Diagnosed w/complex cyst - questions please help

[kb781]

I am a 48 yr old, 4 years post hysterectomy.  I was just diagnosed with 4 cm complex cyst on right ovary.  My gyn is concerned because it has irregular wall and stuff in it as well (sorry I have yet to get copy of report).  He spoke with Radiologist and states they feel I have better than 50/50 chance that it is benign.  He wants to remove both ovaries, hopefully laparoscoply but I have lots of scar tissue and adhesions due to three c-sections and hysterectomy and will most likely need laparotomy.  I haven't been able to stop thinking about this since he spoke to me a week ago.  He is not ordering blood tests or anything else at this point.  Strongly feels the need for surgery and will probably have in 3 weeks.  Should he be ordering anything else??  Is this something that warrants the amount of concern that I am giving it?  I am definetly freaked out about this.  Thanks for reading.

[kb781]

I have read so many post on the ovca site as well as this site and feel so whimpish.  I know that so many have suffered so terribly and I can only hope (selfishly) that I will not join them.  All that being said, I am having my surgery on May 19th and really don;t know what to think,  Not to boo boo kitty, but I lost my husband to workplace violence 12 years ago and have done the single mom thing since then.  I have 3 wonderful kids and worry that if this cyst is cancerous what will happen to them.  Yes I have great family support but it's not the same as a parent.  Hopefully, I will laugh 3 weeks from now when they tell me it's nothing to worry about. You gals on this site are so wonderful and supportive and I know I have no right to complain as the chances are good that all will be well.  If I can help in any way, let me know.  Thanks for being there.

[kb781]

Thank you for your responses and kindness.  I asked him today about ca125.  He said that diagnostically they are unreliable.  He said that it's good after diagnosis to monitor.  He feels that regardless of the results I still need to have it out.  As I have already had hysterectomy, 3 c sections and my age that it is just best to remove both ovaries.  I'm ok with that although I am worried about the instant menopause.  I also got the sono results and it just states that it is 4.3 cm with irregular wall and scattered internal echoes. My left ovary is normal.  

[vallieanne]

Hi, I'm new to the board and I don't know about your kind of cyst, but I can understand your concern. When are you going for your pre-op consult? You can ask him a list of questions about the blood work and any other tests that you may need before the surgery. I am going for a bunch of tests before my operation in a month or so, I've had a Ca-125 blood test, a Cat Scan, and will be going for two others in the next couple weeks. I don't have any results yet and I am also really freaked out about this. Why don't you call and ask him if you can speak with him and see what he says. Also, is he a Gyn/ono surgeon, because that's what most of the women on the boards are advising us to have. You can ask him if he plans to have a gyn/ono attending with him during surgery, or at least if he is consulting with one.  I'm not sure about the radiologist and him conferring about the odds of it's being benign. I think a gyn/ono is the expert who needs to make that determination.
Let us know how you are making out with this.
Valerie

[kimmywah]

Hi there,
Try hard not to freak out!  Easier said than done I know, but more often than not, cysts are benign.  And of course this warrants concern, anything where we have to have surgery is a concern, so that is very understandable.
It sounds to me like you have a very good Gyno and that he is on to it, getting things moving along quickly. And that is a very good thing. You could ask for a CA125 test which is a tumor marker test, but it is not always definitive, and if you are having the surgery, a biopsy will be done at that point anyway.
You have definitely come to the right place as there are many women on here who are supportive as well as being extremely well informed regarding these issues.  I believe that being well informed is very important, so that you do know the questions to ask the doctors.  
My mother is an ovarian cancer survivor and my mother in law had a total hysterectomy at the age of 80 years!!!, because she had a 7cm ovarian cysts and "extremely worrying" symptoms.  She sailed through her op and everything came back clear.  
Be strong, keep busy and try not to worry.  Good luck and keep us posted.

Peace and love...Kim