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Complex Cyst and Scared
Hi Everyone,
I will start out telling you a little about myself. I am 36 years old, mother of 4, surrogate to 2 (twins -my niece and nephew). I had to have my right ovary removed 5 years ago due to the hormones I was taking to get pregnant with the twins (ended up having emergency surgery for a ovary torsion - size of a football). I had my last baby 1 year ago this week. Started having pelvic pain shortly after daughter was born, had an ultrasound...found a small cyst but radiologist said that the pain couldn't be from that ovary since it was so small (do not know the size). Went 7 months later (suppose to be 3 but I have 4 kids and life got in the way). and now it has grown to 3.4X3.7cm and it has irregular walls and solid parts. Told I needed to have a CA125 test and if that was positive, they would refer me to an oncologist. If it was negative, they wanted to give me a full hysterectomy. I am finished having kids so that doesn't scare me but the cancer DOES scare me. We have no family history with ovarian cancer and I am not sure if I carry a gene. I am currently waiting on my CA125 test result to come back and I am driving myself CRAZY. Any encouragement would be greatly appreciated!!!
I will start out telling you a little about myself. I am 36 years old, mother of 4, surrogate to 2 (twins -my niece and nephew). I had to have my right ovary removed 5 years ago due to the hormones I was taking to get pregnant with the twins (ended up having emergency surgery for a ovary torsion - size of a football). I had my last baby 1 year ago this week. Started having pelvic pain shortly after daughter was born, had an ultrasound...found a small cyst but radiologist said that the pain couldn't be from that ovary since it was so small (do not know the size). Went 7 months later (suppose to be 3 but I have 4 kids and life got in the way). and now it has grown to 3.4X3.7cm and it has irregular walls and solid parts. Told I needed to have a CA125 test and if that was positive, they would refer me to an oncologist. If it was negative, they wanted to give me a full hysterectomy. I am finished having kids so that doesn't scare me but the cancer DOES scare me. We have no family history with ovarian cancer and I am not sure if I carry a gene. I am currently waiting on my CA125 test result to come back and I am driving myself CRAZY. Any encouragement would be greatly appreciated!!!
Whether you have hysterectomy should between you and your Doctor. I would support any woman any decision she makes. I have no agenda but to be supportive and answer any questions I can.
Alex
Alex
Why is she wanting to do a hysterectomy when this is unlikely to be cancer? The frozen section done while you are under anesthesia should dictate the course of surgery which you would want to make clear on the consent form. If the frozen section pathology is benign then no organs need to be removed. Of course, that is assuming she has good cystectomy skills which she may not. And the removal of one ovary can trigger a castrative type "menopause" (I don't know the statistics of that but I know women who experienced this).
I wish I had understood the hysterectomy industry and sought out another surgeon when my intuition told me something was not right about his treatment plan. And I wish I had gone with an oncologist in case there was cancer. I would probably still be intact or, worst case, have my uterus and one ovary.
Although hysterectomy is VERY common, it is far from a benign surgery. There are a lot of books written by women who are suffering the after effects of hysterectomy and did not get informed consent. And there are entire websites for post-hysterectomy support. There are also some good books about the overuse of hysterectomy by some physicians. A couple that come to mind are "A Gynecologist's Second Opinion" by Dr. William Parker and "The Hysterectomy Hoax" by Dr. Stanley West.
One other thing - I have read of complex cysts sometimes going away on their own. Since yours are still small and most ovarian cysts are benign, surgery should not be urgent. They get especially concerned when cysts get over 7cm or so due to the possibility of ovarian torsion.
I wish I had understood the hysterectomy industry and sought out another surgeon when my intuition told me something was not right about his treatment plan. And I wish I had gone with an oncologist in case there was cancer. I would probably still be intact or, worst case, have my uterus and one ovary.
Although hysterectomy is VERY common, it is far from a benign surgery. There are a lot of books written by women who are suffering the after effects of hysterectomy and did not get informed consent. And there are entire websites for post-hysterectomy support. There are also some good books about the overuse of hysterectomy by some physicians. A couple that come to mind are "A Gynecologist's Second Opinion" by Dr. William Parker and "The Hysterectomy Hoax" by Dr. Stanley West.
One other thing - I have read of complex cysts sometimes going away on their own. Since yours are still small and most ovarian cysts are benign, surgery should not be urgent. They get especially concerned when cysts get over 7cm or so due to the possibility of ovarian torsion.
I could not do HRT since I have Cancer. I have not had the problem Old Before My Time has. I do not think all hysterectomies are bad. Mostly for me my sex drive is gone. My hair and skin and bones are fine. I train dogs and ride horses.
Alex
Alex
Thanks everyone for your responses. I have been doing a lot of reading and I am now worried about the after effects of the hysterectomy. I have been reading about HRT and it seems like I must take it following surgery or it causes many health problems but if you take it too long, that too can cause an increase of heart disease and breast cancer. Ugh!! I just feel so confused!! It likes your trading one health problem for another health problem. I just need to discuss all my concerns with my doctor, I guess. If she strongly recommends a hysterectomy because of this complex cyst then I'll do it but I am going to find out why they just can't remove the cyst only and try to keep my one remaining ovary. But if it does end up being OC then I definitely just want it all out!! Life is so complicated!!!!
Your story is so much like mine except that I did not have an ovary removed before my complex ovarian cyst was discovered. My gynecologist of 20 years also said I needed a hysterectomy (when I was 49 years old) and I wish EVERY DAY that I had done things very differently. I would probably still have my vital uterus and vital ovaries. The loss of these organs has caused a whole laundry list of problems (most of which are documented as after effects of hysterectomy). I was appalled how much my appearance deteriorated (RAPID AGING) by just 4 months post-op
As HVAC said MOST ovarian cysts (even complex ones) are benign. Ovarian cancer is RARE in the general population. Since you do not have a family history, there is VERY LITTLE chance you have ovarian cancer.
Do you realize that hysterectomy is the MOST overused surgery with 76% not even meeting ACOG criteria? And that 73% of women lose healthy ovaries (the equivalent of a man's testicles) at the time of hysterectomy? Only 2% of hysterectomies are done for gynecologic cancer. So that makes 98% of them "elective." The latest hysterectomy marketing tool is the da Vinci robot as they have to pay for these VERY expensive machines and they are primarily used for hysterectomies.
Did you know that a surgeon with good cystectomy (cyst removal) skills should be able to remove just the cyst allowing you to keep your ovary? The cyst can then be sent for frozen section while you are under anesthesia. If the frozen section is benign, there should be no need to remove any other organs. This is what SHOULD have happened in my case. And my gyn DID wait for the results of the frozen section (which were benign) but then he removed the rest of my organs anyway.
I do not know how much research you have done on the adverse effects of hysterectomy (with or without ovary removal - oophorectomy). Contrary to what we are led to believe, the uterus, ovaries, and tubes have LIFE-LONG NON-REPRODUCTIVE functions - anatomical, skeletal, hormonal, and sexual. The ovaries produce hormones into a woman's 80's and have many important health functions. There is information out there that explains the "female anatomy functions of the female organs." I wish I had discovered it BEFORE I was told I needed a hysterectomy for a suspicious looking cyst.
Unfortunately, since hysterectomy is grossly overused, it may take a number of "second" opinions before you find a doctor who will not needlessly remove organs. One woman in CA had to appeal to her insurance company to have a cystectomy by a renowned "Second Opinion" minimially invasive "solution" ob/gyn that was out-of-network. He suggested the appeal and helped her file it and the CA insurance board ended up ruling that her insurance company had to pay 100% of the surgery (versus the lower out-of-network coverage) plus they had to pay a fine.
Hope this helps!
As HVAC said MOST ovarian cysts (even complex ones) are benign. Ovarian cancer is RARE in the general population. Since you do not have a family history, there is VERY LITTLE chance you have ovarian cancer.
Do you realize that hysterectomy is the MOST overused surgery with 76% not even meeting ACOG criteria? And that 73% of women lose healthy ovaries (the equivalent of a man's testicles) at the time of hysterectomy? Only 2% of hysterectomies are done for gynecologic cancer. So that makes 98% of them "elective." The latest hysterectomy marketing tool is the da Vinci robot as they have to pay for these VERY expensive machines and they are primarily used for hysterectomies.
Did you know that a surgeon with good cystectomy (cyst removal) skills should be able to remove just the cyst allowing you to keep your ovary? The cyst can then be sent for frozen section while you are under anesthesia. If the frozen section is benign, there should be no need to remove any other organs. This is what SHOULD have happened in my case. And my gyn DID wait for the results of the frozen section (which were benign) but then he removed the rest of my organs anyway.
I do not know how much research you have done on the adverse effects of hysterectomy (with or without ovary removal - oophorectomy). Contrary to what we are led to believe, the uterus, ovaries, and tubes have LIFE-LONG NON-REPRODUCTIVE functions - anatomical, skeletal, hormonal, and sexual. The ovaries produce hormones into a woman's 80's and have many important health functions. There is information out there that explains the "female anatomy functions of the female organs." I wish I had discovered it BEFORE I was told I needed a hysterectomy for a suspicious looking cyst.
Unfortunately, since hysterectomy is grossly overused, it may take a number of "second" opinions before you find a doctor who will not needlessly remove organs. One woman in CA had to appeal to her insurance company to have a cystectomy by a renowned "Second Opinion" minimially invasive "solution" ob/gyn that was out-of-network. He suggested the appeal and helped her file it and the CA insurance board ended up ruling that her insurance company had to pay 100% of the surgery (versus the lower out-of-network coverage) plus they had to pay a fine.
Hope this helps!
I walk the side of caution.. I always dig in deeper by asking questions and getting second opinion. I am new to all of this, and waiting to hear my diagnosis. In the meantime, given what I described in my post, the Dr. Said, if I was young, like you, she would not be concerned about cancer. I think your Dr. Is probably correct , you seem to have a trust in her/ him , however.. I'd still get a second opinion.. And seek out a Gyn/oncologist .. Best wishes and blessings sent to you.
It does sound positive.It is up to you. If you feel better getting a second opinion than there is nothing wrong a Hysterectomy is big step. I wish I had because my Surgeon was too busy I never saw him the day of surgery, the week I was in hospital or after I got out. I had never not seen a doctor with surgery or at least when my staples came out.He was a no show until I changed doctors three months later.He was in a rockband making a c/d and touring. I had a feeling about him but I was so scared I did get a second opinion. I had to change doctors during chemo because I became so sick. I love my GYN and would have been happy if she had done my hysterectomy. If you trust your doctor than you can go with what the doctor suggests. My CA125 was 300 and I have known women in the 1000's.I know you are scared of Cancer. The odds are in your favor for not not being Cancer and that is a good thing. Like I said my GP was certain it was Cancer from the ultra sound and they had me to the oncologist the next day and in surgery with in days. If they think its Cancer they get really serious really fast.Try not to worry.
Alex
Alex
Just got a call. My level was a 42...doctor was happy with that and is not sending me to an oncologist. They are proceeding with a hysterectomy. Does this sound positive? She said it was only slightly elevated and that it could b due to inflammation or something else being wrong, but in her opinion it is not cancerous. Should I get a second opinion or just let them remove it all and wait for a biopsy?
Statistics say you have less than 2% chance of Cancer. Most Ovarian Cysts are benign. Fear is a very hard thing to combat. I have faced a lot of fear with Medical. I have MS and Ovarian Cancer. I do have the BRCA1 mutation. They could tell from my Ultrasound it was Cancer. I know waiting for a CA125 is scarey. They can be elevated with out it being Cancer. It sometimes takes a few days. I stopped looking at my even with Cancer. I would freak out every time it went above normal. I have learned to trust my doctors. If they tell me something is serious then I deal with. I had a scare of breast cancer a few months back. It turned out to be nothing. I would really be mad if I got Breast Cancer on top of MS and Ovarian Cancer. Hang in there we are pulling for you.
Alex
Alex
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