ovarian cancer

[MaryAnnSingleton]

Am really worried as my niece has already had an ovary removed because of cysts- now her remaining ovary is causing problems with a cyst which is growing -the gynaecologist says parts of it are solid- does this sound bad ? She has just got married and is nearly 30 - obviously very worried about losing her fertility if this remaining ovary has to be removed,and if it's cancer then a hysterectomy. Can anyone tell me more ?
I know about breast cancer,having been diagnosed last year,so can empathise to a certain extent, but am ignorant when it comes to possible ovarian c.

There's cysts that people can get which are part solid called dermoid cysts, these are basically a collection of tissue rather then anything cancerous so don't assume that it's ovarian cancer. I kow it sounds worrying but a dermoid cyst is very common and isn't at all nasty. They have to check though as they wouldn't want to miss anything.

If the doctor is actung at this stage - it doesn't mena it is caner - but if it is then she would stand a realy good chance of surviving as this would be very early stages and 90% cance of surviving cancer - if it was cancer

ovarian cancer if far less likely to hit soemone under 50 though possible less possible.

as for infertility, if it is thought to be ovarian caner yes a hysterectomy is the action they take

have they as a couple sort advice abotu the infertitlity?

hi well i am 42 so a bit older - i had a chocolate cyst ie solid and potentially worrying removed 2 years ago - it wasnt cancerous and i had mri and blood tests - the cancer screening blood test is called ca125 - but its not totaaly accurate as it can be raised by endometriosis and fibroids (which i also have)..

anyway the cysts are back and painful and i have had the tests again and although i have very sypmtom of ovarian cancer, these symptoms are quite non specific and it isnt cancerous this time either, just painful and will be removed again -

so anyway, they can assess whether its cancerous or not but just cos its back again, doesnt mean that it is by any means and chances are it really isnt..

ovarian cysts are hardly ever cancerous and some of us just have a predisposition towards them..

so dont worry. even at my age and fertility no longer an issue they are not rushing into a hysterectomy..

ovary does not have to be removed and wont be unless it really has to..

every chance it wont be.

there are lots of excellent websites with advice and info about this. and as others have said, they have got to it early.

hoping it all goes ok.. best scenario they just get rid of the damned cyst. best of luck to you

MAS - I don't want to worry you, but thought it better to post this. Ovarian cancer is related to the same gene as breast cancer. Is she your blood niece, or a niece by marriage?

I only know that ovarian cancer is one which is/tends to be a 'symptomless' cancer. Sounds as if she has been picked up for stuff which has symptoms?

My cousin died from ovarian cancer aged only 26 - it was very fast and from diagnosis to death was only a few months. (It's what has led to me being cared for by the genetic clinic, and on the early mammogram screening programme, given that my mum - her aunt - died from advanced breast cancer).

Sorry not to be more helpful/optimistic.

just as a counter balance to the above - which i know is well intentioned and good advice - my family has a strong history of breast and other female cancers - and my cysts have never been cancerous - so it isnt a given. and i had/have ALL the same symptoms as cancer

but agree get it checked out and it looks like that is in progress

ps just to say, i was sez2068 on this thread but changed nickname - so that was me above!!

Is commonly thought but ovarian cancer is symptomless - but it's actually not, just that people (including GPs) not very good at recognising symptoms.

More here

And yes you're absolutely right that there is a gene that links breast and ovarian cancer - brca 1 - it doesn't always follow that there is a link, or at least not an obvious one. My aunt died from ovarian cancer and my mum had breast cancer but apparently genetically the two cancers were v different. Am sorry for your loss becausei'mworthit - it can be very cruel disease and has been badly funded/under-researched for too long.

thank you all- that has made me feel a bit better -BIWI -she is my niece by marriage, so no blood relation.
She first had a huge cyst removed some years ago,along with the ovary. She was not feeling very well/in some pain on her honeymoon last month and went back to her gynaecologist (she is seen regularly anyway) so things are being taken care of..obviously surgery to see what's what and remove cyst and hopefully save the ovary or part of it.
I am not sure how much she and her dh have discussed fertility -they met a year ago,whirlwind romance and marriage. They seem brilliantly suited so am hopeful they will be strong through this together.

Mary Ann, just for what it's worth my friend had OC about 3 years ago. She went in to have some troublesome cysts removed, and they found 'something' but thought they got it all out...she had some chemo for about 6 months and then after that was alright.

It was the effects of the chemo more than the cancer I think that made her feel a bit poorly for a while. She was 40-41 at the time of Dx.

I hope this helps a little bit...I hope your Niece is fine xxx

MaryAnn - eleven years ago my DW was in exactly the position your niece is now. I There is though still hope no matter how bad it feels right now.

A lump had been discovered on my DWs ovary by accident as we had not been able to have children and doctors were trying to find out why. They removed the lump along with her ovary and after biopsy it discovered she had ovarian cancer and that other cysts on her other ovary looked suspicious. On top of that her abdomen was full of small seeded ovarian cancer plaques. The surgeons and histologists told us she had to have a full pelvic clearance (uterus an dovary removal). We were distraught as we had no children and we asked for 2nd and 3rd opinions on the histology.

Eventualy they decided to give her two rounds of Carboplatin chemotherapy as a last resort and the CA125 readings dropped. We quickly got on with IVF and eventually two children appeared naturally after we had given up hope.

The key for your niece is to get the absolute best histology done and a careful decision made about whether it is malignant (many tumors/cysts are not) whether it is treatable and whether her and her DH are willing to go for children now on IVF. If her ovary is not working anyway it is not worth it. However, depending on histology, if the ovary is stil producing eggs and her CA125 is still low (below 35) it may be possible to have children still.

Sadly my DW is having a full hysterectomy in two days time as a new lump on her remianing ovary has now been discovered with a solid mass. The consultants are rightly telling us that she must have the operation now to reduce the risk. We have no idea id teh lump is malignant but teh CA125 is still low. However, do not want any more children so it is easy to say yes to an operation. Eleven years ago it was a horrible dilemma.

I wish your niece and her DH all the very best.

thank you too flightattendant and BeenBeta - I do appreciate your advice and hope your dw has a swift recovery and nothing nasty is found. I will pass on your advice about histology too - I don't want her to think I've been talking about her elsewhere but I do think that information,correct info not googled stuff which is too scary - is important.

and lulabelle -thanks so much too- am feeling more reassured

yes,agree,googling not a good idea.

me again- my niece has seen the consultant and they will operate to remove cyst in a few weeks-hopefully leaving the ovary- apparently it is very unlikely to be cancerous,but obviously can't be absolutely sure until the operation.

What BeenBeta said is really sensible and resonant with me. The key thing is to push push push with the medics and not to be fobbed off. Also there is lots of hope, and lots of strange masses turn out to be fibroids and so on, so don't assume the worst.

I was 36, newly married, had OC. I was incredibly lucky, it was dx very early and I just needed an op (not nice, but quick). Lost one ovary but DS turned up a few years later. The symptoms are so incredibly vague, it's sometimes just luck it's picked up.

Wishing all the very best to your niece. It sounds positive news and if they were worried they would be moving a lot quicker.

i have a dermoid cyst which is 7 cm diameter, docs said in normal circumstance they would remove but cos i want another baby they won't til i have finished my family nless it becomes painful which it isn't at all.

i had it before my first pregnancy and it didn't cause a problem

thanks you two- I feel it's all relatively good news,but it's unsettling until you know definitely,isn't it.

update on niece- sorry-meant to post sooner,only couldn't find thread ! All is well,completely benign and the ovary is safe - we are so happy-she is totally delighted- thanks for your support

Brilliant!!!!

Thanks for letting us know. So happy for her and for you.