How Do You Know?

[cierracorinne]

How Do You Know When An Ovarian Cyst Turns Into Ovarian Cancer?

[Gina3754]

I had  bladder suspension and hysterectomy surgery on March 30th through my vagina.  My doctor also noted that I had a cyst on my left ovary, and because I am 56, she said she would remove that ovary (leave the right one in).  Well, both ovaries did not look good, so she took them both out and they both were found to have papillary serous borderline cancers (even the ovary that did not have the cyst).  I saw my gyn surgeon this morning and she said that the cyst had nothing to do with the cancer.  So it looks like you don't even need a cyst on an ovary to be cancerous.  I will be having staging surgery on Monday May 17th to see if any cancer remains in my abdomen (unfortunately, both ovaries ruptured when my doctor removed them).  Good luck with your cyst (Gail is right to say most cysts are benign).  Gina

[gah_70]

There is no test for ovarian cancer, so there is no way to know if/when a cyst is cancerous until a biopsy is performed during surgery.  The symptoms are pretty much the same as far as pelvic pressure and feeling full after a few bites, etc. Most cysts are benign, however, so there is only a very small chance that they are cancer.

Best wishes to you.

Gail