Ovarian cyst fast track referral suspected cancer

[Reetabiscuiteater]

I don't know what I am hoping for...reassurance or other stories maybe.

I had a stomach bug in late Jan this year and since then had been having bowel issues which I put down to the bug messing with my stomach. Then I started getting very bloated especially around ovulation. Then in the last couple of months I have felt quite ill when I ovulate tho I have always had pain in my left side at that time of month. I went to the doc and nearly didn't mention it but because of my age (42) she sent me for a scan last weds.

The next day I was told to call the doc and they said they found a 3cm cyst but the doc was very cagey and wouldn't say what it is. Kept saying all different kinds of tumour. Wanted to say it was unlikely to be anything but she kept stumbling on her words. Saturday I got a letter saying I had been fast tracked to the oncology gynecology dept for an appointment next week and I have just had the CA125 test today. I stupidly looked at the screen and the report from the u/s said suspected cancer.

So now I am shitting myself. I have four kids, 14, 11, 8 and nearly 2. How the hell and I supposed to get through the next week without googling and generally thinking the worst.

Any websites to look at or memes or even youtube vids of fluffy kittens to help would be much appreciated.

Understand your concern but I think you are jumping to conclusions. There are many types of ovarian cysts and most are not malignant. I had a 3cm cyst- which is tiny in terms of cysts- for 2 years. It was always considered benign but I still had private scans every 4 months to check.

I don't know how the hospital works where you had the scan. There seems to be a lack of information coming back to you.

I suspect the note saying suspected cancer is what they write on ALL scan forms for that type of scan - because what else could they say? It is suspect unless proved otherwise. Anything like this is fast tracked within 2 weeks. That is the norm.

The person who did the scan ought to have explained what they could see at the time of scanning you - at least that's what they did with me though it was privately and a radiologist did it not a nurse or technician.

I know it's easy to say but the chance of it being cancer at your age and that size cyst is remote. Even if it were cancer it's tiny and is not a death sentence. Most women who die from OC have massive tumours that have spread.

Stop worrying and wait and see.

Thanks for giving me a good talking to. The radiologist didn't say a word to me which I thought was odd as I am so used to pregnancy scans where they talk you through it all.

As far as I know I don't have a history of ovarian cancer on my mother's side but I have no idea about my father's side. I am also still breastfeeding the toddler so in my head I know I am low risk but still I am a glass half empty person by nature.

My hospital is a fabulous hospital (Addenbrookes) so I know I am in good hands. I will have to find something to keep my occupied this week. Thanks again.

I had something similar a few years back, my doctor said, although ovarian cancer can occur in younger women it is usually in the over 50's age group.
The two week fast track appointment is normal for any lumps and bumps.

Sorry you are going through this.
I can't help much but I just wanted to reassure you that when I had a gynae scan last year in similar circumstances they didn't tell me anything at all at my scan appointment and I got an all clear from the doctor when I next saw them. So please don't worry about the fact the sonographer didn't talk to you, it is likely that they are told by to even give good news so that everybody is treated the same.

It isn't usual for radiologists to tell you what they see on a scan. I hope it isn't anything worrying

How very frightening for you

You need to know with a bigger degree of certainty what's going on and you are currently in that horrible period of limbo in which you don't know whether you biggest fear is going to be confirmed or not. And that is horribly hard.

Many of the proposed tests are there to rule out cancer so your current results while obviously enough to trigger further tests, do not diagnose anything.
Being fast tracked will allow to give you certainty quicker, but I know how hard the wait is.

Of course you won't be able to stop worrying, that is only natural, but do try to keep yourself distracted and busy as best you can.
Best of luck

The vast majority of ovarian growths are benign, they are cysts mainly.

Even the worryingly large ones, which affect bowel movments are mostly completely benign.

As PP have said, they are testing for malignancy to rule it out.

Thank you everyone. I had an adenoma on my saliva gland removed 7 years ago and although they wanted to deal with it promptly there wasn't any of this urgency. The scan and biopsy I had on that was a very different experience. I was also pregnant at the time so that I was distracted by that. I think all the rush freaked me out never having been down this road before.

Going to make my daughter a new blanket so will throw myself into that and hope that helps.

Better to rush unnecessarily than to realise after the fact that time was wasted

Please don't fret. GPs are all over the "vague symptoms " agenda these days as part of the drive to improve earlier cancer diagnosis. All sorts of things could be, but usually aren't, cancer and it's much better to be rushed through to a clearer diagnosis than "wait and see".

I'm not a medic, but I had all this explained to me when I mentioned to my GP that I had a heavy rectal bleed and found myself at the hospital with a probe up my backside so fast my feet barely touched the ground. Turned out to be literally nothing, not even piles, but a broken blood vessel from lifting heavy weights .

Hope that cheered you up. Fingers crossed.

Littlewitch it did indeed make me smile.

When I first mentioned to the doc about my symptoms I wasn't expecting an internal right there and then. Ended up legs akimbo with toddler in the background rooting through all the doc's drawers while the doc rooted through mine. Not the most relaxing examination I have had.

I hope everything goes well for you, OP. I had a 7cm ovarian cyst and a CA125 of 150, but thankfully it was benign - just an endometrioma. I panicked, though, because the docs referred to it as a 'tumour'. Sending you positive thoughts .

Thank you Asmoto. Glad to hear everything was ok for you. I guess there are so many types that it could be your mind wanders. I am grateful that my doc has dealt with it so quickly for me.

Another one here - cyst, raised CA125 and fast track appointment - it was nothing. Cyst disappeared on its own, CA125 dropped down and the whole scary ride was over. Hang in there, it's so scary but they are just being very cautious (I was at addenbrookes too!).

PS I saw "suspected gynae cancer" on the notes screen when having my blood taken - I could have thrown up on the spot! But they have to give a reason for the referral, even when they just want to make sure it's been ruled out.

Exactly- it's the reason for a referral .

Disagree with the idea that radiologists don't say what they find- it depends on the circs. I have private scans and the dr talked me through what he could see. I was told there was a 3cm cyst the first time he scanned me and he explained it looked totally benign and wasn't at all concerned. To be safe, my gynae asked for scans every 4-5 months to check on it as well as doing the C125 test and within 2 years it had disappeared.

I have had my kidneys scanned before too and he didn't say anything. Only at the end that there was certainly nothing to worry about. Private scans may be different in that case, also may depend on what they see.

In the NHS world you will not be told anything at an ultrasound or scan except that there is a lump. The radiologists - or whoever does the scan - are not equipped or trained to provide you with any kind of diagnosis. It would be highly irresponsible and unprofessional of them to do so. It will be the consultants who provide you with a diagnosis when they have all the facts and results.

Wishing you all the best and lots of luck.

Polly - My guess would be that it depends on the policy of the hospital whether they provide information to the patient during procedure. I was recently given the "all clear" during a routine abdo u/s performed by a sonographer which surprised me as I was expecting my tests to be looked at by a radiologist before being given further info. I suspect that might have been the case at a different hospital.

OP - referral on the two week wait is very common these days and is used to rule out or detect cancer in the early stages. Do not Google - been there, done that! - put your faith in our wonderful NHS (your GP has been very proactive) and please let us know how you get on. You tend to be given more information at two week wait appointments as there is (in my experience) a consultant present.

Best of luck.

Twitter - I think you're confusing radiologist with radiographer. The former is a doctor who is most definitely qualified to make a diagnosis, though s/he may require further tests to confirm.

Noah- it was a private hospital and done by a consultant radiologist, so I think the policy is as a paying client you are entitled to know, rather than keeping it all hush hush.

Yes, a radiologist is a doctor with additional specialised training. They interpret the scans. In my own situation they conveyed the results to the gynae who had requested the scan, but told me what they could see at the time.

Yes, Polly, you did mention it was at a private consultation.

However, I have had scans performed by radiologists on the NHS and been talked through the procedure and given the results then and there and hopefully this will happen to OP next week.

I think part of the answer is to ask. I've known lots of women (on forums) who don't ask at the time. Fair enough if they say they aren't allowed to say, but your body- so ask!

This happened to me a few weeks ago, CA125 result was 100 with vvvv high platelets and ovarian cancer was mentioned. A massive shock, I popped into my GP for the results in my cycling gear as I was en route to cycle camping in the Lakes.

I too was fast tracked and am now waiting to hear from the consultant who was very clear that he does not think it is ovarian cancer in the slightest. He said that CA125 is very very unreliable in women who have not been through the menopause.

Whatever mine is is contained within my womb and I expect I will be having a hysterectomy shortly, consultant said surgery would be within three or four weeks and that was two weeks ago.

Amazingly I haven't dwelled on it, slightly gutted that my summer holiday plans (cycling in Europe) will have to be cancelled. But much better than other prospects.

Take that CA125 thing to heart ... it is very unreliable in women of your age.