Terrified I’ve got ovarian cancer

[Catofninelives]

Just as the title suggests.
I’m 36 years old. No family history of ovarian or breast cancer, or indeed any cancer. But my symptoms are as follows:

• Feeling full after eating but not hugely bloated, just full feeling
• I can hear a sloshing sound in my upper left side when I press my tummy in - like water moving around
• Burping a lot (and farting too)
• Lower left sided pain - around pelvis/hip and groin areas
• A strange pulling sensation in that same side - around my groin and lower pelvis
• Acid reflux - feeling food coming back up / acid feeling in stomach particularly after eating
• Need to empty bowels and bladder more
• Bowels quite loose when I do go
• Same lower left side dull/sharp pain when having a bowel movement

My periods are regular, I have no pain during sex and I haven’t lost weight. I’m tired a lot , but wouldn’t say I’m ‘fatigued’.

I have contacted my GP via online triage , I’m yet to hear back, but I’m absolutely petrified! I have a 7 year old DS and I don’t want to miss out on him growing up 😭 I’m having all these thoughts that I’ve left it too late and it’s spread throughout my body. Help me stop spiralling.

Sorry you're panicking OP. But TBH, I would put all these down to eating too much wheat:

• Feeling full after eating but not hugely bloated, just full feeling
• Burping a lot (and farting too)
• Acid reflux - feeling food coming back up / acid feeling in stomach particularly after eating
• Need to empty bowels and bladder more
• Bowels quite loose when I do go

And I don't know why these ones would be anything to do with your ovaries:

• Acid reflux - feeling food coming back up / acid feeling in stomach particularly after eating
• Need to empty bowels and bladder more
• Bowels quite loose when I do go
• Same lower left side dull/sharp pain when having a bowel movement

For sure, get yourself checked out by the GP. But maybe have a word with her about your health anxiety, at the same time?

I’m no expert but I’m here to help you stop spiralling. The majority of the time it’s ok and most of your list doesn’t sound like signs of ovarian cancer to me.

There is nothing you can do until you see the doctor but in the meantime whatever you do don’t scroll the internet winding yourself up. Take care and all the best.

Sounds like symptoms I had recently when after an ultrasound it was found I had a large gallstone, so had my gallbladder removed, all pain has now gone, I still experience acid reflux, but diet and gaviscon keeps this under control. I hope you get to see your GP soon to get some answers as to what’s going on.

I too would be looking at your diet - what are you eating, when etc. Sounds more gut related than anything else.

But, I'm not a doctor. If what you are describing are recent changes then pop along to GP for a chat.

OP I do sympathise as ovarian cancer is a particular fear or mine - having seen a couple of women die from it very quickly

the chances are though that you don’t have it but do get checked out anyway

Could you possibly have a cyst or similar?
sometimes they can grow quite large and cause some of the symptoms described
(talking from experience here as I recently had a scan and found out I have a rather large one I'm now waiting to get removed!)

It is scary, but you have contacted the GP, which is the first step.

I would make a list of all of the things you feel that you can look at when you see the GP ( it is what I would for so I didn't forget anything).

Understandable you are concerned, but there are a number of things it could be, some of which may be serious, but many that aren't.

Sorry you’re struggling OP. As someone who currently has cancer (not ovarian) and who has digestive issues, I’d say your symptoms to me sound very much like a digestive issue.

Yes, ovarian cancer can cause digestive, especially bowel issues, but everything you describe sounds to me a lot like what I experienced when I had a lot of GI inflammation. In my case, it was caused by alcohol and chronic stress. But it could be triggered by something else for you. Absolutely get it checked. A CA125 test was included in my first round of blood tests when I saw the GP, so that’s an easy first thing to possibly rule out.

For me, it ended up being an issue with my pancreas. Unfortunately, an ongoing problem, but an annoyance rather than anything that’s going to kill me.

Has your diet changed at all? Are you taking any new supplements?
I had an upset stomach/reflux/pain and it turned out it was new vitamins I was taking. I also spiralled until I realised what it was.
An ultrasound would rule out cervical cancer pretty quickly , I had one within the 2 weeks. Smears up to date?