Breast CA/Ovarian CA

sunnyskye

I would like to hear from anyone who is a breast cancer survivor that developed cysts on the ovaries after their diagnosis. I am 1.5 yrs out from breast cancer surgery and after having abdominal pain and swelling they have found cystic lesions on both sides. I do not have a uterus ... that was removed 12 years ago. I just would like to talk to someone who may have had the same thing happen to them. I have an appointment this coming week to see an gyn/onc only because of my persistence. I want all of it removed, the whole kit and kaboodle. I do not want to have another kind of cancer and do not want to wait to find out if they are benign or malignant because if they are benign they do not belong there anyhow. If anyone has experienced anything similar please write to me at sunny_skye@hotmail.com or post here. Thanks so much! Diana

DeeNY711

I agree with you, and I think you are the one who should make the decision. If the gyn/onc refuses, find another one. I did not have the same problem, but your logic is flawless.
Love,
Denise

blossomtime

Interesting because I just asked my oncologist if there was an increase in ovarian cancer in pts with prior breast cancer. He said some but not high percentage. I asked why women were not screened routinely with Ca125. He said because at this time Medicare does not see this as a part of routine checkup so insurance companies follow suit to what medicare does and most likely won't pay for either. But they sure pay for mens PSA levels. I plan to ask my gynecologist at next exam about this.

epgnyc

Hi, Sunnyskye. I didn't have the exactly the same thing happen, but something kind of similar. Within a year's period I developed enlarged, nodular ovaries, which was worrisome because I was 5 years post-menopausal and my sister had had ovarian cancer. While going through the pre-surgical exams my breast cancer was found. I was lucky that my ovarian tumors (mine weren't cysts) turned out to be benign, but I had both ovaries and tubes removed. Like you, I am much happier to be rid of them. Yours is a reasonable request and I'm sure if your current doctor doesn't agree, someone else will. As to the CA125 test, I was told it gets a lot of false positives and negatives so isn't that reliable. It's best when used in conjunction with other diagnostic tools. Good luck.

sunnyskye

DeeNY711 said:

I agree with you, and I think you are the one who should make the decision. If the gyn/onc refuses, find another one. I did not have the same problem, but your logic is flawless.
Love,
Denise

Thanks for the boost of positivity! Other ppl think I'm nuts to want major surgery. But, they have not been thru what I have been thru. : )

sunnyskye

blossomtime said:

Interesting because I just asked my oncologist if there was an increase in ovarian cancer in pts with prior breast cancer. He said some but not high percentage. I asked why women were not screened routinely with Ca125. He said because at this time Medicare does not see this as a part of routine checkup so insurance companies follow suit to what medicare does and most likely won't pay for either. But they sure pay for mens PSA levels. I plan to ask my gynecologist at next exam about this.

Yes and I've been told that I'm going to have trouble getting them to agree to remove it all because of insurance reasons but I feel that there is a legitimate concern in my case having already had cancer once. So, I'm prepared for a fight and if I go in and they just want to biopsy it all I'm going to resist that as I want it gone. I feel that this is OUR life they are playing with (the insurance companies) so am prepared to do what I have to do in order to get it taken care of and that would include, should they resist removal (the insurance company) writing a notarized letter telling them that should I develop cancer in the ovaries because they failed to permit me to prevent that from happening and knew I had things growing in there and told me to watch them instead, that they would be held monetarily liable to myself and my family should I become ill and lose my income. : ) it helps workin for lawyers. I'm telling you right now the misdiagnosis of breast cancer and failure to do biopsies by recommending waiting and watching is bad news for women. I see it happen everyday in my job (medical malpractice attorneys where I work). If they cannot tell you for certain that it is benign, they have a duty to take it to the next level, a biopsy.

sunnyskye

epgnyc said:

Hi, Sunnyskye. I didn't have the exactly the same thing happen, but something kind of similar. Within a year's period I developed enlarged, nodular ovaries, which was worrisome because I was 5 years post-menopausal and my sister had had ovarian cancer. While going through the pre-surgical exams my breast cancer was found. I was lucky that my ovarian tumors (mine weren't cysts) turned out to be benign, but I had both ovaries and tubes removed. Like you, I am much happier to be rid of them. Yours is a reasonable request and I'm sure if your current doctor doesn't agree, someone else will. As to the CA125 test, I was told it gets a lot of false positives and negatives so isn't that reliable. It's best when used in conjunction with other diagnostic tools. Good luck.

Yep I've heard that about C125 also. I figure once something pops up that does not belong there a warning flag ought to go up in people who have had cancer. I'm going to Hopkins which is who handled my breast cancer. I trust them with my life and am looking forward to the appointment tomorrow. Your very lucky indeed that you got the ovarian tumors .... that was God's way of them finding the breast cancer. I hope it was caught early too. Mine was. I was told to come back in 6 months for calcs....I said poo on you to the radiologist and went to Hopkins and 5 days later was given the news. Because of my own persistence in obtaining the second opinion I was spared a heck of alot of hardship in my life as my nodes were negative. The whole story could have been different had I waiting 6 months.