Hi there, Sorry to hear about your diagnosis!
I wonder how are you doing recently are you feeling any good? What treatment your doctors are using to treat your breast cancer? What's up with the results did they found the OC as well? I hope everything is going well with you.
Best wishes and lots of love!
First to God be the Glory. I am not sure if anyone is following this thread just wanted to check in. I am 6 days post op from laparotomy. To make a long story short surgery was successful. I was in the hospital for 2 days. Had a small dermoid on one ovary and the other ovary was enlarged. They did a frozen section biopsy and it came back negative. Recovery has been okay I am super bored but I know that rest and not over doing it will be the key to successful recovery so I have books including adult coloring books. I read my Bible for healing scriptures to keep me encouraged and I have been journaling this experience. I like to look back and read old journal entries for encouragement plus this is a record of my testimony how God has brought me through. I did get the final pathology this morning and I was given the all clear no cancer found by my doctor. Sorry for the long post but ladies stay encouraged. Keep encouraging one another and most importantly rely on your faith to bring you through because this is a hard situation to face. Any illness that make you question your mortality is difficult but God can take the sting out of uncertainty and anxiety. I have also been going through counseling to deal with my breast cancer diagnosis a few months back. We are resilient ladies and this too shall pass.
It is not surprising he wants to remove everything since 90% of female organ removals are unnecessary. I was in your shoes 13 years ago and am sorry I trusted my gyn of 20 years. By far THE.BIGGEST.MISTAKE of my life. I have learned more than I ever cared to know since then.
Most women who have breast cancer are not at increased risk of gynecologic cancers which are rare. So your BC history is a poor reason for recommending organ removal. But even more importantly, I doubt he told you about all the medically documented harms of removing these organs.
Hysterectomy causes the torso to collapse (shorter, thicker midsection and flat back) since the ligaments are the pelvic support structures. Many women report sexual dysfunction since the uterus is a sex organ. The bladder and bowel are displaced which can cause problems especially in the long-term. It also increases risk of thyroid and renal cell (kidney) cancer.
Removal of the ovaries has been shown to accelerate aging. It certainly did for me. In just 4 months, I aged 10-15 years! Studies say ovary removal increases risk of heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis, hip fracture, lung cancer, chronic kidney disease, dementia, parkinsonism, cognitive and memory impairment, mood disorders, sleep disorders, skin and vision deterioration, sexual dysfunction, more severe hot flushes.
A surgeon with good cystectomy skills should be able to remove just the cyst and save the ovary (or enough of it for those lifelong health promoting hormones). Removal of one ovary is associated with an increased risk of dementia. There is probably some risk of losing the ovary but there shouldn't be any reason to remove anything else.
Check out the HERS Foundation for info and maybe guidance. Good luck and keep us posted.
So just a follow up to my situation I am scheduled to have surgery 1/7/20. My gyno said the ultrasound and MRI does not indicate the cyst are cancerous however he wants to do a complete hysterectomy and ovaries removal given my precancer diagnosis with my breast. I have been stressed out and barely sleeping for about 3 months. Now I am starting to loose weight as well having indigestion. No pain really just gasointestional issues. The doctor told me that the cyst are probably pressing on my stomach and other organs causing issues as well as me having anxiety causing weight loss. Should I be worried by the symptoms are just try to follow my doctors advise and try to relax.
Mature teratomas aka dermoids are benign tumors, composed of fat, fluid, soft tissue, and/or calcification. Oftentimes, these are just followed, but sometimes they may be resected if large and/or symptomatic.
Sorry to hear you had breast cancer and still undergoing treatment. Is stage 0 the same as DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ)? Just curious about that.
Yes, the large majority of ovarian cysts, even complex ones, are benign. And breast cancer is MUCH more common than ovarian cancer so your chances of getting ovarian cancer are slim if you do not have a family history of OC.
It's good to hear that the MRI gave a better view of the cysts and you have been diagnosed with mature teratomas (dermoids) which are almost always benign. If this is a definitive diagnosis then surgical removal is likely needed. Hopefully, they will remove just the cysts (cystectomy) and save your ovaries since our ovaries (as well as the uterus) are critical our whole lives for good health and well-being.
Please keep us posted.
I can absolutely understand why you are so afraid, given your recent diagnosis.
The vast majority of cysts are benign, and a complex cyst means it's just blood-filled, or filled with a solid substance. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322476.php
Your doctor is doing the right thing by giving you an MRI in light of your breast cancer diagnosis. She is erring on the side of caution, and I totally understand why here.
I can't imagine how hard this is, and people telling you that you're over reacting isn't helping, I'm sure. They're probably trying to be helpful, but I think waiting for results is one of the hardest parts of the medical process.
Don't hesitate to find a support group for breast cancer patients, or cancer patients in general, or a therapist. Getting a cancer diagnosis changes your life, and you're about to embark on a scary journey. You're stronger than you realize, but remember to take care of your mental health as you take care of your physical health. Your doctor may know of some in your area, and there are thousands online.
Let us know what your MRI says, and good luck.