Aa
Experience in Ovary and Cyst removal
A month ago I was diagnosed with a 5.3 cm. complex cyst on my left ovary from an ultrasound. met with my gynecologist over a week ago she said it was not a normal cyst, was partially solid and partially filled with guk- and am meeting with the surgeon next week. Waiting is tough. Age 55. Have not yet entered menopause though my blood test showed I am just approaching it. Am concerned about the chance the cyst might be cancer..and an anxious to have it removed. CA-125 was within normal limits. Going into immediate menopause is a problem I can handle, cancer is a problem I'd prefer not to. Does anyone know about the outlook for cysts at my age? Have been feeling some discomfort the last few days in my abdomen and intermittent sharp pain in my mid thigh. Have felt better reading the forum as I see others have problems that are far more severe. Anyway any input during this waiting for an appointment stage would be appreciated.
I'm 23 years old. I've been having bad pain in my right ovary for about a month. Went to hospital to find out I have a 5.3 cm cyst. Any help?
I cancelled tomorrow's appointment with the surgeon, as the condition diagnosed on 9/23 was so significantly different from the October Ultrasound that I felt there was no need of a follow up.
My opinion - I think a simple cyst was mistakenly diagnosed as a complex cyst. And how does a fibroid disappear in a month? Maybe, I don't know.. The nurse I spoke to today read the first report and said it in September it was a 7 cm. cyst with another cystlike structure within it. Today there's a 3.5 cm simple cyst. Sounds good to me - Maybe it's better not to look than to go crazy for a month! Thank you for everything. The forum is a nice place to go when you're waiting for answers and on the verge of freaking out!
Josie211
My opinion - I think a simple cyst was mistakenly diagnosed as a complex cyst. And how does a fibroid disappear in a month? Maybe, I don't know.. The nurse I spoke to today read the first report and said it in September it was a 7 cm. cyst with another cystlike structure within it. Today there's a 3.5 cm simple cyst. Sounds good to me - Maybe it's better not to look than to go crazy for a month! Thank you for everything. The forum is a nice place to go when you're waiting for answers and on the verge of freaking out!
Josie211
That sounds like wonderful news to me. That sure shrunk in a hurry.! Do you have a follow up with your Dr.? Keep us posted...
Sandy
Sandy
Hi Ladies,
It's been wonderfully reassuring to have visited this site. Maybe the prayers worked! Went for an ultrasound yesterday and spoke with my gyno's nurse over the phone just now. The 'complex' cyst is gone, (which last month was actually 7 cm), a simple cyst is on my left ovary; I had 2 fibroids in my uterus last month and now have only one! Do you think my test results got mixed up with someone else's? Anyway , thank you so much for your support. Best of luck to you all!
Josie211
It's been wonderfully reassuring to have visited this site. Maybe the prayers worked! Went for an ultrasound yesterday and spoke with my gyno's nurse over the phone just now. The 'complex' cyst is gone, (which last month was actually 7 cm), a simple cyst is on my left ovary; I had 2 fibroids in my uterus last month and now have only one! Do you think my test results got mixed up with someone else's? Anyway , thank you so much for your support. Best of luck to you all!
Josie211
Love your photo - is that the Bahamas? Will let you know how things work out. Thanks for your help. Glad you're feeling better. Do they have any problems giving you the hormones?
Josie211
Josie211
Hi Josie,
Prior to surgery, I was premenopausal, however now I am in surgical menopuause, which is getting a little easier every day. I am still looking forward to the hormones as soon as I see my doc in follow up on the 14th of November.
I too like female doc...especially for this stuff. I had a male doc for the surgery, who I really liked prior to surgery, but am having more of a diffiuclt time getting ahold of him post op....
Take Care
laney
Prior to surgery, I was premenopausal, however now I am in surgical menopuause, which is getting a little easier every day. I am still looking forward to the hormones as soon as I see my doc in follow up on the 14th of November.
I too like female doc...especially for this stuff. I had a male doc for the surgery, who I really liked prior to surgery, but am having more of a diffiuclt time getting ahold of him post op....
Take Care
laney
Hi Sharon,
In answer to your question, all he said was there were some liquid components so he didn't think it was a problem... It was a quick crazy visit... I feel so much more comfortable with a female doctor.
In answer to your question, all he said was there were some liquid components so he didn't think it was a problem... It was a quick crazy visit... I feel so much more comfortable with a female doctor.
I guess I'll just follow through with this ultrasound and see what the findings are - I had gone to the surgeon thinking he was going to give me a date for the removal - so when he gave me all those other options - I got confused. Seems checking it once more won't delay anything. At my age if it's the same or larger - I'm going to opt for the surgery.
I have some pain, fullness and discomfort, but this started a couple of weeks after I found out I had the cyst - so we could have some psychosomatic stuff going on.
The surgeon said only 12,000 women die a year of ovarian cancer; a hundred plus thousand die of heart disease so I would more likely die of that. It was his way of assuring me I was OK. Maybe I need another surgeon's opinion.
Laney, are you pre or post menopausal?
I have some pain, fullness and discomfort, but this started a couple of weeks after I found out I had the cyst - so we could have some psychosomatic stuff going on.
The surgeon said only 12,000 women die a year of ovarian cancer; a hundred plus thousand die of heart disease so I would more likely die of that. It was his way of assuring me I was OK. Maybe I need another surgeon's opinion.
Laney, are you pre or post menopausal?
Hi Josie,
Hmmmm, I don't know what to think of this post. My first reaction is lol, typical male doctor...heheheh. My 2 cents for what it is worth, I had 4 complex cysts on my ovaries. They were bilateral, we watched them for a year. They continued to grow slowly, never resolved. My gyn/onc told me, if they haven't gone away in a few cycles, they are not going anywhere. I did the every 4-6 ultrasoun, kept getting more and more stressed over what these "things" were and decided to just bite the bullet and follow the advice of my gyn/onc who said to remove them and the ovaries. They ended up being endometriomas,hemorrhagic and a mucinious cystadenoma that is being re-read pathology wise. My doc was sure it was nothing and didn't expect any suprises....well, suprise, suprise. I am not trying to make you nervous but in all honesty, the docs can absolutely take educated guesses, but until they go in and remove tissue, there is no way they can say 100% that it is nothing. So, on that note you can do different things. You can play the watch and wait game as I did for awhile (As long as it doesn't push you over the edge) or you can have them removed if there is any change in size or shape of the cysts. Stay on top of this and keep us posted. Im sure everything will work out great. You are in my thoughts and prayers....
Love
Laney
Hmmmm, I don't know what to think of this post. My first reaction is lol, typical male doctor...heheheh. My 2 cents for what it is worth, I had 4 complex cysts on my ovaries. They were bilateral, we watched them for a year. They continued to grow slowly, never resolved. My gyn/onc told me, if they haven't gone away in a few cycles, they are not going anywhere. I did the every 4-6 ultrasoun, kept getting more and more stressed over what these "things" were and decided to just bite the bullet and follow the advice of my gyn/onc who said to remove them and the ovaries. They ended up being endometriomas,hemorrhagic and a mucinious cystadenoma that is being re-read pathology wise. My doc was sure it was nothing and didn't expect any suprises....well, suprise, suprise. I am not trying to make you nervous but in all honesty, the docs can absolutely take educated guesses, but until they go in and remove tissue, there is no way they can say 100% that it is nothing. So, on that note you can do different things. You can play the watch and wait game as I did for awhile (As long as it doesn't push you over the edge) or you can have them removed if there is any change in size or shape of the cysts. Stay on top of this and keep us posted. Im sure everything will work out great. You are in my thoughts and prayers....
Love
Laney
hi ... you didnt say if u were in pain or the cyst is causing problems like urinary frequency or urgency or changes in bowel habits
but anyways ... i knew of one woman who had a 6cm complex cyst that she claims spontaneosly reduced ... but of all the stories i read she is the only one
it is the standard of care that everything over 5 cm be surgiacally reduced
due to ... at the minium ... possible torsion or necrosis
i think what u and ur docs are doing seems appropriate and i pray u all the best
love
sharon
ps - did he give u any indicatio why he was so certain of a cyst vs. cancer differential ?
just curious
but anyways ... i knew of one woman who had a 6cm complex cyst that she claims spontaneosly reduced ... but of all the stories i read she is the only one
it is the standard of care that everything over 5 cm be surgiacally reduced
due to ... at the minium ... possible torsion or necrosis
i think what u and ur docs are doing seems appropriate and i pray u all the best
love
sharon
ps - did he give u any indicatio why he was so certain of a cyst vs. cancer differential ?
just curious
Visited the (male) surgeon my gyno recommended and it was an experience. He said I don't have cancer and I asked him if he'd ever been wrong and he said "no, sometimes I have to go in and remove the cyst to prove it to myself but I've never been wrong" he told me my (female) gyno who referred me to him, believes all the patients she refers to him should have their ovary or whatever needs removing, removed" Told me I had 3 choices - watch it and hope it goes away as I haven't yet reached menopause at age 55 or schedule surgey, go thru all the pre-op and if the sonogram just prior to surgery shows it is decreasing, cancel the surgery...or check it this week, which I dizzily agreed to and see him again in Friday - if it has grown, he'll speed up the surgical date.
Any opinions on this - think it's right - from what I understood it was not likely for a complex cyst to go away..
Josie211
I think I'll call my gyno tomorrow and ask what she thinks. I'm relieved with his assessment of the cyst - and hope he's right.
Any opinions on this - think it's right - from what I understood it was not likely for a complex cyst to go away..
Josie211
I think I'll call my gyno tomorrow and ask what she thinks. I'm relieved with his assessment of the cyst - and hope he's right.
Good luck with the sonogram. Thanks for weighing in. Let me know what they decide to do. This waiting is the pits, but it's because there's so many of us out there waiting to be seen and some probably a lot more in need than we are. Which makes it easier to stand in line. A woman's body is magical in its ability to give life, but when the reproductive parts age, nature sure doesn't give us any rewards.
Keep in touch. My niece lives in Texas, married a cowboy and loves it.
Josie211
Keep in touch. My niece lives in Texas, married a cowboy and loves it.
Josie211
I'm 44 and have a 4.5 cm complex cyst on left ovary and a simple cyst on the right ovary. I go tomorrow for my 2nd transvaginal sonogram....dreading that!
I also am in menopause...confirmed by blood test. I had my partial hyster Sept 2007. At that time I did have a small cyst that was drained.
My CA-125 is 10.
Seems like we have a lot in common. I may be facing surgery as well...the result of the sonogram tomorrow with determine the fate of my left ovary (smile).
I think the "waiting" is the hardest part. But, we really shouldn't waste a good worry. Of course, that's easier said than done.
I'll be following you....the eyes of Texas are upon you (smile). Please post and let us know how things are going and what you find out.
Deadra
I also am in menopause...confirmed by blood test. I had my partial hyster Sept 2007. At that time I did have a small cyst that was drained.
My CA-125 is 10.
Seems like we have a lot in common. I may be facing surgery as well...the result of the sonogram tomorrow with determine the fate of my left ovary (smile).
I think the "waiting" is the hardest part. But, we really shouldn't waste a good worry. Of course, that's easier said than done.
I'll be following you....the eyes of Texas are upon you (smile). Please post and let us know how things are going and what you find out.
Deadra
Hi again,
Just wanted to mention that along with the cyst , the ovary and tube went with it (LOL) but I'm way past menopause so losing an ovary wasn't a big deal . Actually I wondered why on earth not take the whole kit and kaboodle out, but she wouldn't do it... and I agree with Laney, seeing a Gyn/Onc is a very good thing..
And please drop us a line after your Dr. appt.
Take care
Sandy
Just wanted to mention that along with the cyst , the ovary and tube went with it (LOL) but I'm way past menopause so losing an ovary wasn't a big deal . Actually I wondered why on earth not take the whole kit and kaboodle out, but she wouldn't do it... and I agree with Laney, seeing a Gyn/Onc is a very good thing..
And please drop us a line after your Dr. appt.
Take care
Sandy
good for your doc to refer you to a gyn/onc. They are the best trained in these things. I too had a gyn/onc do my surgery. Keep us posted
Laney
Laney
Thank you Sandymac and Laney8463,
I read some on some hospital's website that up to 30% of complex cysts in women over age 50 were cancer which was pretty frightening - but that was the only place I read that high percentage. Thanks for the 95% benign info, I'll go with that and hope for the best. My gyno thinks it will be laparoscopic; she's not doing surgeries anymore - she referred me to a gynecological oncologist who I meet with next week.
Josie 2110
I read some on some hospital's website that up to 30% of complex cysts in women over age 50 were cancer which was pretty frightening - but that was the only place I read that high percentage. Thanks for the 95% benign info, I'll go with that and hope for the best. My gyno thinks it will be laparoscopic; she's not doing surgeries anymore - she referred me to a gynecological oncologist who I meet with next week.
Josie 2110
Hi there,
Sandy is absolutely right. I just had 2 suspicious looking cysts that were complex in nature with the same (fluid/solid) components removed last week. I am still waiting for the path results, but mine looked like endometriomas. I wasn't looking forward to surgical menopause as Im only 45, but the alternatives weren't looking good either. I just figure I will take HRT as soon as I can and see what happens. Try not to worry, I know it's easier said than done, but remember 95% of cysts are benign. Keep us posted and good luck with all this.
Laney
Sandy is absolutely right. I just had 2 suspicious looking cysts that were complex in nature with the same (fluid/solid) components removed last week. I am still waiting for the path results, but mine looked like endometriomas. I wasn't looking forward to surgical menopause as Im only 45, but the alternatives weren't looking good either. I just figure I will take HRT as soon as I can and see what happens. Try not to worry, I know it's easier said than done, but remember 95% of cysts are benign. Keep us posted and good luck with all this.
Laney
Hi,
I'm postmenopausal and had a cyst removed in January. Even though cysts are not as common as they are in younger women , we still get them and the chances of them being benign are still 95 %.They do like to monitor them a little more closely in women our age though. Try not to worry.
Are they considering the laparoscopic procedure ? If so , it really is a piece of cake.. Outpatient surgery, recovery in just a few weeks. You might check out the top right of this page , where you'll see "Health Pages" . There is a lot of information about cysts.
It's good that your CA-125 is within normal limits. Usually with younger women, those results are not always reliable, but with us, it gives a better idea.
Please try not to worry and keep in touch with us..
Take care,
Sandy
I'm postmenopausal and had a cyst removed in January. Even though cysts are not as common as they are in younger women , we still get them and the chances of them being benign are still 95 %.They do like to monitor them a little more closely in women our age though. Try not to worry.
Are they considering the laparoscopic procedure ? If so , it really is a piece of cake.. Outpatient surgery, recovery in just a few weeks. You might check out the top right of this page , where you'll see "Health Pages" . There is a lot of information about cysts.
It's good that your CA-125 is within normal limits. Usually with younger women, those results are not always reliable, but with us, it gives a better idea.
Please try not to worry and keep in touch with us..
Take care,
Sandy
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Ovarian Cysts Community
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
Normal vaginal discharge varies in color, smell, texture and amount.
Bumps in the genital area might be STDs, but are usually not serious.
Chlamydia, an STI, often has no symptoms, but must be treated.
From skin changes to weight loss to unusual bleeding, here are 15 cancer warning signs that women tend to ignore.
