Ovarian cancer screening - is there any point?

[sharon1630]

Doctor, I've been through 10 months of tests to try and track down a diagnosis.  I'm 39, have awful nausea, severe weight loss, stomach pain, discharge, a cough that won't go away, irregular bowel movements, fatigue and generally the energy of a 100 year old woman. Trying to get medical info from adoption centre since I have no family background to provide the medics.  I have been through the gamut of tests, colonoscopy, endoscopy, blood tests, CA-125 marker tests, ultrasounds including transvaginal, - everything 'appears' normal but my health is not and I know it's 'not in my head'.  As far as I know, ovaries may 'look' normal but can shed cancerous cell that attach themselves onto other organs.

From a realistic point of view, unless tiny cancer nodules grow or form a clump/tumour large enough for the specialists to detect, or I can convince someone to do a biopsy (not likely, I've been pounding down doors) there's really not much one can do, is there?

[sharon1630]

Full body PET scan sounds like a good idea, I have some dough saved up - all I need is to convince a medic that it needs to be done - not like health care has to pay for it.

Getting tired of being told I'm crazy.  Thanks for the advice, Angie!

[Angie1992]

I feel so bad, how awful!  Does the doctor you see want to continue to do more testing?  If not, you need to see another doctor.  Have you had a full body pet scan?  If you have, I think it's time for your doctor to recommend a specialist.  I know it's frustrating, but don't leave any stone unturned, there are more tests and other doctors to help, keep going until you get an answer.  Wishing you speedy answers, Angie