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Ovarian Cyst at 67
Everything I read says that ovarian cysts at 67 are at great risk of becoming cancer. My CA 125 test was normal, whatever that means. The radiologists said my right ovary was 5.5 size and should be 2.5. He said he wanted me to be back for another ultrasound in six weeks which will be June 12. All articles talk about surgery to remove the cyst or ovary. What are my risk factors for cancer at this age? I am not nervous about it, I just want to know the facts and what the future holds. Why do doctors withhold this information?
I too was told that my cyst might be cancerous. But reading around the Internet, I feel that doctors can be alarmists. There is a general increase in most forms of cancer with age. But the actual incidence of ovarian cancer apparently is 1 in 80...lower than risks of some other forms of cancer.
Additionally:
A study of post-menopausal women reviewed the records of 226 women from an English hospital. Within 5 years, 54 women had increased their cyst sizes. But out of all 226, only 2 developed ovarian cancer, both with cysts that increased in size. Therefore this study concluded that the presence of ovarian cysts does not seem linked to ovarian cancer. This article appeared in on online edition of American Family Physician in April 2004.
http://www.aafp.org/afp/20040401/tips/25.html
also summarized here
http://www.uptodate.com/patients/content/abstract.do?topicKey=~YvgvOH8yMAPy/FQ&refNum=36
Another source actually quotes an article in a medical journal suggesting that “complex ovarian cysts” do not seem to be “immediate precursors” of ovarian cancer.
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Detection/PLCOOvarianFactSheet/print?page=&keyword=
These articles sound quite plausible. Now that I've read them, I would ask my doctor to show me an article that cited *evidence* of a link between cysts and ovarian cancer.
Additionally:
A study of post-menopausal women reviewed the records of 226 women from an English hospital. Within 5 years, 54 women had increased their cyst sizes. But out of all 226, only 2 developed ovarian cancer, both with cysts that increased in size. Therefore this study concluded that the presence of ovarian cysts does not seem linked to ovarian cancer. This article appeared in on online edition of American Family Physician in April 2004.
http://www.aafp.org/afp/20040401/tips/25.html
also summarized here
http://www.uptodate.com/patients/content/abstract.do?topicKey=~YvgvOH8yMAPy/FQ&refNum=36
Another source actually quotes an article in a medical journal suggesting that “complex ovarian cysts” do not seem to be “immediate precursors” of ovarian cancer.
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Detection/PLCOOvarianFactSheet/print?page=&keyword=
These articles sound quite plausible. Now that I've read them, I would ask my doctor to show me an article that cited *evidence* of a link between cysts and ovarian cancer.
Yes, the internet can be a frightening thing sometimes ! Have a good weekend and keep us posted.
Sandy
Sandy
Thank you so much for the reply and all the good information. I feel much better about the whole thing now. My husband says I research too much about medical things on the internet. I will relax now as TrudieC advised.
Hi,
I don't want to sound "flip", but don't believe everything you read. I'm older than you are and I had a benign cyst last year. It is true that the presence of a cyst past menopause is of greater concern than with younger gals, but that's only because we no longer have the usual functional cyst that is common to our cycles, but it only means that the cysts should be watched more carefully.. it doesn't mean they are malignant .
The Ca-125 is simply a marker for the presence of Ovarian cancer. It is used primarily in women already dx. with OVCA to determine how well the treatment is working. It isn't reliable in younger women as a screening tool, but as we are older, it carries a little more weight on the reliability scale. It's good that your test was normal.
I don't think the Drs withhold information. They simply don't know what the future may hold for any of us.I don't think anyone can tell you that..There really is only one sure way to determine if a cyst is malignant or not and that is through pathology obtained from surgery...I was told the same as you... to watch and wait to see if the cyst resolves itself (disappears or shrinks). I chose not to do this and had the ovary and Fallopian tube removed via laparascopy (an outpatient surgery with very little recovery time or pain). After having been a part of this forum for over a year, I've learned that cysts even in older women are quite common, so I wouldn't worry much about it. If, after 6 weeks, it hasn't shrunk , they will probably suggest removal .Although that isn't really a very long time. Many times they wait for 2-3 months. . It truly isn't a bad procedure at all
if you should need the laparoscopic procedure.
Good luck on the next US.. and let us know..
Sandy
I don't want to sound "flip", but don't believe everything you read. I'm older than you are and I had a benign cyst last year. It is true that the presence of a cyst past menopause is of greater concern than with younger gals, but that's only because we no longer have the usual functional cyst that is common to our cycles, but it only means that the cysts should be watched more carefully.. it doesn't mean they are malignant .
The Ca-125 is simply a marker for the presence of Ovarian cancer. It is used primarily in women already dx. with OVCA to determine how well the treatment is working. It isn't reliable in younger women as a screening tool, but as we are older, it carries a little more weight on the reliability scale. It's good that your test was normal.
I don't think the Drs withhold information. They simply don't know what the future may hold for any of us.I don't think anyone can tell you that..There really is only one sure way to determine if a cyst is malignant or not and that is through pathology obtained from surgery...I was told the same as you... to watch and wait to see if the cyst resolves itself (disappears or shrinks). I chose not to do this and had the ovary and Fallopian tube removed via laparascopy (an outpatient surgery with very little recovery time or pain). After having been a part of this forum for over a year, I've learned that cysts even in older women are quite common, so I wouldn't worry much about it. If, after 6 weeks, it hasn't shrunk , they will probably suggest removal .Although that isn't really a very long time. Many times they wait for 2-3 months. . It truly isn't a bad procedure at all
if you should need the laparoscopic procedure.
Good luck on the next US.. and let us know..
Sandy
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