Could it be ovarian cancer?

lnyeholt said:

Check this out aggressively but don't panic!
Your symptoms sound very similar to what I experienced beginning in my early thirties. I too often had ovarian cysts in addition to the discomfort caused by fibroid tumors and sharp pain on my left side. When the symptoms first began it was around the time Gilda Radner had died from ovarian cancer. Despite no family history or any other risk factors I was feeling as panicky as you no doubt do. Having the luxury of health insurance and an understanding doctor, I insisted on both the CA-125 test AND laparoscopic surgery (even after the test returned at normal levels) to be certain I didn't have ovarian cancer. I didn't and it is very possible that what you are experiencing is NOT cancer but related to your fibroids.

For over 15 years my symptoms, almost identical to yours, were just part of dealing with fibroid tumors and occasional cysts. The cysts and bleeding were controlled with birth control pills and periodic D&Cs. As I entered my 50s my new doctor would no longer prescribe birth control pills and I began to have problems with frequent & urgent urination, fatigue, bowel changes, and, beginning in January 2009, persistent lower back pain: all classic symptoms of ovarian cancer but not uncommon complaints for someone my age, especially someone with a history of fibroids, ovarian cysts, and IBS.

I finally decided enough was enough and agreed to my doctor's suggestion of a hysterectomy. I had an ultrasound in December 2008; everything seemed normal and fine for a laparoscopic surgery, which was scheduled for March 2009. The right ovary, which appeared normal in the December ultrasound, had enlarged to 4xs it's normal size by the time the surgery was performed. In the three months between the ultrasound and the surgery I developed ovarian cancer, which was fortunately stage 1. I was as surprised as my doctor; neither of us had suspected the possibility she would find cancer!

I would definitely follow the suggestions the others have given you. The symptoms for ovarian cancer are not specific to that disease and common to other gastro-intestinal or gynecological problems that are treatable and non-life threatening. The idea of going to a hospital emergency room is a good one. That's how my mother's friend's ovarian cancer was found after almost a year of visiting doctors and specialists (she had insurance!), numerous tests and overlooking ovarian cancer as a possible cause for her symptoms.

Be persistent and aggressive in seeking the care you deserve. Hopefully, the symptoms you are experiencing are simply caused by the fibroids and the medication your doctor has prescribed will diminish your symptoms.

Dreamdove said:

I went to the emergency room
Jan. 2007 I went to the emergency room because I knew something was seriously wrong with me. I hadn't had any checkups in years, had been very healthy up until that point. Got there at 9:30AM, was given urine and blood tests, x-rays, ct scan, 2 gynelogical exams. Later in the afternoon the surgeon came in and said he was going to operate on me that day. He wouldn't say what was wrong but he had a very worried look on his face. I asked him if it was my appendix. He said maybe. Then abit later a gynelogical oncologist came in and said he strongly suspected I have ovarian cancer. He would do the surgery the next day. After the surgery it was found that I had stage 3C. There was a tumor on my right ovary, a tumor on my appendix, and one on my diaphram above my liver. Boy am I glad I went to the ER. My symptoms had come on very suddenly; I literally woke up one morning 4 days before with cancer! Luckily for me I had medical assistance. For many years my daughter and I had no insurance. The rules changed and we finally qualified. It doesn't hurt to look into different programs. I worked with a lady who couldn't get medicaid because of her husband. Her problems got worse and worse and she finally was referred to a doctor when she went to the free clinic out of desperation. She kept trying to find those who would help her and managed to but by that time it was too late. She had a lump on her neck and it turned out to be Hodgekins Lympoma. Well, she is still alive but if it wasn't for her persistence in finding someone who would help in despite having no health insurance.........

yolos said:

Thank you! I WILL take charge
You know I had a transvaginal ultrasound the first of April and the technician said that I have fluid in my abdomen but she felt that it was a cyst that burst and the fluid would be absorbed by my body. I know that's an accurate statement. However, what I didn't say in my original blog was that I've been having lower left pelvic pain intermittently since 2006 and have had multiple abdominal ultrasounds. The problem has been wit the technician in the county run hospital. My gyn docs would order transvag but when I'd get to Radiology they would do an abdominal us. I would go back to the doc and tell him and he would order it again. . .I'd go back and I would tell them what he ordered and they actually told me that they didn't have the device for the procedure! I went back to the doc and told him. I actually explained to him that even though I am in the county clinic I am an computer science major in college and have done research on the procedures he'd order. Since then (about 1 1/2 years ago) they have the trans vag attachment and a large enough room to do the procedure in. Yes, I mean a large enough room because before it was like a broom closet. I hate to say this but I had a trans vag us in third week of March, but my R.N.Practitioner said the results came back fine! ! ! When I presented with excruciating pain in my lower left abdomen she ordered it again and prescribed a stool softner for my constipation, 600mg ibuprofen every six hours and another "habit forming" pain killer to take every 4 hours. I've finished the 7 day course of antibiotics for a uterine infection. I've stopped taking the "habit formin" pain killer because I really want to feel the pain. I do feel a mass on my left side in the lower pelvic region. And that's annoying.


So, this is what I've decided I will do starting Monday, May 4, 2009. I will not allow my gyn docs to depend on the "written report" from Radiology. I'm going to go get the Radiology film back from 2006, . . .whatever they cost. . . take the last two to my appointment with my docs and ask them to evaluate them. Afterwards, a family member has agreed to pay for me to have a second evaluation with a specialist and I will take all my scans there.

I appreciate talking to you all on the site, because I am scaring my mother everytime I come back with an "ok" from my gyn doc but then bow over sick more often now than in the past.

I'm also glad to know that you all have survived ALL that you've gone through.