Ovarian cyst

[donnaak]

A sonogram, two days ago, to monitor health of kidney after first kidney stone and possible related mild/moderate issues revealed another small stone and surprise -- a 4 cm cyst on my right ovary which is giving off mild twinges.  I also experience intermitten nausea with no desire to eat.  I still have my cycle although irregular lately with intermitten bleeding between (thought this might be the approach of menopause, but apparently that may not be the case).  I also have been having heavy cycle every other month for about 1 year which includes a great deal of pain in abdomen and lower back that sometimes radiates down to thigh.  Family history is (in a nutshell) mother with metastatic colon cancer and sister who carries the BRCA 1 gene discovered after her breast cancer diagnosis.  Other extended family members with various cancers as well.  My concern is do I wait, as advised by physician, 4 weeks for another cycle to have a vaginal ultrasound to see of the cyst resolves itself?  Am I over-reacting?  To appease me my physician ordered a CA 125 -- I know this is not a diagnostic test and there are false positives and false negatives, etc.  

[TrudieC]

I hope you can get your mother tested quickly and that all points to you being no more susceptable.  Good luck!

[donnaak]

Thank you.  I have been talking with a genetisist and have the following interesting information:  My mother has metastatic colon cancer and in her mid-thirties was diagnosed with uterine cancer and had a complete hysterectomy.  I am being told that this raises my risk of ovarian cancer IF my mother has the MLH1 or MSH2 gene (along with other cancers like stomach, kidney/urinary tract, brain, biliary tract, and small bowel).  I am going to talk with her and ask if she will be tested.  Apparently Medicare will cover the cost since she had an "endometrial" cancer before the age of 50 coupled with a later diagnosis of colon cancer.  If she does have the gene(s) I will be tested.  If I do, I have some concerns and need to look into proactive screening options.  If not, then I am no more suseptable than the "general population."

[TrudieC]

All the waiting can be quite frustrating.  Were they able to determine what kind of cyst you have?  If it appears as a functional cyst (see the health pages for info on the different types) waiting to see if it resolves makes sense.  I know that what he is doing is normal procedure, especially with more than 95% of cysts being benign.  I really don't see him changing his course unless there is an issue with the CA-125.  Good luck and please keep us posted.