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General health

Terrified I may have Ovarian Cancer

19 replies

ANNABANANNA12 · 12/05/2013 13:44

Hi.
For the last few weeks my upper abdomen has been really swollen, to the point where I look 9 months pregnant, also pains low down in pelvic area, can't stop peeing, and have lower back pain. Also been getting LOTS of clear discharge (sorry if TMI!) I'm 39.
Anyway I went to the GP on Friday with my symptoms, he said he didn't think it was anything serious and said he couldn't feel anything when he examined my tummy. He said to be on the safe side I should go for a load of blood tests, including the CA125 test. I can't stop googling symptoms of Ovarian cancer to the point where I am being physically sick with worry.
I am going for the blood tests on Monday but can't stop worrying..
Has anyone else undergone anything similar?
Thanks Anna

OP posts:

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Roshbegosh · 12/05/2013 15:16

I really hope you get to the bottom of it and it is ok. Let us know. Sorry I can't offer advice and no one can really without assessing you and seeing your test results. I just wanted to send you a hug. Are you having an ultrasound scan?

toffeelolly · 12/05/2013 17:42

Had the same swollen tummy , pain around ovary's , mostly one side and pain around back, went private at the end as was so worried as was going to be waiting months on nhs. Got bloods done and scan which showed up as a cyst on right ovary but had to wait for bloods to come back, which came back fine level's were normal. Found cyst was getting no bigger which was good and pain only comes now and again.

toffeelolly · 12/05/2013 17:44

Are you having or had a scan?

ANNABANANNA12 · 12/05/2013 18:08

Hi
No GP has just sent me for blood tests think he is waiting to see the results. I am in so much pain at the mo.
I've had severely abnormal (CIN3) smear results approx 3 yrs ago and had colp treatment which cleraed it up and they said I was HPV negative so could go back to normal smear tests.
Would cysts cause all of my symptoms-severe bloating and gas, need to pee constantly, and severe pelvic pain which sometimes goes into my hips and legs?
Thank you all xx

OP posts:

toffeelolly · 12/05/2013 18:19

Anna if your cyst was growing it could cause all this pain. How long have you been feeling like this? Hopefully when you get your bloods done everything will come back ok, but i know it is hard not to worry .

toffeelolly · 12/05/2013 18:21

Also have you been tested for infection ?

digerd · 12/05/2013 19:21

You need a scan of the ovaries to rule out Ovarian cancer. The main symptom is looking 6 months pregnant which is caused by fluid build up, which has to be drained.

I know a women whose GP kept saying her symptoms were period pain, she went to A&E as became so bad and they diagnosed Ovarian cancer.

If you look 9 months pregnant, I wouldn't wait for the results of the BT. Go to A&E.

Roshbegosh · 12/05/2013 19:28

She won't get a gynae scan in A&E. she needs to be referred on the target list for her scan.

ANNABANANNA12 · 12/05/2013 20:42

Thanks again for the advice.
Going in the morning for my bloods, hopefully they will be back by thurs when I will go back to the GP to ask for a scan.
DH thinks its just bad IBS!! I hope that it is just that!

OP posts:

ANNABANANNA12 · 12/05/2013 20:43

My tummy has only been really swollen since last week. Does this sound like cancer?

OP posts:

AngryFeet · 12/05/2013 20:46

I had similar with a large ovarian cyst. You need to be referred for a scan. Push your gp.

toffeelolly · 12/05/2013 21:07

Anna when you go tomorrow to get your blood' s done ask tell your gp you would like a scan to see what is going on. Would say everything will be ok but you need to know what's going on, if you are anything like me you will sit and worry and think the worst. And i had my scan done and bloods in the same day he scaned me first and said by looking at it everything looked good, but had to do my bloods to make sure they were not over a certain level, but he was so sure looking at my scan it was just a cyst. good luck with tomorrow. x

Mamf74 · 12/05/2013 22:36

I have endometriosis and various cysts and have very similar symptoms to you. I would definitely push for a scan; whilst the CA125 test can flag stuff up it can also be affected by endo and / or ovarian cysts so isn't a definite cancer marker.

Hope you get things sorted, and all is well.

dietstartstmoz · 12/05/2013 23:22

My friend is recovering from a hysterectomy due to ovarian cancer. She went to a&e with swollen tummy and severe pain. She was kept in for a week before it was confirmed. Don't leave it. Please go to a&e.

PacificDogwood · 12/05/2013 23:28

CA125 cannot diagnose anything.
Get scanned.

However, yes, it could be IBS, or a 'simple' ovarian cyst or somthing completely different.

I am sorry that you are (completely understandably) feeling so worried, but really there is no point in speculating. Get your bloods done, see your GP for the results, insist on a referral for a scan.
Does your swelling come and go?
Have you had a urine sample tested for infection?

None of us here are going to have a definitive answer for you - it is just horrible to be in limbo, I know, but you have not choice but to do onw thing after another.
V best of luck.

lalalalalal · 12/05/2013 23:39

Agree with Pacific - CA125 is not a definitive test. A friend who had ovarian cancer never ever had raised levels. Do not rely upon it.

INSIST on a scan. Do not leave your GP until s/he has referred you. A suspicion of cancer should trigger a scan within two weeks (I believe).

PJM18 · 12/05/2013 23:43

Hi. You're doing the right thing getting bloods and asking for a scan to rule out ovarian cancer but the chances are that it won't be that. I had the same when I had an irritable bowel type episode and started getting myself really worried but scan was fine.
Do you have any bowel issues such as constipation or trapped wind. When I get trapped wind I become very bloated and uncomfortable all over my abdomen. It usually lasts for a week or two then settles. Try to relax, have a bath and gently massage your tummy from fight to left. Also try taking something with peppermint for your bowel which you can get from tesco or boots. Worth trying this as well and you can see if it helps. If you are bloated for any reason it will probably make you go to the toilet more often. Are your periods normal?

CheesyPoofs · 13/05/2013 00:00

CA125 can't diagnose a cyst, and neither can a stomach examination. Mine was missed twice because they 'couldn't feel anything'.

My symptoms were: Swollen stomach, pelvic & back pain, and needing a wee all the time but when I did wee I couldn't empty my bladder properly.

I was diagnosed by ultrasound, and had an operation to remove my cyst and ovary and tube.

digerd · 13/05/2013 12:43

My DD had an ovarian cyst, but didn't have a swollen tummy, just erratic periods. She had a scan which showed a lump, but they were convinced by how it looked that it was a cyst and not a malignant tumour and made her wait 6 weeks before having another scan

Thankfully, they were right, and the next scan showed it had shrunk to a dot.

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