Urgent ultrasound

[Jasmine82]

Hi all, long time lurker here and I'm looking for a bit of advice/reassurance.
I went to visit my gp beginning of the week, something I have been putting off but that's been nagging away at me but at first the symptoms were so vague, it didn't seem worth bothering.
After examining me, he didn't say much, said he would order a scan and send me for blood tests.
Looked at the blood test form and one of the tests is CA125, looked it up and test for ovarian cancer I believe, also I had a phone call next day to go for a scan this week! Am I right to be very concerned or are they just being over cautious?
Symptoms are:
Severe bloating all the time, almost need maternity clothes, look heavily pregnant (definitely not a pregnancy)
Need to pee all the time!
Should say the bloating isn't just in abdomen, it goes all the way up to under bust.
I have no pain whatsoever, just a lot of gas.
Question is really - is this what I think or could it be something else?
Can't find anything on the internet as to what else it could be, if anyone could help I would be grateful.
Thanks for reading. (I'm 46 btw)

I am sorry to hear that you are in this position and I am surprised your GP has not been completely honest with you. Your condition could be many things but as you are aware, ovarian cancer is one of those and because of that, the GP would need to refer you for a scab under the 2 week wait I believe and also run bloods. They should have told you that though. The good news is you don’t have too long to wait.

*scan

I hope you get good news.

That’s an awful worry to have and I’m sorry now you have it over you. You won’t know till you get your tests but it could certainly be a million and one things that are not so serious, and you are better to have a GP that sends you for tests rather than dismisses you! Annoying though they didn’t talk to you properly about it, I suppose they thought it would worry you even though not telling has likely done the opposite! Thank god you haven’t a long wait though I’m sure it will still feel like eternity to you. Sending you lots of hugs and wishing you the best!!!❤️

Could be lots of things (cysts, fibroids, bowel related etc etc). It’s good that they are looking to rule out the serious stuff quickly. Good luck for your appointment x

Just to reassure you a bit, I had symptoms like yours and they went away with diet changes - I'm not sure what I was doing but clearly eating something that didn't agree with me. So although these symptoms can indicate cancer, they can also be lots of different things - it's why that kind of cancer is so hard to diagnose because those symptoms can literally be anything.
It's right that your Dr is ruling it out though. He probably hasn't said anything because there's no point in stressing you out if it is just one of many different possibilities.

CA125 is a non-specific blood test and while raised levels can indicate ovarian cancer it is by no means foolproof and can also indicate many other benign conditions. My consultant told me that even simple infections can elevate it as can your normal menstrual cycle.

I had a slightly raised level a few months ago, the bloods were taken while I had a UTI but I was sent for an urgent ultrasound under the two week wait rules. Everything was absolutely fine although it did pick up gallstones which I've now got to get removed (). I had the blood test repeated a few weeks ago and it was still slightly raised but was lower than my previous raised result. GP is not at all worried and is simply going to repeat it again in another few months.

The positives here are that they're acting on your symptoms and taking steps to investigate so that in the unlikely event it is something bad, they can treat it. Odds are though that it will be nothing serious

A raised CA125 does mean you need a scan within 2 weeks, as they do need to exclude the possibility of ovarian cancer.

There are however other causes of raised CA125, including endometriosis, which could account for your symptoms. Waiting when you know cancer is being tested for is gruelling - but do not go to panic stations, as there are other possible causes.

Stay off google!!

Do you have RL support - it's a demanding time, and if you have someone to lean on, then lean

I was referred under 2week way. The booking of the scan does not mean that your blood test showed anything untoward unless you were told that. I had a scan then referred for an urgent hysteropy which showed massive fibroids. I had a hysterectomy within a month or so. It was not cancer.

It could be a number of things which others have mentioned. I remember seeing a woman in her 30s who looked heavily pregnant when I visited someone in hospital and she was having some fluid drained due to a liver condition.

I think you just have to try and stay calm and not over -think things as there are so many things it could be. If your GP suspected anything very serious then they should raise the possibility with you.

Thank you all for your reassurance, advice and good wishes, it does mean a lot.
I think it was the urgency of it all that got me worried. Sorry I might not have been clear- haven't had the blood test results yet, they phoned about the scan when I was on my way to get the blood test done.
I had also tried an elimination diet beforehand- this has been getting worse for a few months now, should have sought help sooner.
Also sorry I forgot to mention in first post that my periods stopped abruptly over a year ago, saw doctor about that and was just told I was too young for menopause?!?!

My sister had bloating like that. It would happen quickly, stay for days then die down. It was a large fibroid that was irritating her bowel as it grew outside of the womb and pressed on other parts. She had the same tests to rule out other things and the scan spotted the fibroid. Had it removed and all ok now. I think it’s a standard check with your symptoms just like with a breast lump.Good luck.

@Jasmine82They have to refer you under the 2 week rule for symptoms like that.
I went to my GP only 3 weeks ago following some worrying images on a MRI scan I had done for a long term problem with sciatica.
Within 2 hours of leaving the surgery I had a call from the referral team offering me an appointment with a Gynaecologist 1 week later. She scanned me and found massive cysts on each overy. 5 days later I had a CT scan and blood tests.
Went back yesterday (so not even 3 weeks after after my original appointment with my GP) to be told I have stage 1 ovarian cancer.
Seeing surgeon next week to arrange a date to have major open surgery to have everything removed.
The being seen within 2 weeks rule means hopefully it has been caught in time.
The last 3 weeks have been utterly terrifying, but I’m trying to stay positive that everything will come out cleanly and I won’t require any further treatment.
Best of luck to you

Oh, and I don’t want to worry or scare you by telling you this, just that if I hadn’t been referred for tests it wouldn’t have been found.
But I’m not singing the praises of my GP-I had to pay £450 to have the MRI scan privately as she wouldn’t refer me. If I hadn’t the cysts wouldn’t have been found 😡

Fudgesmummy, so sorry you've had that diagnosis and you shouldn't have had to go private. Thank you for your good wishes and good luck to you too.

As PP said, CA-125 can be elevated in many conditions. Ovarian cancer is one of them, endometriosis is another - mine is often slightly above normal range but when my mum was tested and had ovarian cancer it was in the thousands.

The bloating can be a symptom of ovarian cancer but is caused by fluid (ascites) building up in the abdomen. As such it doesn’t come and go - it just gradually worsens. I’m not sure if yours come and go.

If your doctor is telling you’re too young for menopause then ovarian cancer is very unlikely but it’s fantastic they’re checking it out quickly as that’s the best thing to do and doesn’t happen for most women.

Your doctor should be investigating your absent periods though.

@fudgesmummy thanks goodness you paid for that scan. So sorry to hear of your diagnosis. You sound remarkably upbeat. Fingers crossed they get it all. Take care.

Sinkgirl- the bloating is constant- hard and from just under bust, started off just abdominal but now is so bad I have to be careful what I wear. I've gained a bit of weight but upper body is quite emaciated. I was getting ready for bed last night and noticed I could see the ribs protruding around armpit and breast area.

Then they’ve definitely done the right thing in referring you quickly as that’s a symptom that needs to be investigated - unfortunately it’s often not. Doesn’t mean it’s anything sinister but best to be careful. Crossing everything for you

Sink girl thank you, I'm very impressed with how quickly I'm being seen and thankful for that as others aren't so lucky.

It's great that they have referred you. A full ultrasound - make sure it's your entire stomach, not just overies - should pin point.

I had the same symptoms - turned out to be acietes (fluid) due to liver issues.

This only got picked up after more scans and tests. So it may take a while to work out what it is, they quite rightly rule out cancer first.

Good luck

While ovarian cancer is a possible answer to your symptoms, and I think it more likely that they’re sending you for a scan because it’s possible (hence you qualifying for the two-week wait), your symptoms could possibly be lots of other conditions PPs have mentioned (cysts, fibroids, etc). The issue is just that they can’t take chances when you tick off even 50% of the ovarian cancer symptoms, as most women with an ovarian cyst would.

Also, everyone I know who has had ovarian cancer (and I’ve known more than most people probably, as I’ve worked in cancer care) experienced abnormal bleeding, not lack of a period. In fact, more bleeding, nor lack of bleeding, is one of the symptoms, which is probably why your “missing” period didn’t flag you for this earlier (I understand how frustrating it can feel though, as I’ve had my period go missing myself and been fobbed off).

It’s good that you’re getting a scan as soon as possible, but I would try (and I know it’s so hard!) not to focus too much on ovarian cancer as the main possible diagnosis. I would think it’s just as likely that you may find you have a large ovarian cyst, as I had a friend who shared many symptoms with you and that was her eventual diagnosis.

I’m sorry, OP, about how stressful this must be, , and hope your scan results come quickly.

Honestly my mum’s abdominal bloating was fobbed off for 12 months - you can see it in photos at least a year before she was diagnosed. I’m really happy to hear they’re taking it seriously but I agree that it could be any number of things. One of the difficulties with gynae issues is that the symptoms can be so similar - aside from the abdominal swelling my mum’s symptoms were very similar to my endometriosis symptoms for example.

I hope you get answers quickly, the waiting is the worst. I’m waiting for a scan (in a few weeks) as I suspect I have another large cyst, although it could just be my endo. Because of my family history my GP did a CA-125 test which I really appreciate. All women should be aware of the test and push for it if they have any potentially concerning symptoms.

Sounds like you could have v large cycts tbh.
Either way,i hope you get good results and feel good v soon.

Try not to worry, easier said than done I know. I've been through this twice in the last 3 months with ds and dh. Both were seen very quickly which made me panic as I've always been told that if you have to wait ages then it's a good sign that there's nothing much wrong with you. Anyway, both times it was nothing serious and I think that's the case with the majority of urgent referrals