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Ovarian Cancer? Ovarian Cyst?
I was wondering if what I am experiencing could be ovarian cancer or simply an ovarian cyst..
In August last year I began getting a lot of lower back pain. I figured I injured it somehow so I ignored it and figured it would get better with rest, but it didn't. Then, in November, I was having pain in lower abdomen. When the doctor did a vaginal rectal exam he said he felt something on each ovary so he sent me to have an immediate ultrasound. When they took the ultrasound they found a cyst on each ovary, fluid in the cul de sac and one fibroid that the doctor said was negligible. The gynecologist said not to worry. Then I started having bleeding in my stool and constant diarrhea. I had a colonoscopy that showed irritation and a polyp. Now I am tired all the time. My lower back hurts. I feel this pressure like something is going to fall out of the floor of my pelvis. I get sharp pains every so often. When I lay in certain positions, I feel like something is pressing from the inside. I can't wear anything but sweats because it feels like my pants are pressing against something that hurts.I have to pee every hour or more often sometimes. My stomach is starting to go out further than my chest like i am preganant or something. When I eat, I feel like there is no room an I feel short of breath because the pressure that I have been feeling feels like it is pushing up against my diapragm. I feel so bloated all the time. My stomach is hard from the belly button area and up but below that area it is bloated and painful but not hard. At times the inside of my whole abdomen and pelvic areas feel like it is burning.
I am very concerned since there is a history of so many cancers in my family including ovarian, colon and breast cancer. Yet I know that these symptoms could simply be caused by the cysts on my ovaries and am worrying about nothing.
I called my doctor about my symptoms and scheduled an appointment. It took them a month to get me in and then when I got there my doctor had gone home so they sent me to another doctor who was new and taking my doctor's overflow. He didn't even examine me and pronounced that my symptoms were IBS. I told him I would like an ultrasound and felt I had to practically beg him for one. I have an one schduled for Tuesday, but they were calling it an abdominal ultrasound.... does that look at the pelvic area as well??? Are these symptoms likely from the cysts or is there a possibility of cancer? I'm not even sure these symptoms are related to ovarian cancer so maybe I am paranoid. Any help and opinions from your own experiences would be appreciated.
In August last year I began getting a lot of lower back pain. I figured I injured it somehow so I ignored it and figured it would get better with rest, but it didn't. Then, in November, I was having pain in lower abdomen. When the doctor did a vaginal rectal exam he said he felt something on each ovary so he sent me to have an immediate ultrasound. When they took the ultrasound they found a cyst on each ovary, fluid in the cul de sac and one fibroid that the doctor said was negligible. The gynecologist said not to worry. Then I started having bleeding in my stool and constant diarrhea. I had a colonoscopy that showed irritation and a polyp. Now I am tired all the time. My lower back hurts. I feel this pressure like something is going to fall out of the floor of my pelvis. I get sharp pains every so often. When I lay in certain positions, I feel like something is pressing from the inside. I can't wear anything but sweats because it feels like my pants are pressing against something that hurts.I have to pee every hour or more often sometimes. My stomach is starting to go out further than my chest like i am preganant or something. When I eat, I feel like there is no room an I feel short of breath because the pressure that I have been feeling feels like it is pushing up against my diapragm. I feel so bloated all the time. My stomach is hard from the belly button area and up but below that area it is bloated and painful but not hard. At times the inside of my whole abdomen and pelvic areas feel like it is burning.
I am very concerned since there is a history of so many cancers in my family including ovarian, colon and breast cancer. Yet I know that these symptoms could simply be caused by the cysts on my ovaries and am worrying about nothing.
I called my doctor about my symptoms and scheduled an appointment. It took them a month to get me in and then when I got there my doctor had gone home so they sent me to another doctor who was new and taking my doctor's overflow. He didn't even examine me and pronounced that my symptoms were IBS. I told him I would like an ultrasound and felt I had to practically beg him for one. I have an one schduled for Tuesday, but they were calling it an abdominal ultrasound.... does that look at the pelvic area as well??? Are these symptoms likely from the cysts or is there a possibility of cancer? I'm not even sure these symptoms are related to ovarian cancer so maybe I am paranoid. Any help and opinions from your own experiences would be appreciated.
Hello,I'm sorry to hear the news,I was hoping for you wouldnt have to go through this,I been following your post since I have same symptoms ongoing for a year and had the IBS theory pushed on me,I do have multiple complex cyst (size from 2cm-5cm) on both ovaries.I'am very angry at how dr's blew you off at first and blame it on IBS as my dr is.I'm 29 yrs old and in less than a year lost over 100lbs (5ft 1 100lbs now) I have severe daily pelvic,rectal and abdominal pain,appetite loss,bloating nausea,hair loss,leg and back pain.I feel full easily and have hard time eating.I've had my appendix and gallbladder out last yr so I know it isnt that causing symptoms/pain,and had colonscopy 2 weeks ago that is normal.I never experienced so much pain and I'm not buying IBS theory....I was wondering when you started to notice your symptoms? I was in hospital in sept for a small bowel blockage as I understand ovc can cause this. I also have family history of female reproductive/colon cancer.I had a catscan 2 months ago that was "normal" but showed multiple cysts on both ovaries.Your input would be appreciated.Your in my thoughts and prayers~~GodSpeed, Stephanie
Hi Hockey girl. I play ice hockey and so does my niece and daughter (chick hockey rocks!).
Let's relax and see what we can figure out. First of all 99% of cysts are benign and cancer is really rare. It isn't that uncommon to have multiple cysts and they could be normal follicular cycts related tp ovulation and possible you didn't ovulate and the cyst is hanging around causing these symptoms.
Do you have access to a doctor or ob/gyn other than at the college health services, through you dads insurance or something. If so, you should probably go back and have them do a follow-up ultrasound and make sure you explain all your symptoms.
Make sure you continue to look into it if you continue to have symptoms.
Let's relax and see what we can figure out. First of all 99% of cysts are benign and cancer is really rare. It isn't that uncommon to have multiple cysts and they could be normal follicular cycts related tp ovulation and possible you didn't ovulate and the cyst is hanging around causing these symptoms.
Do you have access to a doctor or ob/gyn other than at the college health services, through you dads insurance or something. If so, you should probably go back and have them do a follow-up ultrasound and make sure you explain all your symptoms.
Make sure you continue to look into it if you continue to have symptoms.
Hi I am 20 almost 21. I was diagnosed with ovarian cysts a few weeks ago and didn't think much of it except for the fact that i have been hurting for over a month and a half in that area which initially led me to the doctor's office. I had been having a lot of lower back pain but didn't think much of it thought it was just the way i was sleeping. Anyways, at first the health services at my college told me i had a kidney stone. the next day i was back to see the md and he said it wasn't a kidney stone but didn't kno what it was. After 3-4 days of going back and forth i said screw it and went to the ER at the local hospital. The doctor there was pretty sure it was an ovarian cyst and scheduled me for an ultrasound the next day. There they found 2 cysts on the left ovary. I heard that it was not a good sign when you had more than one at one time or something. Anyways, i also noticed over the month before i went to the hospital that my stomach seemed to be getting bigger like i was bloated. Of course i jumped to conclusions because i hadn't been to a doctor yet and thought i was pregnant but then i got my period a few weeks later so i was more relaxed about that. When i went back to health services because i needed to be cleared to play ice hockey the nurse had me lay on the table and stated that my lower abdomin was filled with liquid that shouldn't be there. So i asked what does that mean? and she said oh nothing just that you have fluid in your lower abdomin that shouldnt be there. And so i was like um ok? but never got anywhere with that. So in the past few days the pain had been really bad like all day instead of just the usual 4-5 times a day for 15 min periods of time...but then i thought well maybe it just hurts more because i'm spose to get my period soon....but here i am and no period yet...so then i jumped back to my other conclusion of pregnancy...but then i was online and i read that cysts might cause irregularities in your period (which my period is irregular anyways) so i was like ok that's good news...i guess...but i was still concerned about the belly getting bigger thing...that's when i read your initial post about your belly getting really big and then a few more of your posts about them draining it and whatnot....now a little background info....my mother passed away when she was 47 of pancreotic cancer. I was 15 at the time...i have always been kind of worried that i too would have cancer because they told us that she had it ever since she was a teenager and they just never found it...so i dont kno what to do...the pain is kinda back to the every so ofteness and i was considering going to see an ob/gyn but then i read the paper that they gave me on follow up instructions and it said to come back after the next period...now i was thinking i was gonna get my period in the next few days but it's been like 4 days and i still haven't gotten it...should i just make an appointment? My friends know about my friends at college know about my mom and are very concerned that the doctor's are missing something...i just legit don't know what to do...
Casey: I totally agree with you. I am a nurse and not until last week did I even know there was an awareness week for OVCA. You would think that I would have heard about it somewhere. If not there then at least somewhere in my research in the last few months. It is hard to get away from the fact that it is breast cancer awareness month in Oct. I wouldn't want to take away from that but it sure would be nice to get just a little bit of that recognition for OVCA and it's symptoms.
Kimberly: I wonder how you are doing/ feeling? What is the next step for you? Did your family come out to help you? What is your next step? Surgery I assume? I wish you luck and I pray for you every night. Did you see Oprah the other day? It was a great show on people living long and well with cancer. Very inspirational.
Now just need to vent.... not many get what I am going through. Those around me just don't get it. I know you all will. I received an e-mail from my doctor Thursday night stating he was on call at the hospital and that he was going to review my US( it has been 6 weeks office visit and US in office that where he saw things that he did not like ) and would get back to me on Monday ( yesterday) I haven't heard from him yet. The weird thing is that I know that the computer he was e-mailing me from is the same exact one that he can view the US photos from as well as read the report on ( I work for the same HMO) I keep thinking maybe he is delaying talking to me for some reason.Maybe waiting for a second opinion? During the US the tech asked a lot of questions. Like " where was your last scan done." (I know this is for comparison reasons) as well as some other stuff. The other thing she did that really freaked me out was before I was able to leave or get dressed she wanted to show my pictures to the Radiologist before I left to "make sure she doesn't want anything more." This has never happened when I have had an US in the past. Again I tell myself maybe the protocol has changed. I know, however, that if there was nothing there, she wouldn't have to show the radiologist. Meanwhile I just try to tell myself my imagination is running away with me. The lumps that I keep finding in my abdomen have always been there I just never noticed, I feel so crappy from the cyst, and the doctor is not rushing to call because there is really nothing urgent wrong, I am not high risk...not really.....99% are not cancer!
Even if it is not cancer, one of the cyst was at almost 5cm and I am symptomatic this is so unlike my doctor! He is usually so caring.....This waiting is making me crazy, I just don't know what to think.
Thank you for letting me rant.
Gail
Kimberly: I wonder how you are doing/ feeling? What is the next step for you? Did your family come out to help you? What is your next step? Surgery I assume? I wish you luck and I pray for you every night. Did you see Oprah the other day? It was a great show on people living long and well with cancer. Very inspirational.
Now just need to vent.... not many get what I am going through. Those around me just don't get it. I know you all will. I received an e-mail from my doctor Thursday night stating he was on call at the hospital and that he was going to review my US( it has been 6 weeks office visit and US in office that where he saw things that he did not like ) and would get back to me on Monday ( yesterday) I haven't heard from him yet. The weird thing is that I know that the computer he was e-mailing me from is the same exact one that he can view the US photos from as well as read the report on ( I work for the same HMO) I keep thinking maybe he is delaying talking to me for some reason.Maybe waiting for a second opinion? During the US the tech asked a lot of questions. Like " where was your last scan done." (I know this is for comparison reasons) as well as some other stuff. The other thing she did that really freaked me out was before I was able to leave or get dressed she wanted to show my pictures to the Radiologist before I left to "make sure she doesn't want anything more." This has never happened when I have had an US in the past. Again I tell myself maybe the protocol has changed. I know, however, that if there was nothing there, she wouldn't have to show the radiologist. Meanwhile I just try to tell myself my imagination is running away with me. The lumps that I keep finding in my abdomen have always been there I just never noticed, I feel so crappy from the cyst, and the doctor is not rushing to call because there is really nothing urgent wrong, I am not high risk...not really.....99% are not cancer!
Even if it is not cancer, one of the cyst was at almost 5cm and I am symptomatic this is so unlike my doctor! He is usually so caring.....This waiting is making me crazy, I just don't know what to think.
Thank you for letting me rant.
Gail
Yeah the whole "doctors blowing off the symptoms" thing is really pissing me off!
I have read too many examples of it on this site and experienced it myself (but was really lucky with my diagnosis).
Here's some noteable quotes from the book I mentioned above:
Dr. Katz of the OCNA is trying to educate women and their doctors to realize that, when investigating the symptoms, ovarian cancer should be consisdered as one of the possibilities. In short, they are trying to change the mindset from "It's probabaly nothing" to "Better safe than sorry". "Until there's a test, awareness is the best".
"Robin Cohen, RN a GO nurse with Main Line Health System in Philidelphia: ""The main goal is to make women aware of the symptoms, and to prompt them to listen to their bodies and know what is normal for them. They know their own bodies best, and they are in the best position to know when something is wrong. My advise? Don't let anyone tell you it's all in your head or that you are just stressed. Keep pushing until there is an answer."
Also, Dr. Goff a well known and published GO says:
"The major obstacle to early diagnosis is doctors not taking their female patients seriously. "Women often get blown off," Goff said. "I did a study back in 2000 where we found that women who had ovarian cancer were told they had irritable bowel syndrome 15% of the time; 12% were told it was stress, and 9% were told there was nothing wrong with them. It's a pretty big problem. Misdiagnosis is common among women with ovarian cancer."
http://www.johannaslaw.org/
Joanna's Law is supposed to help with awareness, but I don't see any action! They totally missed the boat by not doing more public awareness this September (Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month).
I didn't see anything I didn't go looking for. There is also supposed to be letteres to doctors, empahasizing the need to consider OC, when symptoms present, but again I don't see this happening.
So I say we so do it ourselves, a grass roots effort. If each one of us wrote letters to PCP, GI and OB/GYN docs in our own area, we could possibly make a difference.
Ok, I will get off my soap-box now. Thanks for listening.
I have read too many examples of it on this site and experienced it myself (but was really lucky with my diagnosis).
Here's some noteable quotes from the book I mentioned above:
Dr. Katz of the OCNA is trying to educate women and their doctors to realize that, when investigating the symptoms, ovarian cancer should be consisdered as one of the possibilities. In short, they are trying to change the mindset from "It's probabaly nothing" to "Better safe than sorry". "Until there's a test, awareness is the best".
"Robin Cohen, RN a GO nurse with Main Line Health System in Philidelphia: ""The main goal is to make women aware of the symptoms, and to prompt them to listen to their bodies and know what is normal for them. They know their own bodies best, and they are in the best position to know when something is wrong. My advise? Don't let anyone tell you it's all in your head or that you are just stressed. Keep pushing until there is an answer."
Also, Dr. Goff a well known and published GO says:
"The major obstacle to early diagnosis is doctors not taking their female patients seriously. "Women often get blown off," Goff said. "I did a study back in 2000 where we found that women who had ovarian cancer were told they had irritable bowel syndrome 15% of the time; 12% were told it was stress, and 9% were told there was nothing wrong with them. It's a pretty big problem. Misdiagnosis is common among women with ovarian cancer."
http://www.johannaslaw.org/
Joanna's Law is supposed to help with awareness, but I don't see any action! They totally missed the boat by not doing more public awareness this September (Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month).
I didn't see anything I didn't go looking for. There is also supposed to be letteres to doctors, empahasizing the need to consider OC, when symptoms present, but again I don't see this happening.
So I say we so do it ourselves, a grass roots effort. If each one of us wrote letters to PCP, GI and OB/GYN docs in our own area, we could possibly make a difference.
Ok, I will get off my soap-box now. Thanks for listening.
I am sorry to hear about your diagnosis, I could not help but cry reading about your journey. I am having so many of the same feelings you had about getting checked by th Md. I feel like I just can't talk to the doctors. I hope things get better. My prayers are with you.
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