Ultrasound found enlarged cyst.. now what? Advice please!

[faithbaby28]

I have all the symptoms of ovarian cancer and this past friday I went for a transvaginal ultrasound and an enlarged cyst was found on my right ovary that is painful. The lady doing the ultrasound said it wasn't really a small one either... I have been on birth control for 5 years now and b/c is supposed to prevent functional cysts. I have had all the symptoms of ovca for over a year now just getting worse as time goes by so the cyst has been there for a while. My symptoms are headaches almost daily, pain during sex, pain/cramps in my stomach in the area where the cyst was found, for the past month I have also had bloating, extreme fatigue (used to just be fatigue), nausea, vomited 4 times, constipation/diarrhea, and every other symptom has just worsened... my doctor said I should use more lubricant when I told her in january that I was having pain during sex well now she realizes its more than that thanks a lot stupid doctor!! Do you think it could be ovarian cancer? My doctor is supposed to call me with the ultrasound results this week I am soo nervous and scared! I called this morning and they have the results from my ultrasound and the receptionist said the doctor will call me. How long should it take for me to hear from my doctor if she has my results and is in the office today? Also, I have a family history of woman having ovarian cysts that had to be removed I do not know the details though.

[sobermommy]

The ladies are sooo right. Cysts and other pelvic issues have such similar symptoms. You pretty much described what mine were. I had a hemmorhagic ovarian cyst that was very painful. It did burst and reabsorb. I also had an enlarged uterus and thickened cervix. When they removed them on Oct 29th...path results showed that I had Adenomyosis...which was described as the cells of my uterus wall...bonding or meshing with the muscle of the uterus.  I was very worried too...it is hard not to but like the ladies who have been through all of this and offered me such great advice have said..."try" not to worry until you know for sure that there is something to worry about. Please keep us posted...God bless...Lynn

[Jaxsie]

I know it is difficult- boy do I know- but try not to panic too much. I was convinced I had OVCA- I had lost weight and appetite (which is way out of character for me) and other symptoms too- also had an elevated CA 125- but mine was endometriosis. Everyone is different and the waiting game is horrible- Please try not to panic and share with the forum. the support here is wonderful during these difficult times

best wishes

[TrudieC]

I know the waiting can drive you crazy.  Over 95% of all cysts are benign and the symptoms for cysts and ovarian cancer can be very similar.  See the health pages (top right) for a list of types of cysts and symptoms.  In most cases a doctor will have you wait a couple of menstrual cycles and then repeat the ultrasound to see if the cyst resolves itself.  If that is not the case they will do surgery to remove it.  Depending on whether the cyst is small enough (10 cm or less) and your surgical past, they will do laparoscopic surgery to remove the cyst and then do a pathology test to determine if it is benign.  In many cases they have a good idea that the cyst is benign before surgery but ultimately it cannot be determined until surgery.

Doctors are all different about getting back to you.  It depends on their schedule, their habits, and whether they are alarmed or not by the test results.  I hope you will hear something soon and give us an update.  Good luck.