Very scared about surgery

[KT57]

I am going into hospital for a hysterectomy next Tuesday and am so scared about not only what is going to happen but also what they are going to find. Basically I have an enlarged ovary and have been told I could have cancer but they cant be sure until they take it out and test it. They are treating it as cancer until it is proved otherwise. This has me in a right old panic and I am convinced it must be cancer if this is how they are treating it. I am 50 years old, have no symptoms, mass was found during a routine exam. I live in the UK. Has anyone else had a similar experience and what was the outcome.

Thanks for any replies

KT57 x x

[sheri938]

AGAIN- YES BY ALL MEANS TAKE IT SLOW - LOTS OF REST I WAS ADVISED BYMY M.D."YOU HAD A RADICAL SURG. AND 9 CHEMOS - GIVE YOUR SELF TIME TO RECOVER-DON'T RUSH IT- GET USED TO DAYTIME T,V,
(NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD SAY THAT) OR READ ETC, EAT WELL-I DIDN'T HAVE ANY DRIVE TO DO ANYTHING - IT COMES BACK SLOWLY- I DIDN'T EVEN GO NEAR THE COMPUTER FOR MONTHS, MY HUSBAND ANS. ALL MY E MAILS FROM FAMILY ETC, HIS -MOM CAME DOWN AND STAYED FOR 2 MONTHS.RON RETIRED THE DAY OF MY SURG. THEY SPOILED ME,-I WAS ALSO PUT ON ANTI DEPRESSANTS WHICH HELPED I COULDN'T TALK TO ANYONE WITH OUT CRYING-ASK YOUR M.D ABOUT THEM .WELBUTRIN-(SP?) IF I CAN OFFER ANY ADVICE OR SHARE AN EXPERIENCE WITH YOU  - I WOULD BE MORE THEN HAPPY TO-I FEEL LIKE A YEAR AND A HALF ARE GONE AND I DON'T REMEMBER MUCH OF IT- PLUS I CAN'T FIND THINGS I THINK THEY SHOULD BE RIGHT WHERE I LEFT THEM A YEAR AND A HALF AGO>MY BEST TO YOU.I REALLY THOUGHT LAST CHRISTMAS WOULD BE MY LAST.

[KT57]

I am definitely going to take your advice and take my recovery slowly and let others look after me for a change! Thanks for your prayers - it is lovely to know that you will be thinking of me and also the fact that you say the odds are on my side for it to be benign. I feel so much more positive.

Take care and many thanks. I will let you know how things go when I am able to.

KT57 x x

[MarieMichele]

Well, yes, complex is more worrying because they just can't get enough information about its nature from the screening tests.  They always feel safer to just have it out.  Having fluid filled like me didn't put the doctor's mind at ease, either. Once it's large enough, it's also large enough to not give a clear understanding of what it could be hiding.

And yes, it is more worrying when we are post menopause.  The risks increase as we get older, so they act faster to remove anything they are not sure about.  I don't know the statistics, and one doesn't really want to trust them anyway.  You are doing the right thing to go for the surgery and the odds are in your favor of it being benign.  Having no symptoms is a good thing.

You will feel so much better both mentally and physically once this is behind you without the constant worry.  You will be in my prayers on Tuesday.  I feel confident you will get a good report afterwards.  Just follow all the doctor's orders and don't rush the recovery.  Let others fuss over you for awhile.  We women are always the caregivers, but now others have to do that for us.  

[KT57]

Hi MarieMichele

Thanks so much for your prompt reply. In answer to your question I am having the same surgery as you - laparotomy but I am also having my uterus out so it will be a hysterectomy.

I have read your post about your experience - thank you, it really is informative and helpful and made me feel better. Just one question though I notice your cyst was fluid filled, mine is complex - I guess that is more worrying. Do you know any statistics about complex cysts and also is it more worrying if you are post menopause as I am?

Many thanks

KT57 x x

[MarieMichele]

What type of surgery (laparoscopic or laparotomy)?  It makes a difference in how long the hospital and recovery experience will be.

You may want to read my story in the "about me" section of my profile.  I had a large cyst and a considerable cancer scare myself (it was completely benign) at age 48 (nearly 49).  After discussing all the options, I had a laparotomy and had the cyst, both ovaries and tubes removed.  That's not a hysterectomy (it is only a hysterectomy if the uterus is also removed).  I never had a problem with the uterus so the doctor said it should remain.  

They test the cyst during surgery. It is only a preliminary test to be sure, but if cancer is present, it can be obvious enough.  They also examine surrounding areas and organs, do a "wash" which reveals any malignancies.  If nothing found, surgery is finished.  Otherwise, they will do what they can to remove the bad stuff and keep your body functions as they should be.  Maybe it would be a hysterectomy at that point to be "safe".

After surgery they do a final full pathology of the removed cyst to see if there was any cancer they did not detect during surgery.  Those results could arrive in a few days or a few weeks.