Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis??? For Dr. Goodman and others

[Margaret1023]

Hi!  I am posting in regrads to my mother-in-law.  She is 64 yrs old and recent nausea for the past month brought her in to see her pcp.  First, they suspected gallbladder and sent her home on Protonix(with no relief).  He ordered an ultrasound which was negative but showed possible liver abnormality.  Her bloodwork showed normal pancreatic and liver enzymes.  On Friday, she had a CT of the abdomen which revealed excessive abdominal fluid(i am guessing ascites)- her liver was fine.  Her pcp wants her back Monday for bloodwork to rule out ovarian cancer (i guess CA125).  Over this past week, she has become very tired and her stomach is distended.

In August, she saw her GYN for her yearly exam.  He did a preventative vaginal ultrasound which showed a very small cyst- nothing to worry about.  Her pap smear was normal.  She has a history of endometriosis and chronic hematuria.  She has a family history of colon cancer(mother & grandmother) but has regular colonoscopies- all have been normal.

Please offer any suggestions you may have.....we are all so worried!

[Conquerer]

if she doesn't have a mass she still could have a problem  peritonal Cancer is a form of ovarian but because in line the peritonel it is very difficult to diagnose.  It has all the same symptoms of ovarian cancer.  Please stay on top of this
good luck

[nyc lady]

There are no tests to rule out OvCa.  A CA125 is best used once someone is diagnosed...there are many women that have had false postive and false negative CA125s.  At her age, Ovarian Cysts small or otherwise should be watched.  I would suggest she follow up with a GYN.  Did the CT Scan on Friday show any "masses" on her ovaries?  Unless there are masses on her ovaries, I do not believe that she can have OvCa.
Good luck and let us know how it goes.