Did you have warning signs before being diagnosed or was it found incidentally?

starrynight5626
starrynight5626 Member Posts: 7 Member
in Ovarian Cancer #1

I am a post-menopausal 52 y/o and a mass on my ovary was found incidentally when I was sent for a CT scan after a visit to urgent care for stomach pain. The pain ended up being diverticulitis, but a fibroid and mass showed up on the scan. They couldn't be sure it was a mass so went for an ultrasound and they still weren't sure.

Went for an MRI in late June and it showed it to be a 3.2 cm endometrioma along with a 1.5 cm pedunculated cyst. The OB/GYN I saw the week after the MRI said they could do a laparoscopy and take it out as that's the only way to tell what it is or she said, since I don't have any pain or symptoms (the only pain was when I was diagnosed with diverticulitis) and she believes a low chance for cancer, that it could be monitored by getting an ultrasound in 3 months and then again 6 months after that and see if it grows. If it grows, then have the surgery, but if it stays the same or shrinks then we can discontinue monitoring it after a year.

I opted for doing the ultrasounds. My 3 month one is coming up in a couple of weeks. If it's the same size (between the ultrasound, CT and MRI the mass was measured between 3.2 and 3.6cm), I am unsure what to do. I've read so many stories online about people who had no symptoms but when they had surgery they found they were riddled with masses.

I am not sure if I should just go ahead with the laparoscopy regardless so I don't have to keep wondering or just monitor it.

I am curious to find out how people on here were diagnosed and if they had any symptoms prior.

Comments

  • beth2924
    beth2924 Member Posts: 31 Member
    #2

    Starrynight5626,

    I went in for bleeding after menopause, my pcp scheduled an ultra sound that found a "cyst" in my left ovary. Which prompted an appointment for a biopsy. Results came back with "abnormal" cells (not cancer but could become cancer). Since I was 60 the suggestion was a hysterectomy for endometriosis. Lab report after surgery came back with both ovarian and uterine cancers.

    I can't help with you with the surgery or not question, that has to be your call. I asked my doctor what she would recommend if it were her mother. Then we talked about why. Ultimately it comes down to the value of peace of mind versus recovery from a potentially unnecessary surgery. Don't forget to talk to your insurance too, it should be the case, but often finances influence our decisions.

    In my case, since the offending lady parts were gone before we even knew about the cancers, my prognosis is good. We are doing six rounds of chemo to "clean up cells that may have spilled during the surgery".

    Beth

  • starrynight5626
    starrynight5626 Member Posts: 7 Member
    #3

    Thanks for responding. So other than some bleeding you had no signs? No pain or anything? I'm glad your prognosis is good!

    Insurance isn't an issue for me as it's covered. From what I've read online, the recovery time from a laparoscopy is a week or two. I can work from home if I need to so that's not an issue. I just have a hard time justifying a surgery if the doctors don't seem to think it could be cancer. I realize they don't know 100% until they take it out but I just dont' know. I guess I can sit here and fret about it or I can get it done and know for sure.

  • beth2924
    beth2924 Member Posts: 31 Member
    #4
    https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1717967#Comment_1717967

    Starrynight,

    In my case, it was just bleeding. In fact, I wasn't even going to mention it to my doctor. I started spotting on a Friday. I had what I thought was a follow-up for a cough the following Monday, but the appointment was actually my annual well-check-up visit. She asked about doing a pap (I'm 60). I told her about the spotting and she scheduled the ultrasound. We shouldn't ever spot after menopause. At the time of the surgery, everyone involved thought it was just endometriosis. Even when they were inside removing the uterus, ovaries etc. the doctor didn't see anything that looked like cancer.

    I am not saying it's the right choice for you, but for me, it was the best choice, even though we didn't know it then. Whether it's right for you depends on so much- your age, medical history, general health, etc. My best advice it to ask lots of questions and get a second opinion. Either way, it's a big decision, the better informed you are the better.

    Best luck to you,

    Beth

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