Ovarian Cyst 11.5 x 10 x 10

[songbird1963]

For the past 5 months I have been experiencing sudden extremely painful attacks, mainly in the right back kidney area.  Feels like my back is in fire, and nausea and vomiting occur. These attacks usually occurred once per month the first 3 months.  In the fourth month, I had 2 of these attacks, landing me in the hospital.  The doctor decided to do a CT scan as they believed I was having kidney stone attacks.  In the 5th month, I had 4 of these attacks.....and also the CT scan was performed.  When the results came back, they told me it was not kidney stones, but was a "mass" in my abdomen measuring 11.5 x 10 x 10.  My doctor told me that they believe it is a cyst, and from the CT scan it looks like it is connected to the right ovary and the neck of the bladder.

I saw a gynocologist last week, and he ordered an ultra sound of the abdomen, as well as a probe ultrasound.  They also performed a pile of bloodwork tests, one was a screening for cancer?  

I have been stressed out over the last week, worrying that it's not just an ordinary cyst, but something more.  I had a cyst removed about 14 years ago from the right ovary which was about the size of a plum.  It was benign.  I didn't go through the kind of pain etc, that I have with this one.  

I know I don't have alot of information to offer you, but was wondering, would a "normal" cyst get this big, and cause this much reoccuring pain???  BTW I am 45 years old, and 16 years ago went through a tubal ligation procedure, (tying).  I also have not menstrated in the past 5 months since all this started.  Is this normal also????

Thanks for any insight you may be able to give me!!

[yrrek]

Hi, I am sorry you are going through all this and waiting for information is so hard.  My advice to you is that when or if surgery is decided to remove the mass that you PLEASE have a gyn/oncologist do the surgery, even if it most likely a benign cyst, just in case it is a malignancy these surgeons have the expertise and experience in removing the carcinoma and I believe it can really help with your chance of permanent remission and cure.

Good luck to you and stay strong,  Kerry

[songbird1963]

I have an appointment tomorrow with my gyn to find out what they are going to do to try and fix this.  Am very nervous but trying to stay positive.  Should find out all the test results and then can post an update with more details.....

Thanks for your kind words of support!!

[lavender2]

I had the same kind of situation last fall.  When I finally had a CT scan they found a 17 cm cyst.  Because it was unclear whether it was malignant or not, my gynecologist sent me to a gynecological oncologist.  The gyn/onc told me that cysts this big are often not malignant.  My CA-125 was somewhat elevated, but not enough to make a diagnosis of cancer.   However, when she did the surgery, it turned out to be malignant.  She did a "complete staging" which means they removed everything - both ovaries, complete hysterectomy, omentum and lymph nodes and everything was biopsied.  It turned out only the cyst itself was malignant.  But the prognosis is much better when complete staging is done by a gynecological oncologist.  If there is any chance whatsoever of this being cancer, please insist on a gyn/onc.

I hope you get some good answers tomorrow.  It is an anxious time.  I know I had a very hard time between the initial discovery of the "mass", then hearing the doc talk about the possibility of cancer,,,and then waiting until surgery a month later to find out get a diagnosis.  But this is a great place to ask questions and get support.  

Here's hoping it turns out to be a benign cyst.  

[songbird1963]

Just came back from the gyn.........all pre screening tests came back negative!!  What a relief..........heading for surgery on Wednesday to remove the huge cyst located on the right side.  Specialist told me that he would be removing the right ovary........as well as the huge cyst.  He said it looked like the ovary was incassed inside the cyst. They are still not 100% sure if the cyst originated from the ovary or from another organ such as the bladder/kidney.    Incidentely, when they did the ultra sound they found a small cyst 4cm on the left ovary as well.  They are going to remove that while they are at it.  They will also be scraping the inside of the uterus as they have found a thick build up on the inside walls.  He thought at first they could perform the operation with a horizontal incision to the abdomen, but told me today that they were going to have to enter vertically.  From the breast bone down.  Seems the huge cyst is pushing against the lower part of the stomach, and they have to make sure it hasn't attached itself to that organ.    

At least I know that the cyst is benign!!!  To me that is the main thing and anything else I have to undergo, I can handle that!!!

[lavender2]

Wonderful results!  I'm glad for you.