.  Can you?  summer shared quite a bit of her information, but we haven't had the opportunity to see exactly what it is that her doctor has seen.  None of us are seers and know what her genetic background is.  None of us wishes her ill.  Certainly, none of us wants her to suffer needlessly.  We're not sheep.  We're women with intellect and sensitivity.  There's nothing "cheerful" about this topic and we understand this.  Trust me, we understand this all too well.  I haven't seen one post encourage her to blindly accept a hysterectomy.  

dairelle...
I'm so sorry to hear about how your Mom suffered through her experience, but glad that she found a treatment that suited her individual situation.

summer...
I'm so sorry if your thread is causing you even the slightest thought of not sharing with us again.  Please keep us posted as to how you're doing.  Let us know if we can be of any assistance to you at all.  
peace,
Anne

[dairelle]

I have just had the opportunity to read whatever is left of this posting. Comments that remain, that is.  I am almost in tears reading the insulting terms and finger pointing in this thread.  I cant help but recall all childhood memory of my mother suffering in pain month after month.  She did not develop ovca but did at 42 years go through with a full hystorectomy.  She was full of fybroids and has since been on HRT.  It is sad that she doesn't have a place to discuss her situation like this forum.  And that my childhood consisted of my mother face down on the couch or floor for twenty years that I remember from passing out or just shear pain.  She is a different woman today and I couldn't imagine her havin to suffer one more day.  I am thankful that she didn't have to read the offensive lingo.  She is not a fixed cat.  

The original poster is asking about bios and information that can help support HER difficult decision. I think that almost all of the women on this forum have endured enough with their personal jouneys and there have been difficult decisions to make for each and everyone one of us.  Yes, I am new here but have sought the support from this forum to better understand what I too am going through.  Nobody here should just blindly be led by our doctors.  

[ne'chee]

The pathology as described was not diagnosed as cancer.

[turtledovemom]

As always, Mary shares the research that she has accumulated over the years...much the same you have admitted to be doing.  Mary is also very clear about the fact that she has made her own health decisions along with her licensed, medical caregivers.  She references the Northrup and Uzzi publications which are both readily available to us all.  In fact, Dr. Uzzi's book is used by a significant number of gyn's an gyn/onc's.  Mary is not in violation of the Terms and Conditions of medhelp.org.  Moreover, Mary has consistently demonstrated the true spirit of this site in that she offers patient to patient support.

[ne'chee]

The original poster asked for information about ovarian cysts. She has not been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, or any of the other pathologies some of the respondents in the thread have. So it is entirely appropriate to give her information and direction to information about cysts, which cysts are what, and what might be done about them. It is not appropriate to tell her what you did for your ovarian cancer with the implication that's what she should now think about, nor is it appropriate to "sell" her on bio-identical hormones which someone took after their ovarian cancer. Support does not mean cheerily encouraging someone to make your choice, even *if* her pathology turns out to be the same.

[kathy o]

Are you prepared when you scare a women from having a hysterecomy by calling it a castration. I quite frankly am sick and tired of your attitude. I as alot of other women on here have OVCA, you have been asked many times to let us try and help you through your Ovca, but you refuse to tell us anything about it.  My Hysterectomy was performed as were many on here to save our lives, we do not have an alternative unless you think of death as one. Mary is well liked and respected on here and as all of us she was giving her opinion and what has worked for her after her Cancer Diagnoses. I in stage three with 30 chemos later do not need your sort of stress or crappy attitude, I have always found this place as a safe haven and then you come along and ruined it for alot of people. I do not mean to be harsh but life at this point is too short for negative attitudes.......
Kathy