10cm pelvic cyst

[grumpyx2]

Hi.  I have Stage 3 breast cancer and had a bilateral mastectomy March 10.  During the testing a pelvic mass of 10cm was found in my pelvis.  I was told that it was okay to go ahead with the mastectomy but now the doctor wants me to see a GYN oncologist before he will proceed with chemo.  My gyn told me that the tumor markers were good after having both an ultrasound and an MRI.  I really, really don't want to have more surgery.  I haven't even healed from the mastectomy yet!  I am so afraid that it is cancer too.  Does anyone have any thoughts?!  If the tumor markers are good doesn't that mean that it is NOT cancer?!  Please help.

[islandgrl47]

I had my 10 cm cyst removed on March 22  the surgery was performed by a gyn/onc and went well. There was pain in my abdomen for about 8 days but nothing that could not be releived with alternating acetaminophen and ibuprofen. My staples were removed in 7 days and the incision scabbed over and is still healing but nothing bad. I needed a 6 inch vertical incision because of some adhesions. The doctor said if the adhesions were not there the incision would have been smaller. My back pain and excruciating cramps are gone. If your procedure goes as well as mine, you should breeze through it.   I am 47. I had the Best gyn/onc on L.I. At S.B. I hope this is helpful and send healing prayers

[MarieMichele]

There is some connection between breast and ovarian cancer but I do not know much about it. Some cancers do not impact the tumor marker test and you can get a false negative (or false positive from other benign conditions). The cyst could be benign but there is no certainty until it is removed entirely and tested. At 10 cm it really has to go. That's the size I had and plenty of health issues were being caused by it.

I am so sorry about what you are going through, still healing from prior surgery, but eventually the cyst has to be removed, too. I know from experience that even a benign cyst seriously impacts health. After being  diagnosed with breast cancer you need to be even more vigilant to remove  unusual growths that are discovered, such as this cyst. Sorry...I know it is not the answer you wanted, and I don't blame you. It might have been easier if they found the cyst sooner and removed it the same time as the other surgery rather than deal with another hospitalization. Mostly you should trust what your doctors recommend. Best wishes.