Aa
worried about problems
I have always had irregular and sometimes painful periods, starting at 8 years old. At 37 I am still the same. One period lasted for 6 months. I have had numerous test in the past all ok except for some clusters of cyst in womb, but they did nothing for it. My last period was VERY heavy and VERY painful when I attended my doc & at that time he took a blood test and my ca125 was 55. I am really worried. I have heard menustration can cause it, i am going to a gyn consultant, but would i be having other symptoms if I had cancer? Please help!
Please....anyone. Is a cyst cancer? Do they go away naturally.
Please....anyone. Is a cyst cancer? Do they go away naturally.
Just want to say a special thank you to mickeyvicki and suzsen, i found your comments so helpful and i am so grateful for you taking the time to write. My doc has tried many things including the Mirena coil to regulate my period, but all has failed. But, at the moment I have ease of mind. Thank you
Statistically speaking when compared to solid tumors, cysts are less likely to be malignant.
Also, a number of factors can influence the CA-125 levels. As it is obvious that you have irregular hormonal levels, I am not surprised to read that you have a mildly elevated level.
Has your doctor ever attempted to relieve the condition that is causing your irregular cycles, or have you just left the situation to 'nature' to handle it? I do not know your underlying condition, but in the event that you have a type of disfunctional ovarian condition like PCOS, then take some comfort from the fact that conditions like PCOS are believed to reduce the chances of developing ovca.
Also, a number of factors can influence the CA-125 levels. As it is obvious that you have irregular hormonal levels, I am not surprised to read that you have a mildly elevated level.
Has your doctor ever attempted to relieve the condition that is causing your irregular cycles, or have you just left the situation to 'nature' to handle it? I do not know your underlying condition, but in the event that you have a type of disfunctional ovarian condition like PCOS, then take some comfort from the fact that conditions like PCOS are believed to reduce the chances of developing ovca.
Most cysts are BENIGN, especially at your age.
55 is SLIGHTLY elevated for a CA125 but I've heard of women with CA125's in the hundreds and even the thousands. CA125 is notoriously unreliable for detecting ovarian cancer. The majority of women with an elevated CA125 do NOT have ovca. It can be raised by a lot of things - benign ovarian cysts, endometriosis, etc.
"Cysts" IN your uterus sound like fibroids, which are benign but can cause very heavy bleeding and painful periods. They are very common. Fibroids do not go away on their own. There are different ways to treat them: birth control pills help some women, there are minimally invasive procedures to block their blood supply, or you can have a hysterectomy and have your uterus removed. I had mine removed at age 39 for fibroids and another condition called adenomyosis; it was the best thing I ever did.
Ovarian cysts are NOT IN the uterus, they are on your ovary. Many women get "functional" ovarian cysts that resolve on their own. Others have other types of cysts that are also benign but do not go away on their own, they are usually removed surgically.
Unfortunately the symptoms for ovarian cancer are pretty much the same as for ovarian cysts. There is no reliable test for early stage ovca; the only way to know for sure is to remove the cyst and test it. Your symptoms don't correspond with ovarian cancer but I'd keep one thing in mind -- starting your periods at such a young age (8) does raise your risk slightly for developing ovca. The average woman only has a 1.8% chance of getting ovca in her lifetime, so your risk is still very small.
I suggest you go to www.mayoclinic.com . In their alphabetical listing of "diseases and conditions" look up "fibroids, uterine" and "ovarian cysts." Under fibroids, the signs and symptoms sound like what you have described.
Please see the gyn as scheduled, they will be able to help you make sense of this and hopefully give you some options to get relief.
Good luck!
55 is SLIGHTLY elevated for a CA125 but I've heard of women with CA125's in the hundreds and even the thousands. CA125 is notoriously unreliable for detecting ovarian cancer. The majority of women with an elevated CA125 do NOT have ovca. It can be raised by a lot of things - benign ovarian cysts, endometriosis, etc.
"Cysts" IN your uterus sound like fibroids, which are benign but can cause very heavy bleeding and painful periods. They are very common. Fibroids do not go away on their own. There are different ways to treat them: birth control pills help some women, there are minimally invasive procedures to block their blood supply, or you can have a hysterectomy and have your uterus removed. I had mine removed at age 39 for fibroids and another condition called adenomyosis; it was the best thing I ever did.
Ovarian cysts are NOT IN the uterus, they are on your ovary. Many women get "functional" ovarian cysts that resolve on their own. Others have other types of cysts that are also benign but do not go away on their own, they are usually removed surgically.
Unfortunately the symptoms for ovarian cancer are pretty much the same as for ovarian cysts. There is no reliable test for early stage ovca; the only way to know for sure is to remove the cyst and test it. Your symptoms don't correspond with ovarian cancer but I'd keep one thing in mind -- starting your periods at such a young age (8) does raise your risk slightly for developing ovca. The average woman only has a 1.8% chance of getting ovca in her lifetime, so your risk is still very small.
I suggest you go to www.mayoclinic.com . In their alphabetical listing of "diseases and conditions" look up "fibroids, uterine" and "ovarian cysts." Under fibroids, the signs and symptoms sound like what you have described.
Please see the gyn as scheduled, they will be able to help you make sense of this and hopefully give you some options to get relief.
Good luck!
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