Hi, not sure if you've had your surgery yet?  I've just had a borderline ovarian cyst removed 4 weeks ago. It was 30cm diameter by the time it was removed (22cm when I had my MRI). Covid issues have made it much harder but I got there in the end. Hope your surgery went well

Thank you for replying. I had my surgery on the 17 July. I am surprised how well I felt afterwards. I'm not back at work yet but hope to return by the end of this month. My cyst came back as borderline and it burst when they were removing it. I have to be checked in 3 months then every 6 months for 5 years but it's not cancer and that's the main thing. Hopefully you will get a good result and I wish you a speedy 

Oh that's so good... I had my surgery on 7th august. My cyst was borderline and also burst when they were removing it. My results are borderline, but have yet to see the oncologist so not sure what checks I'll be having or whether they will want to do amy more surgery. I was very relieved it wasnt cancer... I didn't know there was such a thing as borderline so have found it a little confusing. Thanks for replying hope you are fully recovered soon... x

I didn't know about borderline either and I'm still unsure what it means. I don't need further surgery or chemo so that's good. Did you have everything else removed also. Did you have a laparotomy? My scare seems to be healing well but it's still a bit sore 

Yes I had a midline laparotomy. They took my right ovary and fallopian tube, but nothing else. It was only the tests after surgery that showed it was borderline, so unsure whether they will want to do another surgery to remove other ovary womb etc. What about you? I'm still very sore too on my scar and inside sometimes. I think my body still very much recovering... my bowels didnt like the surgery much!!! It's taking some time for everything to settle down. We are lucky not to have cancer, still, I find it hard to understand the borderline. I I have a ton of questions for the oncologist when I get my appointment!

I had full hysterectomy both ovaries Fallopian tubes cervix and omentum as on the mri scan they were not sure if the cyst contained cancer cells. As I've been through menapause I didn't need them anyway so wasn't too bothered as didn't fancy having to have any more surgery. It's been hard but I've remained positive throughout and dealt with each stage as I was told and tried not to look at the what ifs. I'm shocked at how well I feel to be honest but I've been off work since February and it's hard to go back now just trying to get back to normal.messsge me whenever you want it's good to talk to someone who has been through the same 

That's a big surgery, wow, great you have been so positive through it all. I wish they'd taken all mine out, but the doctors didnt think it was anything harmful and borderline wasnt mentioned. They only took the one ovary. Now I wonder if they will want to take more. It was a big surgery because of the size of the incision so it's been a big event for me, I've never really had anything wrong with me before. I'm proud of how I've managed it and felt able to put trust in my consultant who has been brilliant. Amazing surgeon. It made all the difference. I've been amazed by how brilliant everyone has been with me. It's hard to have surgery with covid, going to appointments alone and not bring allowed visitors... so we've done well! Being off work for a long time is hard... but you'll get back into it. I've only had 6 weeks so far but even that feels like a long time. It is good to chat... if you learn more about borderline cysts please let me know. 

That's a big surgery, wow, great you have been so positive through it all. I wish they'd taken all mine out, but the doctors didnt think it was anything harmful and borderline wasnt mentioned. They only took the one ovary. Now I wonder if they will want to take more. It was a big surgery because of the size of the incision so it's been a big event for me, I've never really had anything wrong with me before. I'm proud of how I've managed it and felt able to put trust in my consultant who has been brilliant. Amazing surgeon. It made all the difference. I've been amazed by how brilliant everyone has been with me. It's hard to have surgery with covid, going to appointments alone and not bring allowed visitors... so we've done well! Being off work for a long time is hard... but you'll get back into it. I've only had 6 weeks so far but even that feels like a long time. It is good to chat... if you learn more about borderline cysts please let me know. 

Hi, I hope you're both starting to feel better.  I've just discovered I have a cyst which is 18 x 15cm.  I was referred by my doctor on a 2 week referral (suspect cancer), however after speaking to my Consultant for the first time yesterday he does say it looks benign to him, which is a slight relief.  He did say it is what he would call a borderline cyst, and explained that if it was left it could turn cancerous.

My consultant is referring me for an MRI scan and then he will decide the next steps, although he did say it looks like it will require open surgery and it will be about 4-6 weeks before I have the surgery, although things seem to be moving a lot faster than they've told me.  

I'm a bit concerned about getting around afterwards as I live in an apartment which is on the 1st and 2nd floors and also it's half term coming up and I have a 9 year old at home (her dad will have to work and I've no other family  close by).  Did you manage the stairs okay after you were discharged from hospital?

Hi, sorry to hear you're going through this... that sounds very similar to my experience and timescales. YES I am feeling lots better than I was. Hopefully going back to work next week! In terms of getting about, you will find it a little hard at first, just because it can be a bit painful, but they make sure you can manage stairs before they discharge you . And they gave me loads of pain medication which really helps! I saw a physio in hospital who helped show me the best ways to get in and out of bed, and made sure I could manage coming up and down stairs and that helped a great deal. I didn't find stairs too bad to be honest I was quite surprised, it was no more difficult than walking around at first, it just hurts a bit and I had to take it slowly. For me the most difficult thing was getting into the bath to have a shower, I needed help the first couple of times, but after that was fine on my own. I didn't have a bath for weeks as it was too difficult to manage the sitting down and standing back up. I found it really helpful to have someone at home the first week after my surgery, just to do things for me, bring me things, help me get about, so if you dont have someone at home I would see if there is someone who could be with you for a few days, it's just easier and nicer. But honestly you will be fine. I was surprised by how able I was to do things... the nurses had me out of bed from day one, and even though it did hurt it was the best thing to get moving (very slowly and a bit at a time)... I've been amazed by how well the body heals! I really hope you gg a date quick, let us know how you get on, Annie x

Hi, I was fine when coming home from hospital although I was lucky and have a 3 storey house with a downstairs bedroom and shower room which I stayed in for the first 5 days so no steps. Luckily my husband was off for 2 weeks after I came home as the rules from the nhs were to self isolate for 2 weeks. I'm going g back to work tomorrow I've been off since feb started off as stress and things progressed to the cyst so I e had 8 months off. I have felt so good in myself since my op and have been so surprised how well I've felt. I know it's not easy but it will be no way as bad as you think. Hope it goes well let me know after you've had the op how you are feeling sending you  

Hi, I hope you are all doing well and I hope you don't mind me jumping on this thread.  Your stories all sound so familiar to mine.  I too feel let down by NHS - I had to go private for initial CT and consultation (my GP referred me to the wrong department and it took 3 weeks to get a tel con with a gynaeocologist) although the surgery was performed well and quickly under NHS once I was rushed in. I am trying to keep things together and hide my anxiety from my daughter.

They discovered a giant ovarian cyst following a CT scan after I had been complaining of persistent bloating for quite a while.  I went to a dark place for a few weeks after being told by my GP that they'd found a huge mass on my left ovary  until  I saw the consultant  and he told me it was a benign cyst and not ovarian cancer, which was a huge relief. 

I had surgery about 4 weeks ago to remove the cyst which was over 30cm on my left ovary. They did a full hysterectomy and removed both ovaries, tubes, cervix and omentum by laparotomy.  The surgery went well and the surgeons in hospital left with with the impression that all was well. I recovered quickly and was initally feeling great (I was even 2 stone lighter when I left the hospital).  I also live in a 3 storey house and didn't find the stairs a problem.  They were actually easier because I was lighter and my knees were much better than before the surgery.  Removing my ovaries induced a medical menopause which started to kick in after 2 weeks. 

Then I got a call yeseterday from the consultant out of the blue telling me the cyst was borderline.  This concept is confusing me. Even my GP said she didn't know what borderline meant when I asked her! I've read up as much as I can on the subject and I'm still confused about what it ultimately means.  They want to do another CT scan to see if there are any irregular cells in my abdomen and appendix (again, confusing because I thought it was not cancerous) so I went back to that dark place again because I'm petrified of getting more bad news.  I really want to be positive but it's tough going through an emotional roller coaster, especially when I desparately need some oestrogen! My GP has so far refused to give me HRT although the consultant has told me there is no reason I can't have HRT with a borderline cyst. It's so difficult to get an appointment at the moment, I"m waiting a week for a telephone conversation.

It's especially hard for anyone hard going through this during lockdown. My friends and family are in areas subject to special lockdown measures, though I am not so I've had no visitors and I've not been out since 24 August.  My friends were messaging me asking how I was but because I told them I was feeling great they've backed off from doing that.  I hate having to communicate via text and I don't want to message them with this news.  That basically means I have nobody to talk to.  It's really helpful reviewing positive stories that are similar to mine.

Hi so sorry you are feeling like this. It's very hard to stay positive at the moment with COVID being the main priority in the world at the moment. I had my surgery on the 17/7/20 and all went well. When I looked on my doctors notes it said my cyst was mucinous and serous confusing as when you research they always say one or the other not both together. Like you I was told mine was not cancer but borderline. I looked on ovacome website they were very good and also during the day you can do chat with them. They offered to research this for me but I should be having a follow up with gynaecologist very soon so will ask him. I think if you have a mucinous one they need to check that it hasn't stemmed from your appendix and maybe that's why they are looking that was my concern that my appendix was not removed so will be asking about that when I see them. Try stay positive I know it's hard and I too went to a dark place for a short time. But I decided that I couldn't change what was happening so I had a choice to go in to the depths of dispair or take each day as it comes and not worry about the what ifs as they may never be and I would be wasting my life worrying. Hard I know but a positive mindset is the best way of coping with bad news. Always available if you want to chat it helps to talk to someone who had been through it. I've just returned to work this week and I'm trying to put all this in the past.

Thnak you so much,  that's really helpful.  I spoke to my GP yesterday which made me feel a bit better.  Because she is medically trained but to her own admission is no expert on borderline tumors, she was able to interpret the jargon for me. She told me that the lab scientists had identified some irregular cells under the microscope when they examined by cyst which were completely enclosed within the ovary but they couldn't determine whether they were dermoid (the type with the teeth and hair - eek!), serous or mucinous.  They therefore wanted to do another CT scan to check my appendix, bowel and abdomen.   So far they haven't detected anything outside of the ovary but they want to re-examine before deciding on a course of action. 

I've decided to be as positive as possible about it and to take each day as it comes.  I've also now been given some HRT (on advice that the benefits outweigh the risks) so should start to feel better from that. Thanks for the heads up about ovacare. I will give them a call x

Thanks for responding so quickly [@annie_louise]‍.  It's my first time on a forum so I've only just seen you responded.

My surgery for my cyst is booked in for 26th November and I've now found out I have to have my right ovary, tube and cyst removed.  They also discovered after my MRI scan that I have a cyst on my left ovary but it is only 18mm so my consultant is going to look at it during the op and decide whether to remove it or just leave it alone.  

Your message about recovery etc. really did put my mind at rest.  How are you feeling now?  I hope you are continuing to recover well x

Hi [@jackban]‍, thank you for responding to my message, I'm afraid I'd not seen it until now.  How's work going for you?

I've found out i need my cyst removed, plus my right ovary and tube and that's scheduled for 26th November.  I only hope it's not cancelled or any later and it pushes my recovery into Christmas.

I hope you continue to recover well x

Hi, I am doing okay... its 12 weeks today since my surgery and I'm so much better thank you. It sounds like you are having almost identical to me. You havent got long to wait now... you will be so glad when its done! Let me know how it goes x