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Original poster

Ovarian cancer panic

52 replies

etonmess91 · 04/08/2023 22:30

Hi, just looking for advice.

I have some concerning symptoms including no period for 5 months now.

I've been waiting 2 months already for a scan and I chased the GO today when they told me the below.

The GP said if I was over 60 then they'd put my ultrasound through as a 2 week wait but due to me being only 27, they said they're booking it as a routine scan which is a 16 week wait.

How is this fair? Cancer doesn't discriminate and it can happen to anyone at any time.

OP posts:
DeerWatch · 04/08/2023 22:44

What other symptoms have you got?
Yes more common in older women, my grandmother was 60 but as you say it can happen to those younger. Several years back I had pain in the ovary area and was referred for pelvic ultrasound but I was older than you.

Can you make an appointment with another GP? Have they offered a CA 125 blood test?

Original poster
etonmess91 · 04/08/2023 22:45

@DeerWatch extreme tiredness, weight gain and bladder habits have changed.

Yes they did a variation of bloods at the start which they said were abnormal just over 2 months ago, they only did the CA125 on Monday which they said was ok.

OP posts:
Justwingingit2005 · 04/08/2023 22:52

My mum was diagnosed with Ov Ca.
Her symptoms gradually worsened over 8 weeks.
Bloating- major red flag is bloating which doesn't go down over night
UTI symptoms without a uti
Indigestion
IBS type symptoms

My mum was mid 50s. GP said she had IBS, menopause etc.
CA125 is not an indicator of disease or absence of disease. Yes it can be useful but you need a pelvic ultrasound.

My mum's GP fobbed her off for 8 weeks.

Please get it checked. Ovarian cancer is known as then silent killer but if you listen carefully is does give you signs.
You know your body better than anyone.

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Original poster
etonmess91 · 04/08/2023 22:55

@Justwingingit2005 I'm sorry to hear about your mums diagnosis. Thank you for sharing her story.

How do I push further?

The GP I spoke to today spoke to the head GP who said he's not pushing the referral to urgent because of my age.

OP posts:
DeerWatch · 04/08/2023 23:00

What was abnormal with your previous bloods? Can you afford a private scan?

Justwingingit2005 · 04/08/2023 23:01

Based on cancer research UK:

Your GP should arrange a CA125 blood test and possibly an ultrasound scan if they have any of the following persistent symptoms:

  • long lasting swelling or bloating of your tummy
  • loss of appetite or feeling full quickly
  • pain in your tummy (abdomen) or lower part of your abdomen (pelvis)
  • needing to wee more often than usual (frequency) or more suddenly than usual (urgency)
‐--‐--‐---‐--‐------ I had some digestive issues recently. My GP was fobbing me off with advice, stress etc and yet it wasn't getting better. I quite assertively, based on my mum's experience, said I'm not getting any better, I want an endoscopy. Endoscopy showed i had a stomach ulcer and needed meds.
Justwingingit2005 · 04/08/2023 23:02

And the 'age' reason is crap.

Yes older women are more likely but it doesn't mean younger woman are OK.

Could you pay for a private referral?

Original poster
etonmess91 · 04/08/2023 23:03

@Justwingingit2005 I've had the CA125 and still have another 2 months waiting for my scan.

The weight gain could definitely pass as bloating, my stomach is usually flat but now I have a belly of someone who's a couple months pregnant - I am definitely not pregnant.

I just don't know how else to push them, I've stated my reasoning and how much this is taking it's toll on me but because the CA125 was ok and I'm young, they don't care.

OP posts:
Original poster
etonmess91 · 04/08/2023 23:04

@Justwingingit2005 possibly. My mum is away at the moment and we may look into it together, she had to go private for her heavy periods and ended up having fibroids. One was as big as a small football and she needed a full hysterectomy!

OP posts:
Justwingingit2005 · 04/08/2023 23:08

Does your bloating come and go?
I get ibs bloating - but it go down over night.

Mums bloating didn't. It was a huge belly that increased in size over 8 weeks and didn't go down over night and it felt rock hard. When drained it contained 4 litres of fluid.

Original poster
etonmess91 · 04/08/2023 23:09

@Justwingingit2005 I wish. It stays. It's definitely more noticeable now than it was 3 months ago.

OP posts:
ZigZag21 · 04/08/2023 23:12

I had ovarian cancer. My symptoms included extremely frequent trips to the toilet but actually having what I thought was a proper wee, extreme bloating and dragging pains across my ovary literally felt like a hot knife being dragged. Took them 6 years to finally remove! at that point I could no longer use my bladder and had a catheter, my kidneys started failing and the tumour was over 6 lbs in size. I was still young never and taken seriously. 16 weeks is pretty quick in my opinion but I had shit care. I would Ring gp back and ask for an urgent referral. If not go up to A and E. My gp sent me up there themselves as I was in quite a bad way by then, even though the hospital had been scanning me every 16 weeks watching and waiting (not sure what they were waiting for). My ca125 levels weren't elevated either.

Justwingingit2005 · 04/08/2023 23:15

I agree with zigzag, A and E if your GP won't budge. I don't normally suggest A and E but my mum might have been here now if her GP had referred her sooner.

Original poster
etonmess91 · 05/08/2023 07:58

I couldn't sleep last night. I just don't know what to do, I feel like I am being fobbed off.

They mentioned PCOS but I've had a child absolutely fine and I don't have excessive hair growth!

OP posts:
ThirstyMeeples · 05/08/2023 08:03

You couldn't be pregnant? Just a thought with no periods and an expanding tummy?

Original poster
etonmess91 · 05/08/2023 08:04

@ThirstyMeeples no definitely not, I've done 2 tests a month since my period stopped.

OP posts:
Rainraingoaway21 · 05/08/2023 08:47

Can you enquire how much a private appointment would be?

I've been very worried about something before and the £200 private fee was worth every penny for the reassurance within a few days.

Original poster
etonmess91 · 05/08/2023 18:23

Well I spoke to my Mum and she told me just to wait, if the GP doesn't want to speed up my scan then they know best.

I told her about the age comment and she said it's true, it's incredibly unlikely I have OC and just to wait for my scan.

OP posts:
GulfCoastBeachGirl · 05/08/2023 18:32

etonmess91 · 05/08/2023 18:23

Well I spoke to my Mum and she told me just to wait, if the GP doesn't want to speed up my scan then they know best.

I told her about the age comment and she said it's true, it's incredibly unlikely I have OC and just to wait for my scan.

While I agree with your mum that the odds of you having ovarian cancer at your age are very small, something is certainly wrong and should be addressed sooner rather than later.

If you can possibly afford a private scan I would recommend it for your own peace of mind.

AnnaMagnani · 05/08/2023 18:38

Rather than the GP doesn't want to speed up your scan, it's more likely that the GP can't speed up your scan.

There are very strict criteria on when you can request a scan, what makes it urgent and so on.

If the GP marks urgent on something that doesn't meet the criteria, the hospital will just downgrade it to routine.

Original poster
etonmess91 · 05/08/2023 18:39

@AnnaMagnani I'm just repeating what he said. He won't speed it up as I'm under 60 but if I was over 60 with these symptoms then he would.

OP posts:
Mischance · 05/08/2023 18:41

Have a private scan - beg, borrow or steal the money. You can't be in this level of worry for so long. Do you have the money or have someone who might lend it to you?

Original poster
etonmess91 · 05/08/2023 18:42

@Mischance I just paid off my personal loan this month so won't be until end of the month.

OP posts:
Original poster
etonmess91 · 05/08/2023 18:48

I guess this is what a credit card is for, I've booked a private scan.

OP posts:
Mischance · 05/08/2023 18:52

Good - well done - way to go. When will you get the scan? - I hope it all goes well.