ovarian cysts

I am 50 years old and have been diagnosed with multiple ovarian cysts on both ovaries that were left after a hysterectomy 3 years ago because of excess fibroids.  I have had a cat scan in Oct. 06 and then a vus every 3 months after and they have multiplied and have daughter cysts attached to them.  You can't even see my ovaries because of so many cysts.  My doctor said some have septations in them and are now complex.  He wants to remove my ovaries next month.  I have alot of bloating, pain in the abdomen and groin area penetrating down my legs and feeling full after a small amount of food, whether it be a handful of chips or anything.  I have lost a lot of weight and have no energy anymore.  I usually have to go to the bathroom within a half hour after I eat because the pressure is so urgent.  My doctor hopes that they are just cysts but he says he can't say for sure until he goes and has given me all the options of what I will find when I wake up.  I was wondering if this could possibly be ovarian cancer, my mother had to have a full hysterectomy because of this a few years ago?
I thank you for your help!

[Annekathryn Goodman, M.D.]

Hi There,

You have a good plan. Most cysts are benign but rarely, growing ovarian cysts can have a malignant nature. the fact that you did not have any abnormalities on your ovaries 3 years ago is reassuring. It is common to develop benign cysts in ovaries after a hysterectomy because the blood supply to the ovaries has been reduced. For reasons that I do not understand, this can cause cyst formation.

It sounds like you have a good doctor who is taking good care of you
best wishes

[adosllyn]

A related discussion, Ovarian Mass after Hysterectomy was started.