Are there any alternatives to surgery during my second trimester pregnancy for the removal of a large mural nodularity (3.4x2.7x3.0 cm) within a complex solid cystic mass measuring (5.4 x 2.4 x 5.4 cm)

[iamjoyfull]

I am 8 weeks 4 days pregnant and have just discovered through an US after cramping in my left side that my left ovary measures 3.5 x 2.2 x 2.7 cm and attached to this left ovary is a large complex solid and cystic mass in the left adnexa, measuring (5.4 x 2.4 x 5.4 cm) with evidence of a large mural nodularity, the largest of which measures (3.4x2.7x3.0 cm) There is no hypervascularity. The right ovary is unremarkable, measuring 4.7 x 2.4 x 3.2 cm.  No free fluid is identified.

I am seeking additional advice to support the advice I have already received or explore alternative options for treatment.

I have a follow up ultrasound scheduled in one month to observe the cysts size.  If it has shrunk it is likely that it was blood clotting that was showing up on the US and the cyst will continue to shrink making this a functional, albiet unusual cyst.

If there is no size reduction or growth shown through the US I am being advised to have surgery in my second trimester of pregnancy to remove the cyst so that it can be checked for malignancy.

I would like to know what the risks are associated with waiting a few more months to see if the cyst will reduce in size.  What are the chances that a cyst will reduce in size? What is the optimal time to have an invasive procedure during gestation and why?  Are there any steps I can take to encourage size reduction or elimination naturally?  What does the phrase "there is no evidence of hypervascularity" mean? What is indicated by the observation of no free fluid is identified?

I have read in "Healing with Whole Foods" the textbook for macrobiotic studies by Paul Pitchford about using a combination of turmeric, licorice root, cinnamon bark and peach seed, for speeding the reabsorbtion of tumors cancers and similar growths in the lower abdominal region. Are there any contraindications during pregnancy for these substances?

I appreciate your input and thank you in advance for your time.

[TrudieC]

Please please please don't take or do anything without your doctor's knowledge.  There are many of us who have had cysts and/or ovarian cancer and if taking what you are suggesting actually works we all would have been in line to try it and the media would be shouting its benefits.  I have heard of successful surgeries in the 2nd trimester.  It is good you are getting an additional opinion.  Take care and please keep us updated.

[dian07]

Hello...so sorry this is interupting what shoul be a time of utter joy.  My suggestion to you is that you get a referral to a gyn/oncologist immediately!  He/she is the one who can answer all your questions and hopefully  calm some of your ligitimate fears.  I certainly hope all turns out well.  Please do keep us posted on your progress.
Peace.
dian

[iamjoyfull]

Thankfully, through grace, I am still experiencing a tremendous amount of joy and calmness.

I will not do anything w/out my Dr's knowledge.  I have already seen a perinatal ob/gyn and am following up with a gyn/oncologist.

In addition to that wanted to post my situation to this forum to see what kind of feed-back I could receive.  I appreciate all your responses.

[StillFighting]

hahahahahahaha I'd get another oppinion.

If your baby is not as risk by the cyst then I see no immediate need to remove it. Are you having a C section? If so why can't they remove it then? If not, why not?

[Sharon2714]

when they repeat ur tvus look for a few things
1. has it shrunk  ? meaning it was likely hemorraghic in nature ?  was (excuse for this deeply personal question) this baby conceived using clomid or other ovulation stimultion ? many hemmoraghic cysts pop up after a round of clomid etc
2. have the doc show u where the baby is at in utero.  make sure they show u that it is implanting along the endometrial stripe (or landing pad) and r/o ectopic pregnancy
3. im from the old school ... most all invasive procedures that can be held off until after delivery should be ... some dentists wont do a root canal on a pregnant woman etc. laparotomy a quite a bit more invasive than that .. talk with ur doc and discuss ur options on this point.  if it were me .... i would wait until after delivery
4.no hypervasularity is a good thing ... it basically means that there are no observable new blood cells feeding the mass which is a strong indicator again of a cyst that is hemmoraghic in nature .. cancerous tumors need a new blood supply to survive
5. free fluid anywhere but the cul de sac is a good sign too .. so u got some  positive results from ur tvus
6. read the cyst pamphlet (link is in the post by jan 214) it is uber informative
7. during pregnancy do not put anything into ur body that u wouldnt put in ur baby's mouth except what is prescribed by a dr.  u may be too young to remember the children of thalidumide.
8. please please please listen to the advice of the above ladies
9. get that second opinion .. it really looks like ur doing ur very best for ur baby
god bless u and ur family as u continue to grow in love and size
sharon

[Sharon2714]

oips i meant blood supply instead of blood cells .. im a typomaniac

[iamjoyfull]

Thanks for the extensive reply.

Baby was conceived naturally.

I had a few questions about your response.

What is a ur tvus? (is that the US?)

What does hemorragic in nature mean (filled with blood?)

I saw the US, baby is in the uterus.

I live old school as well, minimal intervention is my preference

Where and how can I find the cyst pamphlet on by jan214, is that a date or a person?

Thanks again for the input, it helps to chat with other folks!

icontinuetobejoyful

What are the children of thalidumide?

[Sharon2714]

tvus = transvaginal ultrasound
hemmoraghic cysts are cysts that have blood in them
the functional cyst u create every month bursts to release the ova so there is usually a lil blood in there .... some of the non functional ones that kind of overgrow and still have blood in them are hemmoraghic ... i think there are currently 36 different types of non functional ovarian growths identified at this point in time

thalidamide was a widely used anti miscarriage drug used in the 50's and 60's that caused severe neonatal deformities mostly to the limbs and rendered some of the daughters sterile ... it was heartbreaking because these mothers were prescribed this and were unaware of the possible risks to the fetus ... this occurred right here in the USA ... thats where a lot of our fda testing laws came from and the classification of different drugs safe/unsafe for pregnancy ... thalidamide was originnaly inteded for miscarriage prevention ... but with all things it does have its place for other therapeutic value ... just not in pregnancy

jan214 made a post with a link to his site and i just keep bumping it up to the top so its easily spotted and has easy access
it can also be access thru the health topic tabs
just in case heres the link

http://infertilityphysician.com/ovarian_cysts/intro.html

go to his home page as well he has info on all sorts of things
i just really appreciated his straight foward approach to cysts
the one thing i didnt agree with was that he claims most cysts cause no pain
everybody's pain threshold is different and since he doesnt have a uterus he may not be entitled to that opinion LOL

may good continue to give u joy in ur heart and peace in ur mind
love
sharon

[iamjoyfull]

Beautiful!

Thanks for all the clarity, I will check out that page. You are continuing to help me compile my list of questions for the gyn/oncologist I will be seeing this Tuesday July 29.

If there are any other q