Aa
cyst or not?
I have not been diagnosed with anything...yet. I am in the praying and hoping that my dr. finds nothing serious. Here is my story.
I am 39 and in the past 6 months have developed pain in my lower right back side, just around the kidney. No where else was this pain (at first.) It only bothered me if I laid down too long in bed, and waited to get up to urinate. During the day, it did not bother me. Now, in the last two weeks, it has really progressed to hurting in the daytime, when I lean into my left it is painful, and now my right side thumps with spasms while I am standing, sitting, whatever. I have a high tolerance for pain, either that or I am just ignorant. I won't take pain meds, and I still do everything I did before, I am a mother of two teenage girls and a wonderful husband. I finally went to my dr. and at first we both thought normal routine xrays, PT, probably a pulled muscle. Then, I mention to him that I had a CT back in Aug. of 2008 that showed somethings I never followed up on. ( I tried, but that is another story) What was found was: a cyst on the liver, approx. 5mm, and a nonfunctional thick-walled cyst in the left ovary. I have been to the GYN twice since this CT and he has not asked about anything, and I have had no symptoms (that I thought was worth mentioning) so all was considerably well. My dr. decided it will be safe to follow up with another CT. What was found was a 5cm focal lobulation on my spleen, causes mass effect on the kidney. It says a mass has not been identified, and that further comparisons are needed. In the mean time, I am going out of my mind. This thing in my back is just getting worse, I can hardly get out of bed in the morning, and it is throbbing all of the time. I have now pain in my shoulder and tingeing down my leg. Not enough to me to warrant pain killers though, or a trip to the ER. I have this weird tolerance for pain. Must be because I don't want to inconvenience anyone. Anyway, my question is that I have been reading that ovarian cancer is fast and by the time you feel the same kinds of symptoms I have it is too late. Could this be something bad? signed, prob just a worry wort.
I am 39 and in the past 6 months have developed pain in my lower right back side, just around the kidney. No where else was this pain (at first.) It only bothered me if I laid down too long in bed, and waited to get up to urinate. During the day, it did not bother me. Now, in the last two weeks, it has really progressed to hurting in the daytime, when I lean into my left it is painful, and now my right side thumps with spasms while I am standing, sitting, whatever. I have a high tolerance for pain, either that or I am just ignorant. I won't take pain meds, and I still do everything I did before, I am a mother of two teenage girls and a wonderful husband. I finally went to my dr. and at first we both thought normal routine xrays, PT, probably a pulled muscle. Then, I mention to him that I had a CT back in Aug. of 2008 that showed somethings I never followed up on. ( I tried, but that is another story) What was found was: a cyst on the liver, approx. 5mm, and a nonfunctional thick-walled cyst in the left ovary. I have been to the GYN twice since this CT and he has not asked about anything, and I have had no symptoms (that I thought was worth mentioning) so all was considerably well. My dr. decided it will be safe to follow up with another CT. What was found was a 5cm focal lobulation on my spleen, causes mass effect on the kidney. It says a mass has not been identified, and that further comparisons are needed. In the mean time, I am going out of my mind. This thing in my back is just getting worse, I can hardly get out of bed in the morning, and it is throbbing all of the time. I have now pain in my shoulder and tingeing down my leg. Not enough to me to warrant pain killers though, or a trip to the ER. I have this weird tolerance for pain. Must be because I don't want to inconvenience anyone. Anyway, my question is that I have been reading that ovarian cancer is fast and by the time you feel the same kinds of symptoms I have it is too late. Could this be something bad? signed, prob just a worry wort.
Thank you for your kind replies. yes, I have to go for a TVUS tomorrow afternoon. Funny you guessed that. I will keep you posted. I also will ask my doc for the blood test CA 125. I guess it can't hurt.
I don't have any other symptoms. I haven't lost any crazy amount of weight, and I am not bloating unless I have my period.
I have complained to my GYN in the past of pelvic pain before and after my period last year. I told him it was weird because I hardly cramp, during my period, however after about a week, I cramp intermittently for a few days. I do "feel" things in my pelvic area, and sensations that roll down to my toes, but I thought that was normal.
I will tell you, I had to vaginal births, and have not been on any type of birth control since my youngest was 6 mo old. That was FIFTEEN YEARS AGO. my oldest is 17. My husband and I tried until I was 32 and then I just told him I was exhausted from trying. (not from the sex, from the stress) I was tested back at age 31, and my GYN says I was normal just by a blood test. He tried to give me things to make me ovulate like twenty times a month and I refused to take them. I still am able to have babies, but it just doesn't happen. I asked him about my cysts and if I should be concerned, adn he says if they aren't symptomatic, not to worry about them, they do nothing and just go away on their own. I can feel them though. My regular PCP dr. is the one who has been ordering all of these tests.
Yes, I have my fingers crossed all is nothing.
pampami
I don't have any other symptoms. I haven't lost any crazy amount of weight, and I am not bloating unless I have my period.
I have complained to my GYN in the past of pelvic pain before and after my period last year. I told him it was weird because I hardly cramp, during my period, however after about a week, I cramp intermittently for a few days. I do "feel" things in my pelvic area, and sensations that roll down to my toes, but I thought that was normal.
I will tell you, I had to vaginal births, and have not been on any type of birth control since my youngest was 6 mo old. That was FIFTEEN YEARS AGO. my oldest is 17. My husband and I tried until I was 32 and then I just told him I was exhausted from trying. (not from the sex, from the stress) I was tested back at age 31, and my GYN says I was normal just by a blood test. He tried to give me things to make me ovulate like twenty times a month and I refused to take them. I still am able to have babies, but it just doesn't happen. I asked him about my cysts and if I should be concerned, adn he says if they aren't symptomatic, not to worry about them, they do nothing and just go away on their own. I can feel them though. My regular PCP dr. is the one who has been ordering all of these tests.
Yes, I have my fingers crossed all is nothing.
pampami
Hi,
Unfortunately, the CA125 blood test isn't reliable for pre menopausal women.. Its primary use is for those that have been dx. with ovarian cancer in order to monitor how well the treatment is or is not working. The problem with younger women is that many, many things can cause an elevated result, so the Drs are hesitant to rely upon it.
You didn't mention if you have had a TVUS (transvaginal ultrasound). Many Drs. feel this is better tool than the CT for ovarian cysts, etc. There are so many things possibly causing some of your discomfort but some of the main symptoms of Ovarian Cancer are bloating, loss of appetite , pelvic discomfort .. (you may like to check the Health Pages at the top right of this page for more information. Also, the previous poster was absolutely right; there really is no way of knowing for sure if a mass is malignant without pathological testing. . Try to find out through the TVUS if the cyst has grown and what they plan to do about it.. I'm sorry I can't begin to know about the other symptoms.
Good luck though and try not to worry too much. 95 % of all ovarian cysts are benign. You may like to start posting on the Ovarian Cyst Forum as well
Sandy
Unfortunately, the CA125 blood test isn't reliable for pre menopausal women.. Its primary use is for those that have been dx. with ovarian cancer in order to monitor how well the treatment is or is not working. The problem with younger women is that many, many things can cause an elevated result, so the Drs are hesitant to rely upon it.
You didn't mention if you have had a TVUS (transvaginal ultrasound). Many Drs. feel this is better tool than the CT for ovarian cysts, etc. There are so many things possibly causing some of your discomfort but some of the main symptoms of Ovarian Cancer are bloating, loss of appetite , pelvic discomfort .. (you may like to check the Health Pages at the top right of this page for more information. Also, the previous poster was absolutely right; there really is no way of knowing for sure if a mass is malignant without pathological testing. . Try to find out through the TVUS if the cyst has grown and what they plan to do about it.. I'm sorry I can't begin to know about the other symptoms.
Good luck though and try not to worry too much. 95 % of all ovarian cysts are benign. You may like to start posting on the Ovarian Cyst Forum as well
Sandy
Has your doc mentioned doing the CA125 blood test? This can be a good marker for some women IF they have cancer. I do not know if you do or not but it would not hurt to rule it out. The normal range is up to 35. Anything higher could be many things not just cancer.With all of the problems that you are having you should ask your doc to do this test. I am not 100% positive but I think that the only way to rule out cancer 100% is to remove your mass and have it biopsied. There are several women on here that will be a long shortly and have better answers for you. Hang in there hugs and best wishes to you and yours...
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Ovarian Cancer Community
Learn how to spot the warning signs of this “silent killer.”
Diet and digestion have more to do with cancer prevention than you may realize
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
