Complex Ovarian cyst (5.5cm) more likely to remove ovary?

[Thade]

Hi

I have just been diagnosed (I'm 37)and reading these pages to find out as much information as I can.I am seeing a gyno 1st week in December and have only had an ultrasound for the moment.
From reading a bit I think I can deduce the fact that it's 5.5cm means two things. 1)He's going to want to remove it rather than waiting to see if it goes away? 2)It won't be keyhole as it's too big so it will be a full op, there seems to be two types of Op's beginning with L?
Would anyone be able to help me (calm my mounting fears:-() with the following?
How likely will it be that he'll want to remove an ovary or a fallopian tube?
The fact that it's 'complex' does that mean it's more likely to be c......(can't even write the dammed word)?
Will he operate on me quite quickly after I see him or will I be waiting around?
Should I bring someone with me to the consulatation?Like my mother?
What sort of questions should I ask him?
What will he want to ask me?
If I have to have an op how long will I be off work realistically?

I know I'm sorry if it's a lot of questions,but I promise I'll come back to this board and help any new comers later!

Thanks for all your help,and thanks for reading!

Thade

[soozy]

am 36 with a teanage daughter have been in pain for around three months have been for my scan and been told my cyst is 5inch by 7inch i am worried sick but putting on a very brave face my gyno app is next week and my partner is going with me for support i feel ill all the time the pain is bad enough but i also feel sick most of the time and really run down i have had my gall bladder removed with key hole surgery about ten years ago and just hope to have key hole again as its a much quicker recovery time xx

[vivian 68]

Hi please i would like to know  whther the removal of my right fallopian tube and ovary would affect my conciving, im left with the left tube and ovary and always i have menistration , my removal of my tube and ovary were due to epictopic pregnancy,and i dont know whether the uterus was interfered with. pl can one tell obout this. or is there a possibility of conciving. thanks u vivian 68

[MickeyVicki]

Yes, one dimension was indeed that large.  It was also attached here and there in my abdomen like an octopus.  I have seen the photographic record of my surgery.   It looked like a grapefruit with arms.  The ovary, which was removed as well, looked like a stretched boiled egg with blue streaks in it. My doctor said that it was tedious and difficult, but she and her assistant were able to remove it by carefully snipping it loose, bringing it to close to the surface, and using a 'vacuum' probe to remove the liquid contents.  Once most of the contents were removed, she was then able to pull the remaining portion through a 1 and 1/2 incision.  She did say that my surgery was one of the most difficult she has performed, and that several times she considered opting for the larger laparatomy to get it done quicker.   My surgery took much longer than she had predicted.

[TJWORD]

I just got diagosed today with a complex mass on my left ovary and was told laproscopy wasn't a option I am waiting for the CA125 results to see if I will be referred to an ongologist. Did you say yours was 15cm??

[MickeyVicki]

The only thing that I can add to the previous comments is to tell you about the cyst that I had  removed last year.  It too was a complex cyst, called in different reports a 'complex mass', 'solid mass', and 'complex cyst with solid components' - lots of scary words there!!  So, I know what you are experiencing right now!

My cyst measured larger than yours at its initial discovery via ultrasound.  By the time it was removed a few weeks later, it was roughly 15 cm, and the cyst had attached itself to points in my abdomen.  STILL, my cyst was removed laparascopically with four small incisions.    Also, I had asked that the ovary and fallopian tube be removed as well; I did not want that ovary in there if it was going to be growing cysts!   At surgery, my doctor discovered that the cyst had damaged the ovary, and it would have required removal anyway.

  My suggestion is that you discuss all of the options with the doctor, and if you have concerns, then get a second opinion.

[runningchick]

Hi again Thade,

I am having laprascopic investigation and then all being well, laprascopic surgery.  I have two cysts, one is the same size on the right as yours, and the other at last count was 3.5 on the left.  I also have an area that is endometriotic in appearance from the Ultrasound, but doesn't mean I have endometriosis.

I had a CA125 test which was 186, but even with this knowledge, my surgeon still wants to proceed laprascopically (keyhole) rather than laprotomically (open surgery) as the recovery time is much better for keyhole (at least half of what open surgery would require).  It may be that following the laprascopic investigation, they end up having to operate open surgery, but they are trying to avoid that.

As far as having an ovary or fallopian tube removed, I have been told that the only likelihood of this is if on examining my tissue under a microscope (biopsy) on investigation it turns out to be cancer afterall.  I have been offered the choice of investigation, then returning at a later date for surgery after discussion with the surgeon, but for me, that's just more time wasted when I have done enough worrying and am sick of the continuous pain.

There's a really good article, albeit long at this link:-  

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FSL/is_5_76/ai_94538193

"Eighty-five percent of ovarian tumors are benign in women during their reproductive years. Of these benign ovarian masses, 66% occur in women aged 20 to 44 years. The chance of a primary ovarian tumor being malignant, therefore, in a woman less than 45 years of age is less than one in 15."

I hope this all helps.  Hearing from someone in the know that it is highly unlikely to be cancerous would be very reassuring for you, as it was for me.  Of course, there's still that chance that it is, but if you are dealing with a gyny oncologist and they tell you not to worry, then hopefully you will feel a little bit more at ease.

Keep us posted and good luck.