Very worried about ovarian cancer - any advice?

[BagPuss71]

Hi, I don't often post on here but I'm so worried I have ovarian cancer :(

About five weeks ago I had a sudden mild pain in my left side - thought it was ovulation pain but although it eased it didn't really go away for about two weeks. Then it bizarrely appeared on the other side and that too didn't go for about two weeks, now the discomfort is back on my left again.

I have very itchy legs which also started at the same time plus I have also have nausea which comes in waves every few days but no bloating.

I've lost about 4lbs in the last two weeks. I've been the GP three times, saw a different one each time - was told it was muscle strain (I go the the gym alot and its worse generally after exercise) trapped wind, and then last time he just said he didn't think it was anything sinister but would refer me for a scan which is in Sept.

I just don't know what to do, I'm at my wits ends imagining the worst :(

Feel poorly, so unfair on my kids in the summer hols ....... :( Trying to keep going but feel rotten

i had a scare too earlier this year, it is awful

the scan will show if you have any cysts or growths on your ovaries. if you do, this is still nearly always fine - some women just get these and it isn't any bad thing in most cases

if your gp sees anything of concern in the scan you will be sent for blood tests - there is a marker in the blood which can indicate that a cyst is cancerous but this test is not too great on its own as levels can be elevated by other other conditions like endometriosis

ovarian cancer is very very very rare in women under 50, please try not to worry too much before your scan, it will almost definitely be fine

Hi,

Is there any history of breast/ovarian cancer in the family? Other symptoms would be a bloated lower abdomen and a feeling of fullness when eating. You have an ultrasound scan booked now and that will hopefully show if there are any abnormalities. Try not to worry and don't think of the worst, it all could just be muscular as suggested by your GP.

Keep us informed!

Look at the website of the charity Ovacome.

OC is rare in women under 50, you'd normally grow a bigger tummy, have bloating and other symptoms at an advanced stage. Early stages have no symptoms which is why it's often missed. Sounds more like you have IBS.

Go back and ask for CA125 blood test.

I was having some problems and I was sent from surgery to gastro to gynae back to surgery. But because I had some symptoms I asked for the blood test to put my mind at ease.

Just to add (total sympathy, have been in your shoes!) that the nausea, the itchy legs, and especially the weight loss can all be down to the stress of worrying....waiting for tests is just the pits. Sending good thoughts and hope the scan is early in Sept to ease your mind (yes, ask for a blood test in meantime to take edge off worry!).

I would go to your gp, tell him/her you are worried it is ovarian cancer and that you want the test for cancer markers. it will put your mind to rest quickly. while waiting for the scan. Just be blunt. It takes two mins to do a blood test so they should oblige.

Request a blood test in advance of the scans.

FWIW I have all your symptoms and a few more. It turns out I have Polycystic ovary syndrome, and had a very large cyst removed from my left ovary in April. Not nice, but I had the same worries as you.

Un-MN hugs, know how stressed you must be feeling right now.

stop going to the gym for a while and see if your symptons go away, if not ask your gp to refer you for a lower abdomen scan, say you want to rule ovarian cancer out by having this scan and if you can afford it ask to go private to speed things up. Best of luck.