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Complications from high-risk ovarian surgery?!
My doctor strongly urges me to have my 5-cm complex cyst removed laparoscopically, which will necessitate the removal of my only remaining ovary. I'm 39 with a strong family history of ovarian cancer. My concern is that the doctor warned me that due to my high number of previous abdominal surgeries, I'm at very high risk of incurring damage to my colon or kidneys during surgery--he even mentioned needing a colostomy bag for the rest of my life. I'm so worried and feel like this is a catch-22 situation. Any suggestions or insight?
COMMUNITY LEADER
I wish I had more to offer. I hope you get answers and relief soon! If you do end up having surgery and the cyst is benign, then they should be able to save your ovary (do a cystectomy instead of oophorectomy) IF you have a surgeon with those skills.
Do you know what type of reproductive cancer killed your grandmother? Some health conditions and medications increase risk of endometrial cancer. And high risk HPV increases risk of cervical cancer. Ovarian is the one that is BRCA1 and 2 related.
Do you know what type of reproductive cancer killed your grandmother? Some health conditions and medications increase risk of endometrial cancer. And high risk HPV increases risk of cervical cancer. Ovarian is the one that is BRCA1 and 2 related.
OBMT, Thanks for responding to me again. This cyst is new in the last 12 months and has already grown to 5 cm. I am BRCA1-, but my mom (succumbing to Stage IV ovarian cancer right now) and sister (had both ovaries preventively removed this summer) are positive. However, they carry the gene from my maternal grandfather's side, but my maternal grandmother died of reproductive cancer, even though she wasn't a BRCA1 gene mutation carrier. My right ovary was removed when I was 22, and I don't remember what type of cyst it was--I plan to ask my former OB/GYN for more information. I know that you strongly advocate extreme caution when making the choice to remove ovaries, and I'm very concerned that I will be thrust into menopause at 40, but I'm not sure if I have a choice about the surgery. I've been in so much discomfort due to abdominal pain, and I've lost about 30 pounds now within 2 months. I'm so malnourished that I'm losing about a pound a day--I am still very overweight, but very weak due to this unplanned rapid weight loss. I'm also in the care of a GI specialist, but my colonoscopy was canceled because the doctor felt that I'm too weak and ill to undergo the procedure right now. I'm worried about early menopause, the risk to my colon and kidneys from the surgery, and that something bad is also going on in my digestive system. I don't know if my symptoms are consistent with ovarian or colon cancer or if there is a less scary explanation for all of this.
COMMUNITY LEADER
I am sorry you are faced with this! How long have you had this cyst? Has it been growing, shrinking, staying the same? What type of cyst did you have on your other ovary that it had to be removed? Complex cysts do sometimes shrink on their own. Have you been tested for the BRCA gene?
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