Ovarian cancer blood test question

[Ihopeyourcakeisshit]

My Dm has a cyst on each ovary approx 7x5 cm each.
Told by gynae they looked concerning and likely cancer, referral to be made to Christies for hysterectomy.
After a team meeting they have told her it might not be cancer because the CA125 blood test showed normal levels.
She is now waiting for surgery at a local hospital. Is the blood test the better diagnostic tool? She is now worried about the delay in surgery and the has she hasn't she got it worry.

Bumoing

Blood test is in no way certain as a screening tool, especially if you don't have an earlier one to compare if there is any rise. Not all types show up in CA125 either. Hope it will be OK for your DM.

Thanks for replying, my dad seems to believe she's in the clear because of the blood results but the gynae was pretty sure it was cancer.
My mum is now worried as they said it could be a 12 week wait for the surgery and she won't find out the results then either.
She's not particularly happy at having a hysterectomy either without a definitive diagnosis.

I was diagnosed with Ovarian cancer about 5 weeks ago. Diagnosis made by ultrasound and CT scan. I have had a radical hysterectomy and some nearby organs removed a couple of weeks ago. My surgeon said until the actually go in and have a look they can't be sure how much the cancer has spread.

If the gynae team think it's cancer it probably is (sorry).

Thank you so much for replying, I'm sorry you've had to go through this.
I appreciate your frankness and hope you're not feeling too bad, best wishes for a happy outcome for you. X

My CA125 levels were normal despite me having a 6kg cyst that turned out to be stage 1a mutinous ovarian cancer. Seemingly it’s not unusual for this type of cancer and some others not to register raised levels.

One thing I’ll say about Ovarian cancer is that it actually is an older woman’s disease statistically and the average age of diagnosis is 63. Knowing what I know now I’d not drag my feet if anyone told me I had a cyst on each ovary. I’d let the drs remove what they wanted to remove along with the kitchen sink if they found one in there.

Can she get on a two week pathway? 12 weeks is way too long to be waiting for surgery. A lot can happen in that time when it comes to a change in staging and your mum would benefit from a ct scan as well.

Also, you mentioned a hysterectomy but I think the surgery would almost certainly be more than a standard hysterectomy which wouldn’t include her ovaries.

I had radical debulking, basically all of my reproductive organs were removed along with my appendix, lymph nodes and omentum. My diagnosis was stage 1a and I’m convinced if COVID hadn’t caused an earlier by age appt to be cancelled my staging would have been benign.

I don’t know how old your mum is but age is one of the prognostic factors that can make a very big difference in a persons outcome.

Fingers crossed it is all ok though. 💐

She should be on a 2 week referral if they suspect cancer, unless that’s what she’s had to the gynae team. I’d query that. Ovarian cancer isn’t one to hang about with. She also needs a CT/MRI scan rather than just the blood test - that’s how they confirmed my big cyst wasn’t as dodgy as they thought and slowed everything down. Blood test didn’t really tell them anything.

Sounds like someone needs to communicate with her what they are actually planning.

She has had scans, although I can't remember what type she said. Also an ultrasound which was presumably what made the gynae doc pretty convinced it was cancer.
She was told there would be a MDT meeting and it was after that they said they were going on the blood test results.
As far as the type of hysterectomy goes, she's been told it's all reproductive organs and oventum as far as I'm aware.
She's 75.
She's had breast cancer twice so I would have thought they'd be erring on the side of caution, but obviously not.

Omentum.

it sounds worrying for her. What symptoms does she have that prompted the scan?

She had some bowel issues, so had a scan to see if there was a problem.
She got a phone call saying bowel is fine but there's concern about ovaries so we need to investigate.

I hope it won't be too long for her to wait for her op x