ovarian cysts.........cancer risk

[kirakarana]

My mother was recently diagnosed and treated for stage III ovarian cancer. My doctor says I have 2 cysts on my ovaries( I am 47) and they look like hemmorhagic cysts or endometriomas on ultrasound. He suggested hormone replacement or hysterectomy. Should I consider myself at much greater risk of oc? I opted to wait 3 months and repeat ultrasound to see if cysts get smaller on their own. Should I be more aggressive in treating these cysts?

[Heffmeister]

There's a certain gene that can be looked for that is a marker for a higher risk of ovca (can't remember which but you can google it). If you have relatives with breast cancer that increases your risk to. I don't think it's recommended to biopsy cysts as they may rupture and if there are any nasty cells they could spread.

I don't have any high risk factors for ovca yet still at 32 have been diagnosed with stage 1a and am now coming to the decision to have a total hysterctomy. I have my 2 children and the worry is just to much, soooo I suppose my opinion agrees with the posts above although I see no harm in waiting to see what the cysts are doing. Hope your 2nd opinion helps you. x

[kirakarana]

Thank you for your responses.....it is very encouraging to have support like this. I really wanted to wait and hope that all would be resolved with menopause, but now that my mom had oc post menopause, I feel like I will always be wondering if I will get it and there seems to be no way to know accept through surgery. I will be getting a second opinion soon and my next ultrasound is on 5/24. I really do appreciate the support and will pray for all of you.
K

[henning]

I have to agree with painterchic, that was sent to her by fate cuz that was a really awesome reply. I too had to face that decision when i was 26 yrs old (i'll be 50 this year) and it is a hard decision and not to mention the emotions even after that a women goes through. But I had two babies that needed me and i never regretted my decision to have it done either. I'm enjoying my grandchildren and life, I just wish I had both ovaries taken at the time but they left one in and i think i might be having problems with that one. good reply
Penny

[painterchic]

I am sorry to hear about your mom going through this, my aunt is struggling with stage 3 as well. It's hard for anyone. Your post just happened to come to my email today so I am going with my gut feeling that fate says to answer it - Despite my lack of expertise.

I have walked in your shoes somewhat. With "problematic" ovaries and cancer history in my family, the stress and worry about those ovaries consumed me at one point. My doctor advised the same thing, hysterectomy/horomone replacement. I resisted. But when I finally realized how much I had to lose IF it should become cancerous (which was a higher percentage than average) and how much time I had wasted already worrying about it, I made the decision to let it go. I had my children, in my 40's, menopause was around the corner anyway, and I was otherwise relatively healthy. This was the monkey on my back, not only stopping from living my life fully physically but emotionally.

I had the hystorectomy. It was a HARD decision. If you read old posts of mine you will know this. But it was the right one for me. I have never regretted it for one minute. I never will. I am free from the pain of the cysts and the worry of OVCA. I look at it as a gift, wrapped up in a hot flash or two. A small price to pay in the end. Do your homework. Read posts. Ask more questions. Get a second opinion and a CA-125 for at least a baseline marker.
As I said earlier, I am NOT an expert, but you have come to the right place, there are many women here who are. By knowledge and by experience. This is just mine, one of hundreds, thousands.
Best of luck to you, and to your mom.
J