Hi Jo and a very warm welcome to Cancer Chat, even though I'm sure that you would rather be anywhere else but here.

I am so sorry to hear about your diagnosis and the run around that you have had before this. Not all cancers are easy to diagnose, so we do sometimes hear stories like yours. You know your own body better than anyone and I'm so glad that you have perservered in trying to find out what exactly was wrong. Did the nurses not give you any explanation for sending you home in March without your laparscopy? This seems very strange.

I doubt that your surgeon would leave you to wait for your hysterectomy if he felt that this was going to be detremental. Did you bring anyone with you to your appointment? I would always advise you to do this. It is also a good idea to draw up a list of qestions between each appointment. I always bring my hubby armed with a duplicate list of questions and he writes down the answers as I am asking the questions. Many of us do this, because we often find that our appointments are a bit of a blur when we leave. Your surgeon will not be at all surprized if you do this.

Mistakes like the one about whether or not you still have both ovaries, only happen if somebody doesn't write up your notes properly. The CT scan should make things much clearer and help you to see the exact extent of your cancer. It should also confirm that you still have two ovaries.

I am glad that you are staying away from 'Dr Google', as this can sometimes be very frightening. If you have to do some research, wait until you know exactly what you are dealing with and then only look through reputable, well-researched sites.

I have lost both of my parents, several family members and close friends to cancer and now have had 2 bouts of breast cancer myself. My mum died 20 years ago from it and I had one bout 8 years ago and the second 7 years ago. What I have discovered in that time is the tremendous strides that have been made in treatment and aftercare since then. When mum had it people died from cancer, now several are living with cancer.

If it is of any consolation to you, they found that I had a duodenal ulcer after I was diagnosed. This was as a result of having my gallbladder removed 10 years previously. Fortunately, this has never bothered me and neither has it changed since it was first spotted.

Please let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

Kind Regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine,

Thanks so much for replying to me!

I’ve just re-read what I wrote and I wasn’t really clear about my laparoscopy, I did have the procedure, I meant That because the op took place over the weekend I left the hospital on Sunday without speaking to a dr and the nurses wouldn’t tell me any detail about the procedure so I didn’t know anything about what they actually did until I went to my own dr for a sick note and he said the right ovary had been removed. Apparently now though, the consultant is saying that’s not the case.

Thanks for the tip about writing questions and the second copy idea, that’s really helpful and I will definitely be doing that! 

I initially went in on my own as thought it was just a standards appointment - to be honest, cancer had never even entered my mind since they said it was a dermoid cyst, I was told they are unlikely to be cancerous so I put any worries like that behind me.

When I walked in a nurse came in too, they told me to sit down and handed me a glass of water - all of which I thought was odd. They asked if anyone was with me and I said my partner was in the waiting room. They asked should they get him and initially I said ‘no, I’m fine, why?’ Then he said we’ve found cancer in your ovary. 

He started explaining things to me and they then offered to go and get my partner. But to be honest I think we were both in shock as neither of us took much in.

We will definitely use the double notes method in future thank you!!

I’m so sorry to hear about your family and friends but the fact you’ve been through this twice already gives me hope so thank you for that x

my mum had breast cancer about 9 years ago and we all stuck together and helped her fight it so I’m lucky that I know my family will do the same now and be there while I fight it.

A good friend messaged me earlier and told me I should think about cancer differently, she said it used to be something people died from but now it’s something lots of people live with or beat. So I’ll stick with that thought for now.

Thank you so much xx

Hi,

im just reading your post after I’ve been found having an 8cm dermoid cyst near my right ovary - no signs of cancer currently but I have an ultrasound booked for next Monday . 

How are things going for you? Did they remove the cancer / did you have an hysterectomy/ cancer treatment? 

Wishing you all all the best xxxx

Hi

I'm waiting to hear about my blood tests and ultrasound... hopefully by next week.  I've a lump in my pelvis and I know the dr. suspects overian cancer... he is always very open with me.  It is a scary prospect, isn't it ! But I think people are right to think about it as "living with cancer" rather than a death sentence.  I read the replies given to you and will definitely take my husband with me  when I next go.  I feel very sorry for my husband as his first wife died of breast cancer nearly 40 years ago but I think it is right to remember that treatments, drugs and surgery have moved on tremendously since then.  I'm trying to look on this as a journey.  I had a hysterectomy 27 years ago and I honestly felt much healthier afterwards.

Hi

I had my ultrasound yesterday.  Try and drink as much water as you can and try not to have a pee just beforehand.  Easier said than done ! The utrasound can be a bit uncomfy but it isn't painful at all and is quite quickly over.  You may want to dash to the loo afterwards (well, I did !)

Good luck

Hi Glastonberry,

Welcome to our forum, although I'm sorry for the reason you're here.

There is no one treatment fixes all with this. The treatment decided upon will depend upon age, medical history, whether the lesion is malignant or benign, what the grade of the cancer is if present, etc.

I have had 2 bouts of breast cancer in the past 9 years and my mantra is the same as your friend's. I lost my mum to cancer 21 years ago and find tremendous changes in treatments since then. Then a cancer diagnosis usually meant death. Nowadays, many people are living with the disease and as far as treatment is concerned, positivity is the key.

I'm sure that your diagnosis has come as a shock, but it must also be a relief to know that you have finally got an answer to your problems - Not the answer you wanted I'm sure, but now you can get it sorted.

We always tend to think the worst when we are waiting for results. Fortunately, this seldom turns out to be the case. Here's hoping that the delay hasn't made things any worse for you.

It sounds as if there have been some mistakes made in writing up your medical notes. You need to get this rectified so that there will be no confusion as your treatment progresses.

I'm glad to hear that you are steering clear of consulting Dr Google. Much of this advice is out of date or poorly reearched and, can only serve to scare you further.

It is just as well that you are a fighter and an optimist and, that you will fight tooth and nail. You will need this grit and determination to get through this and, I hope that this strength and positivity will see you through.

I sincerely hope that the cancer has been caught early and  is treatable.

Please let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.
Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jdr,

I am sorry to hear that you are anxiously waiting results to see if you have ovarian cancer.This is a scary time waiting for results, as there are so many unknowns.

It is always worth taking someone with you to your appointments. It is also a good idea to draw up a list of questions before each appointment. This stops you from forgetting important questions during your consultation.

It must be very difficult for your husband having to go through all this again after losing his wife to cancer. Sadly, there are some others on this forum in the same position. 

I lost my own mum to cancer 21 years ago, and have had 2 bouts of breast cancer myself in the past 9 years. Treatment has certainly changed a lot since then. There is just no comparison between the treatment and care which I have had and, that which my mum had. I am glad to hear that your hysterectomy was so successful.

Please let us know when you get your results and, remember that we are always here for you.

I sincerely hope that your tests don't show up anything untoward.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx