very worried...

[ceebee326]

I have been having many stomach issues for about a year with very bad bloating and distention...although it affects me all month...its seems worse when I ovulate and begin my period ..which is 3 weeks out of the month....I am 49 yr old...have been to gastro doctor and just recently to the gynecologist for my yearly exam...she wanted to have an ultrasound of the pelvis for my break thru bleeding...it seems I have a 5.7 cm complex cyst on my right ovary which is also enlarged...this contains low level echoes and thin septations...have an appt with a gyno/oncologist on nov 14...but guess I am worried since i have been having all these stomach issues for a good bit of time...also...the doc did not mention she felt a cyst at my exam...which means this cyst developed very quickly in a months time....any thoughts on this?

[ceebee326]

Thank you for your comments,...I have to say, I did not know that the stomach issues were symptoms of ovarian cancer..and three doctors just dismissed me with these complaints...since may I have had a CT of abd and pelvis, a colonscopy, a pap smear and mammo,,,all were fine....and the ultrasound...I basically had to shame the gynecologist into finally admitting that I do have valid concerns concerning this matter..but good news....I have had my appt moved up from nov 14 to nov 1...so i am pleased with that....good luck to you.....

[boonee]

I am a 13-yr. survivor of Stage 3 ovarian cancer.  My cancer diagnosis hit me like a brick in 1994.  I had been having severe abdominal pains, stomach distension, and fatigue for about a month or two.  After a visit to my primary care doc, he recommended a colonoscopy - clean report.  I quickly followed up this test with a visit to my OB/GYN who ordered an ultrasound.  The right ovary was completely hidden with a gray mass (which was actually cancerous fluid) as my doc later told me.  The OB/GYN scheduled a laparoscopy for 2 wks later.  These were the longest 2 wks in my life.  In the meantime I began bleeding - I attributed it to one last period - I hadn't had one in 5 months, thought I was in menopause (52 yrs old). Doc said it was actually the cancer starting to bleed.  The laparoscopy was the definitive moment.  I saw the VHS tape of the cancer inside me.  2 days later I  was on the operating table having a complete hysterectomy - ovaries, tubes, uterus, cervix, omentum.  My GYN doc was assisted by a gynocologic oncologist.  A long vertical incision from the naval down was performed so they could look more completely to see if the cancer had invaded any other organs.  It had not.  After recuperation, I took 6 chemo treatments - Cisplatin and Taxol.  Taxol had only recently been discovered as a prescribed ovarian cancer chemo drug.  I was lucky for that.  I had the best doctors in the world as far as I'm concerned.  I credit my OB/GYN for getting on top of things quickly and bringing in a gyn/oncol. doc to assist him.  And last but not least, Dr. David Waterhouse, a highly respected oncologist in Cincinnati.  I'm told by my oncologist that my case was written up in the medical journals.  I have had single digit CA-125 readings yearly on my checkups for 13 years.  So girls, don't ever dismiss severe abdominal pain as nothing to worry about.  By that time, if it is cancer, you have had it for about a year.  Good luck and good health to all.

[ceebee326]

Thank you also for your input.....I work for the radiologist, so I was able to get my report the next day,,before my gynecologist...its a good thing I did, because when she called me with the results, she told me every thing was fine, except I had a small cyst...which is not what the report said..so I thank God that I had it and did my research, which is how I was referred to the specialist....thanks again, Cindy

[ceebee326]

Dear Dr Goodman,
Thank you for your input...I am trying not to be too nervous..but am also concerned that with these stomach issues and the bloating and stomach distention..that although I have been diagnosed with diverticulosis, these are also symptoms of ovarian cancer....but I am finding relief that a CT of the ab and pelvis in april, colonoscopy in may, and a negative mammo and pap smear are also good signs that it is not...but its just the waiting....will let you know what happens in november..thanks again

[Annekathryn Goodman, M.D.]

dear Ceebee,

Sometimes cysts are hard to feel on exam but are found on ultrasound. It does not tell you how long they have been there. You have had a good evaluation. It is reasonable to consider a surgery to remove at least this cyst. i imagine that this will be discussed at your November 14 visit.
best wishes

Dear Bowlingchick,
Thank you for your good comments. I agree with your thoughts
best wishes

[bowlingchick]

My thoughts are the cyst was probably there at the time of the pelvic exam.  A few years ago, I went in for my pap in Sept. and was told everything looked and felt normal.  Then I began having pains, I had an IVP and it showed a mass.  Then I had an ultrasound that showed a 6cm mass (endometrioma we later learned) on my left ovary.  I had to wait two cycles and have the test repeated.  The cyst was still there, so they scheduled surgery to remove the cyst and ovary in January.  I was 40 at the time...I signed to have everything removed (total hysterectomy) if needed.  Sure enough, along with the endometrioma I had stage 4 endo.  Plus my appendix was bad, so they removed it too.  I never knew I had endo!!  I would go each year for a pap test, never missed...so I guess what I'm saying is that a pap test does not show a lot of other things that could be going on.  Maybe my cyst was not there in Sept, and it came on quickly...either way, when a cyst is over 5cm and doesn't go away in a month or two..they will usually surgically remove it.  I was not even given the option of the laproscopic surgery, I think they knew they were dealing with more...and failed to tell me!  Make sure you ask a lot of questions!  And get answers.  Everything turned out ok, other than some complications from the major surgery...I am doing well today.  Best of luck to you, let us know what you find out.