8cm Complex Ovarian Cyst with CA125 of 51 - Absolutely terrified!!

I posted on here a few days ago after I found out unexpectedly that I had a large complex ovarian cyst. The consultant thinks it could a dermoid cyst but can't determine this for sure and is sending me for an MRI scan. In the meantime, my CA125 has come back raised at 51!!! I'm postmenopausal which just adds even more risk into the mix and I just feel like the odds are stacking up against me. I've had no symptoms and only got checked out because of a tiny amount of postmenopausal bleeding. I'm all over the place.

  • Hi there. Nothing yet! I had assumed 1 to 2 weeks and on Monday it will be exactly 2 weeks. I've been checking my emails constantly and jumping every time my phone rings. It says on previous correspondence that they will write to me with the results, but I'm not sure whether that's how I'll hear back from them or not. It's exhausting and scary not knowing what's going on. How have you been feeling? I have good days and bad days. I've been reasonably calm the last couple of days, but have episodes where I'm literally shaky and feel sick. I've been lucky that my husband has been at home for the whole of Christmas, but he's back at work on Monday and it will just be me and the dog again! I keep trying to remind myself that apart from my mental state right now, I do not feel physically unwell. I still have no symptoms, I was oblivious to the existence of this cyst before I had my scan and I'm just going through the same process as everyone else in the same situation as me. At first I was terrified by the fact I'd been sent for an MRI, but from reading other people's posts, it seems they have had them too. I'm still concerned about my raised CA125, but again, it's not sky high and it's often raised in situations like this. I'm just trying to keep my head together as best I can. I hope you are too. X

  • Oh do let me know when you hear something. I am worried my letter will say something like come in for an appointment in a month or something with no answers. This waiting game has been endless. 
    I am mostly ok and calm, I also go back to work on Monday so I am a little anxious about that. Mostly getting a call whilst I’m in work, hence why I keep calling them. 
    I feel like I have recently put two and two together and come up with 100. I’ve had so many symptoms for a long time and now pinning them all on this cyst. Probably nothing to do with it but the cyst is now getting the blame for the sore back and GI problems etc! Hoping one operation sorts my whole life. Haha. I have to go for an endoscopy for my GI issues on the 20th and I am dreading that bit too. Stomach and ovarian cysts can be related but because they are not right next to each other have have said to still go. But then so can cancers so that sends me in a spiral too. 
    I had bloods taken again before my MRI but haven’t asked about my updated ca125. I feel to anxious to know! 
    hopefully your dog is good company and keep you out on walks etc to keep your mind off things while we wait! 

  • Hey, how you getting on? I'm still waiting for results and trying not to have a nervous breakdown! Twice this week (Monday and today) I've had emails saying I have new test results to view on the patient portal and when I've looked, it's been the same information I've already had at the beginning of December!! My heart was literally pounding out of my chest and I couldn't stop my hands from shaking. It's really wearing me down and I just feel like hibernating at the moment, especially with this horrible freezing weather. I'm beginning to wonder if I should ring them, although surely they would have contacted me by now if they have the information. I keep swinging between thinking it's something bad and telling myself I'll probably be fine. I'm full of aches and pains that didn't exist before I knew I had this problem and I keep thinking it's because my cyst is growing and getting worse!! How have you been feeling and coping with things? X

  • Hello, how funny I have just come on to write to you! I called last Friday and I called this morning, my New Year’s resolution was to be my biggest advocate for my own health so I’ve just decided to ring and apologise later if I’m annoying anyone :) 

    The gynae secretary today told me there is a letter for me and it’s been posted out and also sent to my GP. Thankfully I already had a GP at 3pm tomorrow so I think I am going to find something out tomorrow. She wouldn’t/couldn’t say anything over the phone other than it would come by letter. I am so glad I have that pre-booked appointment. On one hand I am so glad it’s been fast…and on the other. 
    I don’t know how I feel, I’m all over the place. 
    I have some other health issues with my stomach and on good days I feel like it’s unrelated and gallbladder or ulcer issues (being investigated separately) and on bad days I think I’ve got cancer and it’s spread. 
    My son has a snow day so that’s keeping me from just crawling under a blanket but also so glad to have been working at home when I got the call!

    I will keep you posted tomorrow when I’ve been in x

  • That's great that you'll hopefully be able to discuss something with your GP tomorrow. I'm sorry you've got other things going on at the same time and I can easily imagine that your mind will play tricks on you and lead you to think it's all connected. Most likely it's not! I'm also in this hideous no man's land where I'm sick of waiting but also terrified of finding out, just in case it's bad news. I have to keep reminding myself that all I can do is let them do their job and whatever it is will get sorted out. Easier said than done! I'll speak to you very soon. Take care X

  • I just wanted to update and let you know that I have no news. My letter had not made it to my GP nor myself since the gynaecology secretary called me yesterday. Still in limbo! X 

  • Hi cloudy, sorry to hear you're still in limbo. I suddenly received an update today at about 5pm this afternoon while I was out with my family. It seems that my cyst is a dermoid with nothing much of concern on MRI findings, but will require surgery which I already knew would be the case. It does have some atypical features, but I have been stepped down from the cancer pathway and I'm now waiting for further appointments to discuss treatment.

  • Aw that is the absolute best news! I am so happy for you. No concern. How are you feeling? Being stepped down must be such a relief. Your family must be so relieved too. Whisk surgery isn’t ideal, it’s actually so nice to know it’s nothing sinister. 

  • Thanks so much. I am feeling much calmer now, but don't think I'll truly relax until it's out and they've had a look at it. However, reading that I have been stepped down from the cancer pathway was a massive relief and a good sign that they are pretty confident that what they're dealing with is benign. I'm hoping that it will just be surgery to remove the ovaries and not a full blown hysterectomy, but obviously that will be explained at my clinic appointment. Just wondering now how long everything will take to get done. I'm sure you'll get your results very soon and find yourself in a very similar situation to me. The fact that they've told you they suspect a dermoid cyst would suggest it probably is and the further tests are just to break it all down and get the clearest picture of it that they can possibly can before removing it. Keep me posted. X

  • Hi there, just wanted to let you know that my MRI results confirmed a dermoid cyst with no particularly concerning features, but will need to be removed. Apparently it does have "significant restricted diffusion" which I've read is a feature sometimes associated with possible malignancy, but is also a finding in dermoid and other ovarian cysts. Most reassuringly, I have been stepped down from the cancer pathway, so fingers crossed everything will be fine. Thank you so much for the time you have taken since I first posted on here to share your own experience, knowledge and advice. When I was having massive panics, it genuinely helped me keep things in perspective and reminded me not to always assume the worst case scenario. X