How fast does a dermoid cyst grow?

[dimples7]

I was recently told by my gyn that I have a 5cm dermoid cyst on my left ovary.  I had an ultrasound in Nov. 05 because of pain on my left side.  I was told that I just had some small cysts.  I also was told I had a fatty liver.  My doctor said we will just watch the fatty liver but in June she sent me for another ultrasound.  Then I get a call from there office saying I still have this fatty liver but also have a cyst and they refered me to my gyn.  I finally see him almost a month later and he says I have this dermiod cyst and it has to come out.  I will have the full surgery on August 15th to remove my left ovary along with the cyst.  I have had 4 c-sections and he said it will be much like that as far as recovery.  

I am having more pain then I have had before.  Not doulbed over pain but more constant ache.  Could this thing be growing still more if it grew that fast in Six months?  My doctor told me that the chance of cancer is pretty low.  I am glad of that.  I am almost 41 and done having children.  My mother had breast cancer and eventually died of liver and colon cancer at age 57.  I want to be a healthy grandmother someday.  

Anyway, thanks for listening.  I have been reading others post for  awhile.  You all are so supportive to one other.

[wubbie3]

Dermoids can grow quickly or not at all... it just depends on your body. My cyst was smaller than yours, and I had the same constant ache. Size of the cyst doesn't matter to pain relation; there are women who had like 15cm cysts and never had any pain!
Dermoids do not resolve on their own... they do have to be removed. Surgery isn't that bad... you'll feel like heck the first day or so, and it improves pretty rapidly from there.
Hang in there, and keep us posted!
~Marianne

[shopaholic]

hi   i have a 17cm dermoid cyst (from hip bone to hip bone) however they did not tell me the length ?? within the last day or so i am unable to sit comfortable as it seems everything is getting stuck under my ribs it feels like being 9 mths pregnant.  i am now getting a pain which feels something i can only describe as a cheesewire being pulled around my rib cage and back.  my friend suggested this could be trapped wind as the last few days i have only been able to eat small amounts. sometimes i also feel a little nauseous (did i spell that right)

could this cyst have grown over the last 10days (scan date) i am seeing gyni next monday?   any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated.


just like to add this web site has been a great help to me .

shopaholic  uk
xx

[Aria 21]

I think you can't really judge by others in this regaurd...everyone is different.  I had a dermoid cyst, and it grew from about 5 cm to 20 cm in 2 months.  I had no pain, but an enormously distended stomach among other things.  There usually isn't a textbook situation, so you have to be in tune with your body and tell your gyn. onc. everything that's going on, whether you feel it's related or not.

[Gatsby]

Hi there and welcome.  Dermoids are by nature strange things.  They can contain hair, teeth, bone, skin etc.  I had 2 softball sized dermoids along with my left ovary and 90% of my right ovary removed 12/21/05.  We believe that I had mine for over 1 year.  They are also 99% benign.  You are wise in seeking medical attention.  The growth rate just depends, but they are usually slow growers.  Since they do not resolve on their own, surgery is a must.  You do not want to risk rupture or torsion.  Also, the true dx cannot be made without pathology done on the tumor.  You are in my thoughts and prayers.  Godspeed
~Tascha

[CharuK]

I am not sure you will see this, since this post is so old but I had one ovary removed due to a dermoid 12 years ago and more recently 40% of the other ovary due to more dermoids. Have you experienced hormonal issues related to ovary removal? I have read some research that indicates increased risk of heart attack, dementia, etc. in women who have had total removal of their ovaries and am concerned about this happening since I am so prone to these dermoids.

[DaneGirl]

I too have a dermoid - mine is 4.2 cm x 3.2 cm x 3.0 cm....really ugly too.  I finally got to see it on a US yesterday - it is full of fat & calcified bone.

Fortunately mine has not grown since June, but I am experiencing a bunch of symptoms that seem to be realated to the dermoid.

Originally my gyn thought something else was wrong as his opinion on dermoids was this:  if it is less than 5 cm, it can stay in the body for most of your life - if any pain is felt, then surgery MAY be considered.  I am experiencing extreme bloating, back pain, upper right rib pain, nausea, frequent urination, changes to my bm's, extreme fatigue, and leg swelling.  Thankfully an internal specialist has given me a clean bill of health (with the exception of the dermoid), so I know that my symptoms are related.

Dermoids can do funny things to you....afterall they are really not supppose to be there.  You are very wise to seek medical attention and have it removed.

Like many of the other women here have said, 99% of the time they are benign, so hopefully that should put your mind at ease.

Have you had a CA125 blood test done?

Let us know how your surgery goes...we will all be thinking of you!
Dana

[tessc]

What does a CA125 have to do with Dermoids? Please explain why one would need this test?  And why wouldn't the gyn suggest it?

And I too as just told i have a dermoid 3cm that must come out. I am not convinced it MUST come out espec. from what i have been reading about less than 5cm dermoids. But i am scheduled to go for another pelvic ultrasound.  I do not have a gyn/oncologist. Just a gyn.

Do i need to find a gyn/oncologist?

Sorry so many questions in one mail..

thanks
tess

[Gatsby]

The 5 cm is from the insurance companies.  Most will not pay for the surgery if the cyst is less than 5 cm.
~Tascha

[dimples7]

Thanks to all of you for your help.  I will be waiting and ready for this to be over for all of us who are going through this waiting time.

[wubbie3]

My cyst was less than 5cm, and my insurance paid for the entire surgery. If surgery is something you want, most will look at it as elective. If it's something the doctor recommends, then there should be no problem with insurance paying for surgery unless there's something specific in your plan. Call your ins. co and discuss it with them....they'll have your plan specifics and can let you know up front if something isn't covered by your plan.
Be sure you have specifics, though. It's really hard to say something is covered if you're just being general (ie. are tests covered... well, what kind of tests. Blood tests, urine tests, biopsy, etc. Things like that). I work for an insurance co (I'm an adjuster), and while not people medical, I at least know how it works.
Hang in there and keep us posted!
~Marianne

[DaneGirl]

Hey no worries about the questions.  We've all been there and this forum is incredible for helping you work out your anxieties & worries.

The CA125 test is to try and rule out cancer.  Although the CA125 test is not entirely reliable (sometimes you may get a false positive for other medical conditions - such as an ovarian cyst - or a false negative - sometimes ovarian cancer does not give off sufficient tumor markers until later stages) it is a uesful tool when used with the US and other tests.

As you have probably read, dermoids will not resolve on their own, and the only way to really know what the 'tumor' is made of is through removal.

There is a 1% chance of the dermoid being malignant (look at kelly22's posts - she was unfortunate to have the malignant variety of dermoids - or immature teratoma (sp?)) so a CA125 test may help rule out cancer.

I am in Canada, and do not have the worries of insurance issues - but our doctors can be quite stubborn.  My doctor is simply a OB/GYN and I believe he is an excellent doctor. He does not believe in performing surgery simply for the sake of it - he would only perform the surgery if it met his criteria (i.e. over the 5cm mark, CA125 levels raised, symptoms, etc).  He's been in the medical society for a very long time so I believe that he would not steer me in the wrong direction.  I did however get a 2nd opinion from an internal specialist - this was to rule out any other medical issues with my body, and also to reinforce my gyn's diagnosis.

Surgery is something that you should not rush into, but if it is a recommended procedure and you are not comfortable with the reasons behind the recommendation, maybe try to get a 2nd opinion.

As for finding a gyn/onc I am not sure what to tell you.  Maybe someone else in the forum can give you better advice.

Remember, the questions asked here are ones that we may have all thought about at some point in our journey!

Take care,
Dana

[Anna-maria74]

What characteristics have they seen on US to determine that it is a dermoid. My reason for asking is that although, yes they can grow that large, it is a little big for a dermoid. Mine was diagnosed as a dermoid right from the word go but at 20 cm's there was this little niggling doubt and I was right, it was a benign mucinous cystadenoma. Also the symptoms you describe about it suddenly feeling bigger also applied to me. It was as if as soon as it was diagnosed I became so uncomfortable I couldnt even sit properly in the car. It was actually pressing on my diaphram. I put it down to the pressing and prodding that ensued after the US to be honest.

You thoughts?

Anna x

Sorry Linda couldn't resist I just love it (grin)

[shopaholic]

thank you for your reply an xray showed up teeth so then i was sent for usound where they showed me them.  have you had an op to remove your cyst and if so how was it done am i going to have a large scar and what is recovery like ?? i am so nervous about surgery.

[Gatsby]

Dermoids can be rather large.  I had 2 12inch diameter (30cm) dermoids removed 12/21/05.  The only way to truly determine what they are is to have them removed and biopsied.  You are in my thoughts and prayers.  Godspeed
~Tascha

[AnnaT]

I had my dermoid cyst removed. The operation was small and simple because they just opened one hole in the bellybottom to put in the camera, tv

[tessc]

Thank you for your reply. I heard form my gyn after the second sonogram that my 3cm derm grew to 8 cm and she wants me in next week to remove it. I have had three sections, a fourth section to repair a hernia and now i will be opened for a fifth time on the same set of scars. I am not at all looking forward to this and neither do i feel there is enough time for a second opinion. I have not had time with her to discuss details, this CA125 test that i have not had done yet. It's been 6 years since i have had to undergo anesthesia so i have no clue about all that. But thank you very much again. tessc

[Lisa bo8]

I have a cyst in my pelvic area that is 4cm they are not for sure where it is because it was not something that they were looking for on the ct and they now need to do a pelvic exam, I am haveing terrible contipation and my stomach is very bloated I am also very tired!!! Does anyone know how fast a cyst can grow? I just got my ct done on aug 22 and I look like I'm about four months prego...I don't get the pelvic exam done till this week some time.

[greeningstar]

i have just found out by accident that i have a dermoid cyst on my left ovary. this was by chance as i had severe back pain for 2 months and the doctors thought it was my kidneys. i was sent for a renal ct scan and have just spoken to the urologist who say's a dermoid cyst has shown up. i now have pain in my stomach.
im now worried as i have had this pain since october and cant get an appointment for an ultrasound until january. will this time delay have much of an affect on the cyst and i dont understand why it is being so delayed when i am in agony!!
any help or suggestions would be appreciated  

[LoriLee1962]

Hi GreeningStar

Hopefully I can give you something to go on. When I went to my annual gync appt on Oct 12th, and they did an ultrasound because casually I had brought up some symptom I've had which I thought had nothing to do with the gynco dept, but she sent me down to do a vaginal ultrasound right away that day and lo and behold, they saw 2 big cysts, one was 6.5 cm and the other I know was over 6.0cm, do not have the actual measurement. But she wanted to do a follow up ultrasound scheduled for Nov 6th. And the ultrasound showed that it had not gone away or reduced in size. I just had a laparoscopy on Dec 6 and had my left ovary removed. She is pretty confident by what she seen that the dermoid cysts are benign. She has sent them to pathology and I should get the results in a few days. But I am not worried about it as I know 99 percent of the time dermoid cysts are benign, and the fact she was 'confident' it was benign. Before hand, I had the bloating, the pain on the side and the middle which I had chalked up to my colon giving trouble. I was so way off. and my back hurt, and I was tired all the time. After working all day in an office, I was just wiped out and knew I shouldnt be. I chalked it up to age. Im only 45..lol.  But what I started to say was the cysts was still the same size from Oct to Nov and Dec. Im sure it varies with everyone. But dermoid cyst is what you are born with according to the way my gync explained it in simple terms. Some grow and some do not. If you have a dermoid cyst, you were born with it. I think from now to January will not affect you as much as waiting for the appointment. Its just the mental part of the waiting that drives you crazy. Believe me I know. If you want to have an appointment earlier, you could always all another gyncologist and get in earlier. But if you like the one you're going to go so, and I would make sure it was a gyncologist specialist and not a regular doctor that you go see for the ultrasound. I had the surgery on Thursday and here it is Tuesday. I dont go back to work until Monday Dec 17th, which is this coming Monday and Im doing pretty good. Sore but doable and no problem with walking and getting around. It actually feels better to get up and walk and stand. So if you have a laparoscopy surgery, believe me it's not bad at all. I was dreading it so bad and never been put under and Im just really pleased that the experience of surgery was not bad. If you have any other questions you want to ask me, let me know.

[Shelly1978]

Hi.I recently had to go to the hospitol because i was and still am having bad pain on my right and left side of my stomach.They did a cat scan and found i have a large dermoid tumor(the size of a soft ball) over my right ovary and found a large mass over my cervix.They also said my white count is high too.I go in for surgery Jan 22,2009 and i was wondering do i need to be worried?

[DreamWeaverThere]

I was taken to the ER on the 16th of December with on a scale of 1-10, pain that was a 9-10. I don't have insurance, and can't pay the bills. the doctor told me I have a Dermoid Ovarian Cyst on my left ovary the size of a baseball, and an unidentified mass in the right side,  When they sent me home bent over, and really didn't do anything except let me suffer, and two CT scans, they said to get to a doctor within two days if the pain did not go way. I told them I don't have any money. So I have suffered with extreme pain since that date. I fall between the cracks when it comes to getting assistance, so I can't get any help for this condition and my disability. I don't know how long I will last without care, or without it surgerically removed. I only have the choice to go with alternative methods, and I have faith in it, but the reality of surgery in there--all the things I can't get taken care of.  So I guess my body is creating a "Dermoid Ovarian "baby" since they get to be 17", and at 62, I will look like I am carrying a bady. I already look about 4 month pregnant and can't wear my cloths even though the rest of me has lost weight everyday. I don't know what to do in this situation.I have made phone calls to every organization on earth it seems, but people just dont seem to care, and I fall between the cracks.

[TrudieC]

Please do not ask a question on the bottom of an old post.  We now have an ovarian cyst forum.  Do create your own post there and the ladies will be sure to assist you.

[TrudieC]

MedHelp moved your post to the cyst forum so I will answer your question here.  I am so sorry you are having these problems and have no insurance.  I am a Canadian so I don't have much to offer on the insurance side.  Do talk to your family doctor to see if there are any programs for people that might help that he can get you in to.  

I am very concerned for your health.  The pain alone for large masses like that putting pressure on your internal organs is agonizing (I had a 16 cm one).  Did they run a CA-125 test?  Did they give you any idea what the other mass was?  I am quite concerned that at your age you are having multiple issues plus losing weight.  This is your life - can you not contact Medicaid or a church or someone to see if they can help you to get the surgery?  Did they give you anything for pain?  

[DreamWeaverThere]

I am unable to get any help anywhere. Medicaid is a joke. They don't want you to have any assets above $2000--nothing.  Medicare, I am not eligible for until I am 65. I won't go into details about all I have contacted, but I just simply fall between the cracks, and can't get help. The hospital has a charity program of some sort, and they are going to send me an application, but I may not qualify for that. It's all a long, one of a kind story of what has happened in my life in the last five years, that has placed me in this situation. The "Social Services" system in this country will not help those of us who fall into a category they don't support, yet need help--even if it is temporary--hopefully--and I have a letter of total disablility because of Fibromyalgia and a list of other conditions. Even the doctors admit that you have to jump through all the hoops of fire and go through all the red tape to get anyting at all. And then there are those of us who "fall into the cracks"....Oh well...don't know what to do now that I have called every agency I can find out about, and am unable to receive any kind of financial or health assistance.  
I am truly testing the "alternative" methods of health care, but after reading all I have read, it makes me think this thing might kill me before anything can be done. I'm not afraid to die, but this is rediculous not to be able to get help from any assistance program.

[CathyN]

I had a total hysterectomy on January 14, 2009 (uterus, both ovaries, tubes and cervix all removed per laproscopic surgery).  I had a dermoid tumor on my left ovary about the size of a medium baked potato that had been causing me discomfort/pain/symptons since last July.  Due to a history of DVT and pulmonary embolism (I have been on blood thinner -- coumadin -- since 2006), my doctors took a very slow approach instead of jumping into surgery.  In September, I had a DepoLupron shot that put me into menopause with the thought that the reduction in estrogen might shrink the mass ... it didn't.  The symptons were wearing me down (bloated, felt three months pregnant, bowels had changed drastically, painful to sit for long periods, etc.).  I'm home recovering and each day is better than the previous.  Due to the extent of the surgery (they had to move the bowels quite a bit based upon where the mass was and they also found a Brenner tumor (also benign) on my right ovary), I expect to return to work within 10 days.  Not going to rush it; the stress of the past six months has worn me out and I'm going to make sure I'm as close to 100 percent as possible.  I don't have anything to add to this forum but am thrilled to find it because until you've been through this, you just don't understand.

The one piece of advice I would offer is, as women we know our bodies better than anyone.  Don't ignore changes in bowels, constant lower back aches that never go away, bloatedness, frequent urination.  While most of us were fortunate to have benign masses, there is that chance of malignancy. What I'm most looking forward to post-recovery is a peace of mind I haven't felt in months.  Not looking forward to hot flashes but that's for another forum.  :)