20 cm mass - Should it be taking this long?

[Erin_MC]

I'm a 30 year old woman who has been suffering with abdominal pain and extreme fatigue for the past few months. About two weeks ago (Friday, Aug 23) I had an ultrasound, scheduled by my doctor. She called me the following Monday, sounding urgent and distressed and informed me I had a 20 cm mass attached to one of my ovaries. She said due the size I would have to have a laparotomy as soon as possible to remove the mass and check for cancer. While this is all a bit frightening, I am mostly relieved to know what the problem is and anxious to get this thing out.

However, since this time I have been unable to get any information. I was referred to a cancer center to see a gyne-oncologist. My doctor's office informed me that I would hear from them four days ago. Every day since then I have called the cancer center and either gotten voice mail, been transferred endlessly and put on hold repeatedly, or been told they would call me back once I had an appointment. So far I have not received any call and they seem annoyed with me when I call them.

Am I worrying too much? I am so uncomfortable and in so much pain that I am unable to work. I would like to at least know approximately when I will be able to see someone and get some answers. My doctor led me to believe that this was a fairly urgent situation, but so far I'm just sitting here day after day, sick and uncomfortable, with no idea what is going on. I don't even know the name of the oncologist!

I suppose I'm just curious from other people with larger cysts, how long did you have to wait for your surgery once it was found? It seems to be pressing on my bladder as I have to pee constantly, so I'm concerned about damage to my organs. I can barely eat, my back is aching and I want to sleep all the time. I feel like if I could at least get some questions answered from a doctor I would feel more at ease.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[Erin_MC]

Thanks so much for the helpful responses ladies! After speaking with our provincial minister of health I was put in contact with a patient care rep at the cancer center and was able to see the oncologist this past Tuesday. While the news wasn't great (complex cyst with septations and nodules as well as free fluid in the abdominal cavity), I now have my surgery set for October 9th!

[Jen12977]

Honestly if it were myself and I was in excruciating pain as you may be feeling I would be on the phone with the administration of that office or center. It is very unprofessional that they are giving you the run around. I would keep a record of when I called both date and time, also I would make a note of who I spoke with and what I was told and the result of what happened. I would report this to administration and see if they could speed up the situation any. It's your health and well being you have to look out for your health-- they would be calling and calling if they experienced your pain as well as if they had a condition such as yours. You need to get this taken care of ASAP because there is a chance that your ovary could flip with that size mass and it could cut off circulation to your Fallopian tube which is extreme pain and could cause you to lose an ovary and tube. Please keep me posted on what happens.

[evewisewoman]

Hello there,
My suggestion is that you make a call to your family doctor. I would even
make an appointment to see your doctor. Sometimes if you just call the
doctor's receptionist, your message gets misplaced or you get the run
around from them. This way you can tell your doctor that you haven't heard
back from the cancer centre. Tell your doctor how frustrated you are and
perhaps your doctor can somehow hurry up the process. Perhaps your
doctor can send an email to the cancer centre explaining your case and
that it is important that you get the laparotomy asap, they will probably want
to biopsy the mass, standard procedure. You can also ask what's involved
in a laparotomy and any other questions you no doubt have. Perhaps someone can go with you to the appointment maybe even drive. You sound
like you're in a lot of discomfort. Sometimes the receptionist wants to know
why you want to see the doctor. You can actually say it's a follow up appointment because it is. It's a follow up to the results of the ultrasound and
that you have some questions and concerns. That usually will get you an
appointment. Good luck to you. I wish you well. Eve