Ovarian cysts, raised CA125 and 2 week referral

[WorriedaboutOC]

Feeling very anxious right now, and wondering if anyone has had a similar experience with a positive outcome.

I had an ultrasound this week because of having had a couple of heavy flooding periods. Womb and everything looked fine, but incidentally they found cysts on both ovaries, and I was sent for a CA125 blood test.

I've had a call from my GP this morning to say ca125 levels are slightly raised (48) and this means that she's referring me to gynecology on the 2 week pathway.

She was v reassuring and said its still unlikely to be cancer: she went through the US report and said there was a small cyst on each ovary (1.3 x 1 cm and 2.1 x 1.6 cm). The report said one looked like a hemorragic cyst and the other either a hemorragic cyst or an endometrioma. She said nothing on the report looked suspicious, and that the cysts might resolve on their own, but that because of the raised ca125 it was an automatic referral on the 2 week cancer pathway. She said there were many benign reasons my ca125 levels might have been raised, including the fact that I was on my period when the bloods were taken.

Despite all this, I am freaking out!! I can't concentrate on anything and I'm worried sick. I want to burst into tears when I look at my children 😞

TL;DR
Has anyone had a similar experience (ovarian cysts, raised ca125 and referral) that turned out to be nothing serious?

Thank you.

Fibroids still there.

I have dug out my gynae letter from my appt on 31-1-23.

It says fibroids 36x31x40 mm and 42x33x32 mm.
Both ovaries normal with smooth outlines.

I know nobody here can give medical
advice but it helps to write it down.

I do feel exhausted and shit and have GI symptoms. Hence the endoscopy. It’s been a shit year with both my older teens having issues and one being admitted to hospital with stomach issues for three weeks. This is the last thing I need.

Stress / anxiety can aggravate bowel etc

Honestly - i say this as someone thats back in hosp next month & has had many medical referals later but try and be / stay positive

Thank you. And hope you have a full recovery too x

How are you getting on

I had a gastroscopy in August - for few reasons but thankfully stomach is ok.

Gynae this month

How was the endoscopy ?

Thank you for asking.

Clean bill of health thank goodness. Endoscopy normal and gynae scan fine. Had the FIT stool test and that was normal too. Weight loss probably due to stress.

The gynae consultant said CA125 should not be used for screening. Too many false positives and unnecessary stress. If a woman has gynae symptoms she should have a scan and gynae review rather than a blood test. CA125 can help with monitoring after a cancer diagnosis but is not good as a screen.

I was so so worried. Hope you are well.

Glad you are feeling a bit more at ease! For me, raised CA125 indicated my cyst was an endometrioma. My levels went down after I had it removed (still have endo though but my levels only seem to increase with the chocolate cyst). I have another cyst now (haemorrhagic so having a follow up) but CA125 is still normal so I'm not too concerned at the moment.

Honestly, what our bodies go through as women. It’s a nightmare! Glad your bloods are now normal.