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Worried about possible ovarian cancer

HellsBellsK
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Hi all

After a number of months of misdiagnosis (mechanical back pain, pelvic inflammatory disease and IBS) i have had a scan which shows fibroids and an abnormality of my left ovary.  Chatted to GP today and he is doing an urgent gynae referral so fingers crossed i wont have to wait too long.

Along with the back pain, pelvic pain, urinary frequency, intermittent constipation and nausea I have now developed acne (im 43 by the way) and today an incredibly tender lump under my left nipple - has anyone else had symptoms like this? Im thinking it might be hormone related.

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    I have fibroids but they're not serious. I was diagnosed with a 10cm dermoid ovarian cyst on my right ovary..surgery next week to remove it. My entire right ovary might be removed. I've gotten adult acne for the first time in my life (I'm 34)...being put on Yasmin (the pill) helped improve it as well as cutting dairy out of my diet for a while. I don't eat much sugar now, can't eat wheat or consume fizzy drinks due to digestive issues and my skin has finally settled down but the acne was definitely hormonal..it was all along my jawline and cheeks. My GP even asked whether I wanted antibiotics to treat the acne..the topical gel isn't much good for cystic/hormonal acne apparently. I used the gel and it was useless. I tried Avene, Cerave..anything to improve my skin b

    I thought I had IBS too..I have had lower back pain at times, abdominal bloating, intermittent constipation, wind, increased urinary frequency, nausea, heavy bleeding between periods, heavier periods and longer periods. Ovarian cysts and/or ovarian cancer can cause these symptoms. Have you experienced any changes in weight? Weight gain or weight loss? I found that losing weight eliminated the nausea and back pain..I notice that high calorie intake makes my symptoms a lot worse. I still have digestive issues but when you're lighter, you produce less oestrogen so getting to healthy BMI was really a goal I set myself before surgery. 

    I haven't experienced any issues with my breasts though...definitely talk to your GP about the lump under your left nipple. 

    Have you had a Ca125 blood test yet? Good luck with the gynaecology appointment. I had an ultrasound followed by MRI. 

  • Offline in reply to Sugarsnap3

    Hi Sugar snap, thanks for replying.  i have had a CA125 which was normal.  The lump has gone down today and is far less tender, i mentioned it to the gp yesterday when we were discussing the referral and he said to let them know if it persists more than a few weeks so will be keeping an eye on it.

    Good luck with yiur surgery, can i ask how it was diagnosed, ive been told my abnormality is possible dermoid cyst from ultrasound scan but needs further investigation to be sure.

    I have not experienced weight changes, although i am overweighy and could do with shedding some lbs. I am sure the acne and breast issues are hormonal related to the ovary, just wondering if thats normal with these things.

    H

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    I have had the gynaecology quick refferal for enlarged overies, found during a colonoscopy, with pain on left side, l have had mri, transvaginal ultrasound, that show they are not shrinking, but complex so solid rather than fluid filled cysts that can be precancerous So now listed for surgery on 28th Sept. l hope you are fine when you are seen, and your problems sorted soon.

  • Offline in reply to HellsBellsK

    I don't think breast issues are normal tbh. My gynaecologist did ask me whether there was a family history of ovarian cancer and breast cancer. There's a BRCA gene that can increase risk of both. 

    I would definitely say keep an eye on those symptoms..I tracked the symptoms of my ovarian cyst on my phone in the notes section before it was even diagnosed and that proved to be invaluable. I found it hard to be taken seriously..I kept being dismissed as anxious or that I just had IBS so the fact that I could outline my symptoms over an extended time period was useful. 

    I was diagnosed by ultrasound scan- transvaginal. I then had a MRI pelvic scan. My Ca125 levels were elevated but I was told it could still be benign. A biopsy will be done after the operation to confirm that it's benign. There's a small risk it could be malignant so the biopsy will essentially give me the all clear and is the most definitive test. My cyst is large, 10cm, so my right ovary may need to be removed. I'm having a laporotomy which involves a longer recovery time than laparascopy (keyhole surgery) because the cyst is so big. 

    A dermoid cyst is likely to be benign. If it's a solid mass, there's a higher risk of it being malignant. I'm guessing that the acne is hormonal but you'd want to ask your GP about it tbh. I wasn't happy about the thought of taking antibiotics to treat it. I was literally told "that's the only thing that'll work" but I still said no. I was worried that antibiotics wouldn't work if I then had an infection at some point. Cutting out dairy for a while definitely helped clear my skin (I ate a lot of dairy..milk, cheese, quark, yoghurt). I'm back eating dairy (but not as much)..I've gotten one or two spots but nothing major. I am careful about what I eat but I think stress can also exacerbate skin conditions. I don't think I'm as stressed as I was a few months ago when it was still undiagnosed. I think stress can affect my digestion right now as well. I'm hoping that I don't have PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) because that can cause acne due to hormone changes. 

    The abdominal bloating caused my weight to increase throughout the day. It would go back to normal the next morning but start all over again! Or else I had constipation. Literally one or the other. You could literally see the bloat on my stomach especially on the right side where the cyst is. I found it very upsetting because my clothes would literally get tighter throughout the day. I gained 14lbs in one day due to bloat during my period and felt in physical pain. Average weight gain due to bloating was 2, 3lbs up to 5 or 6 lbs. I've read that the ovarian cyst can hit off the bladder and/or bladder.

    Great to hear that your Ca125 test was normal..hope you get on okay with gynaecology. 

  • Offline in reply to Alfieisastar

    Good luck with your surgery, hope all goes well.

    x

  • Offline in reply to Sugarsnap3

    Thanks, i have written a list of my symptoms to mention when i have my appointment.  The lump went down after 24 hours and the pain within 48 hours, im thinking its definitely hormone related.  My cycle is all over the place now, I used to be around 33 days, then over several months it got shorter, last month it was 26 days, this is now day 34 and no sign yet. 

    I havent heard from the hospital about my appointment but on the nhs app it has one booked for 1st October but states not for patient attendance and hospital will contact me with further information, this appeared last monday and as i hadnt heard i called the gynae outpatients and left a message as the receptionist is on holiday, no one has got back to me yet though.

    Feeling very anxious about it all, I have a gut feeling that it is sinister and the not knowing is driving me mad!

    Good luck with your surgery, I hope your biopsy shows it is benign.

    x

  • Offline in reply to HellsBellsK

    Surgery cancelled due to long previous procedure still on table at 16:00 rebooked for 16 October, So have to repeat COVID test and isolation, l have factor five lieden (sticky blood) so prep op clexame injections ugh ! and bloods. Trying to organise the prescriptions for the injections took 2 hours today. Eventually spoke to registrar who's going to post them to me.
     

    I hope you are helped by the hospital soon so your able to plan the way forward 

    x

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