Ovarian cyst v's ovarian cancer... Can someone please come put my mind at rest please...

[Goandplay]

Had pain off and on for approx nearly 5 months. Had scan today. The person who done my scan said that I had a cyst on my ovary.

How do they know it's a cyst and not something else?

They want me to wait 4 to 6 weeks to have another scan to see if it goes away on it's own but I've had this for possibly 5 months already.

It's going to take 10 days for the results to get to GP - should I go see GP tomorrow and tell him my results and discuss or wait?

What do you think and has anyone got any experience?

Thank you.

Cysts are fluid filled and cancer is usually a solid mass so they are very easily distinguishable. Cysts on the ovaries are very common and are picked up alot during pregnancy, they will keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't get too big.

Please try not to worry :)

Thank you. I wanted to begin IVF in a couple of months :(

The pain has been sharp pains that last a few moments since August. But last week the pain came and was there for a much longer time and was so intense it took my breath away and I found it hard to talk.

Thank you for your advice - you've put my mind at rest.

Should I just wait for a further scan or push of a referral now?

It's ok to wait unless you get extreme pain in which case you should go to A&E. I've had cysts on and off since my early 20's, one was found during an internal examination (was the size of an egg) and I was refered for a scan, a week later I had extreme pain for about an hour and a half and then it went as suddenly as it arrived... Scan a week later found no cyst so was booked in a a laparoscopy straight away where it was discovered that the cyst had burst.

Most cysts go by themselves, most women get them at some point and don't even know they have them (which is why they are often found at scan during pregnancy, they check the ovaries for cysts as they are so common). They only become an issue if they get big as they can rupture or twist round on themselves.

You will probably be refered for another scan in a few weeks to see if it's grown or shrunk, if it's large enough they might want to remove it which is done by keyhole surgery (laparoscopy) as a day case.

Thank you everyone.

I'm 32. Saw GP today and he thinks it's better to go see a gynaecologist rather than wait based on the pain, size and duration of pain.

He also said unlikely to be anything else but sent me for a blood test for the indicator just be safe. My mum had ovarian cancer (she also was fine after treatment) so he said it's still unlikely but just to be sure.

I feel 100% better now that something is in place to be checked and dealt with. I have healthcare through my employer so I'll be seen on Tuesday.

Cysts are so very common in women! Some don't even know they have them.
I had an operation last week because I had a high temp, severe abdo pain, being sick, etc. they took my appendix out and also noticed there was a burst cyst in my right ovary.

I have pcos, which is common in women

i too had burst cyst... agony. recurrent could mean coming and going each month. if you are about to have ivf there will be a lot of people rumaging around down there so you will have doctors constantly watching what going on (I had IVF).

lucky you for having such a great gp btw.

I had what sonographer and doctors thought was a cyst - diagnosed by ultrasound.

I had it removed about 3 weeks later and histology showed it contained some cancerous cells. The cancer was weak and hadn't spread so I didn't need any more treatment.

My cyst was very large though - the size of a watermelon. And there was no chance of it ever going away on it's own, hence the op, so it sound different from yours.

I read that if they are big and not going on their own there is a chance of cancer. Glad they got it and it's all gone boiledegg . Will they check you any more now? Did they take away your ovary as well? Do they give you a full check if they find something like that?

My GP is good. There are 3 really good ones at my surgery you can see the wheels turning in their brain and they tell you what they're thinking - 'well I thought it might have been this but when you said or I checked this or that then it ruled it out' etc...

reenypip Did they say you still needed your appendix out or was it you cyst causing the problems? Hope you're feeling better.

Hi, I had it out at the same time, last week x x x x

Hi Goandplay - I had regular scans for about a year afterwards and then I was discharged (it was in 2004), and yes I lost my ovary and tube :(

Sorry you lost those but very happy that you have been discharged and are well.

I hope mine is straight forward and dealt with quickly.