Hello jembers, I wrote on your first post as I also have an incidental mass very similar. 
when I had my CA125 test I was told it is very likely for a raised amount even if only a cyst as it can signal other things like pelvic inflammatory. The levels can be in their hundreds just on a period so actually the fact that you went to the docs with some post menopause bleeding might actual explain the higher level.

when is your MRI? I am also awaiting mine, I had to have further bloods taken on wed and awaiting my MRI now. 2-4 weeks. 
more waiting…..

keeping everything crossed for us! 

Hi cloudy1986, thanks so much for checking in with me, it means a lot. I've been given an appointment for 23rd December (Merry Christmas!!) I'm clearly on an urgent 2 week wait due to the nature of my cyst, my age and my blood test results. It's very hard not to fear the worst. I'm trying to remind myself that my situation could be completely benign, but due to my terrible habit of googling, I've convinced myself that it's something terrible! I am genuinely sending as many positive thoughts to both of us as I possibly can. X

I'm following you both just now and wishing I could fast track the answers for you both. I remember having a 3 year old and a 6 year old thinking I wasn't going to see them grow up and worrying where they'd end up as their dad already had melanoma. He's doing okay on pembrolizumab though. Cancer journeys are all so different. I know it's hard not to focus on the worst possible outcomes because they are often over represented in the information available but that's not the full picture. I'm wishing you both some distraction over Christmas and good news in the new year. Take care of yourselves and I'm glad you have found each other to share with even though I'd rather neither of you to be going through this.

I’m actually grateful for the distraction. I might not be doing a very good job in work but I’ll figure that out later. Haha. 
I just opened my MRI letter and it says abdomen and pelvis. I thought it was just going to be pelvis so I’m now anxious they are looking to see if something has spread. I am such an overthinker! It’s so unhealthy! 
yes I have a ridiculously positive partner who is great at keeping me going but also driving me mad sometimes as he just will not focus on the possibility of something being wrong. My best friend who is checking in every day and my mum also knows. I haven’t told anyone else, I don’t want to until I get further info. I need to know what I’m dealing with first before I have to speak to anyone else about it! X 

Thank you, a very sweet message. Fingers crossed for good outcomes but it is actually nice to have someone and somewhere to share experiences. I am very appreciative of this outlet and to have people to reach out to. 
what is your story lyns21 that brings you on this topic? Do you have ovarian issues? X 

I had dermoid cysts that they thought were cancer. I was offered hysterectomy but opted to wait for biopsies which showed no cancer. It was a really difficult time as the doctors were so concerned based on the scans and blood tests. But after surgery to remove the larger (my whole ovary had turned cystic) and smaller cysts they found it wasn't cancer.

Oh that’s great news, I find that quite reassuring that even with bloods and tests and concerned doctors that it was a good outcome. I love to hear positive stories! X 

Oh, when I woke from surgery I was told the larger cyst was 10 cm in diameter and full of teeth and hair. So very gross but when I finally got my biopsy results I was grateful that it was just something a bit yucky.

I'd only gone to the doctor because I had a bit of spotting between periods.

Ulgh they are horrid things dermoid cysts. It’s funny to think we are wishing for them to be those horrid gremlin things! 

It's very kind and generous of you to keep checking in with us Lyns21. Many people disappear once they get the answers that they need and we never get to find out the full story. Essentially, we all join forums like this to find some reassurance, and even though we only get that reassurance once we know we're safe, it still helps to give us a glimmer of hope. Your circumstances have been difficult, but I'm so glad you were ok. x

I wouldn't assume your appointment has necessarily come sooner because your blood results have changed. My consultant told me I'd get my MRI within two weeks before she'd even done my blood test! So, either it's standard practice when their dealing with a large complex cyst, or mine looks dodgy!!! My MRI just says MRI pelvis with contrast. Just like you worrying about why is says abdomen, I've been worrying about why mine says "with contrast" Apparently the contrast helps show up the tissues more clearly. Doesn't stop me bricking it!

Oh mine isn’t with contrast. Isn’t it funny how we have very similar stories and symptoms but our treatment is different. 
I have started to bleed in the mornings a little bit with so much pelvic pressure. I can’t figure out if I’m imagining the pressure or if it’s just always been there. 
how are you feeling about your MRI? I hate them I’m so claustrophobic, but needs must. I’ll be panicking the whole time in there. 

I wonder what will happen after then for us? Have you any idea when you are expecting to hear from someone? 

Oh mine isn’t with contrast. Isn’t it funny how we have very similar stories and symptoms but our treatment is different. 
I have started to bleed in the mornings a little bit with so much pelvic pressure. I can’t figure out if I’m imagining the pressure or if it’s just always been there. 
how are you feeling about your MRI? I hate them I’m so claustrophobic, but needs must. I’ll be panicking the whole time in there. 

I wonder what will happen after then for us? Have you any idea when you are expecting to hear from someone? 

I'm not too worried about the MRI itself, it's what they might find that's terrifying me! I keep clinging on to the fact that the consultant said they think it might be a dermoid. However on my scan notes it says that the exact nature of the lesion is unclear and that a dermoid cyst is a possible differential diagnosis. I've looked up all the terminology they have used about it and a lot of it does point to a dermoid cyst, but who knows. I've read that an MRI with contrast is an excellent choice for diagnosing indeterminate complex cysts. They're also used to determine what type of treatment will be necessary afterwards i.e. keyhole or open surgery. Having a raised blood test is making me very nervous, even though I know it can occur for benign reasons. I think because I'm postmenopausal, I feel this could be more of a problem. I have no idea when to expect results. My letter from the consultant just says that they will write to me with the results of my MRI. My hospital appointments and results letters come through an app called MyMFT which is the Manchester University NHS foundation Trust. I'm sure other regions must have their own app too. I get emails to tell me when I have a new letter and then read the details via the app. I feel sick wondering what news I might receive. My appointment is at 10.20am tomorrow. I will be thinking of you. X

My MRI is 4pm tomorrow I will be thinking of you tomorrow morning. Keep me posted when you hear something after it. 
I hate that I feel Xmas and new year are just inconvenient days that no one will be working this year, I wish I could get a bit more excited. Very hopeful to hear soon, although actually maybe not as perhaps that’s not good news.
I am in the north of Scotland, we don’t get such a thing as an NHS login, I haven’t seen one letter or anything that’s been written, only one phone call from a gynae surgeon saying she had had a referral and needed a new MRi to see properly. I don’t know if that’s better or worse, I would do exactly the same and google every word written. I do feel very in the dark though. I am going to call the gynae secretary on Xmas eve and just ask if I am likely going to waiting until the new year.
I had new bloods but no one has been in touch since then.
fingers crossed for us tomorrow and that we manage to enjoy the festivities x  

I'll keep you posted. Make sure you let me know how you get on. Christmas is just this vague thing that's happening in a few days time. I'm not remotely interested in it and I'm lucky that my kids are both grown up and not expecting all the magic and excitement that they did when they were little. I'm keeping absolutely everything crossed for us both...including my stupid cyst!!! X

PS - Have you looked up something called Patient Hub? It's a portal where patients can get access to their medical notes and appointments etc. As far as I know, it's something you can join and securely log into to keep track of stuff. Could be wrong, but maybe have a look. X

Thank you I downloaded patient hub and it turns out my doctors isn’t registered so nothing there! 
how did you get on today? I am just out, I ended up getting a contrast too. It just didn’t say on my letter. 
she said a few weeks for results but I’ll call probably before the new year to ask next steps anyway. 
glad that’s over I really hate an MRI I am so claustrophobic! 45 mins though and done. Hope we get some speedy answers x 

Hey, how you doing? I was told to arrive at 10:20am but got there 10 minutes early and at 10:45 I was still waiting! Eventually a nurse came to say they were running late and took me to another waiting area because they were going to do the scan in a mobile unit they have outside! Anyway, it was done within about 25 minutes. I wasn't give any indication of when I'd get my results, but according to the NHS website it's usually within 1-2 weeks. Fingers crossed it won't be too long. It's one of those weird situations where you want answers but you're also scared to get the answers. Keep in touch and I hope Christmas brings us the distractions that we both need. X

Hello! I just found this chat as I'm in a similar-ish place. I was in hospital due to a gallstone and the CT scan showed a mysterious cystic mass near my left ovary. I also had my gynae appointment on 23rd Dec!! It's only 3cm but even with a CT they cannot tell what it is. I've had cervical cancer before which makes it a more scary waiting period. They've booked me in for a PET scan to be fully sure if it is or isn't cancer and I'm booked in for surgery on 8th Jan to remove the beast. I've had loads of simple and hemorrhagic cysts before but this one is seemingly not that. I'm swinging between feeling numb and panicking like a pro here! 

How strange we all had appointments on the 23rd. Do you think your appointment to get your surgery is so quick because of your previous cancer? I was told I might be waiting months for surgery as the waiting list is so long even if they suspect something sinister. 
I cannot wait to get this mass out. 
have you had bloods? When are you likely to find out? When is your pet scan? Why not MRI? I wonder if it won’t be until after the surgery and the my test the mass that you will know? Sorry for all the questions, I do wonder why we have some differences in our care when it’s similar stories. 
hope you are doing ok. I think myself and Jembers are both still in the waiting game. The amount of public holidays and weekends seems crazy at the moment, usually I would enjoy that, now I just feel like the waiting is endless! 
good luck for your surgery and getting some answers. 

They tend not to give PET scans to people who haven't had a definite diagnosis of cancer I think because it's avoidable radiation. It's not normally a diagnostic tool per se but more to decide treatment management. It doesn't mean jeh's cancer has spread but will be more informative for treatment plans if it has. There's so many variables in what decisions they make that it's really individual. I sat a metre and a half from my partner during some of his PET scans because it's so radioactive I had a geiger counter on me. One isn't a huge issue but it's like having too many X rays at once. They'd rather you not.

I'm sorry you've had cancer and are in this boat Jeh. I hope it's just a nuisance cyst.

My timeline is just a bit weird as I had the CT already before even speaking with a gynae consultant! My previous history (2013 stage one cervical cancer) has meant they've moved fast as they can't tell if it's an ovarian cyst or a recurrence. So I'm a bit different to you both there. They want to get it out quickly so they can biopsy it and decided to run the PET scan concurrently rather than he me have surgery, wait weeks for results then wait for a scan date if it is a recurrence. The PET scan will hopefully be in place before the surgery so if it does show active cancer they can just biopsy the cyst to determine treatment. All a bit of a random order but I'm just going along with it .