Ovarian cysts and cancer risk
Common Questions and Answers about Ovarian cysts and cancer risk
ovarian-cysts
I haven't heard of a link between HPV and ovarian cancer. As for removing the cysts, the best person for advice would be your gyn. If he or she says that it is totally up to you, try to see if they can help outline the risks and benifits to the procedure.
Most ovarian cysts and masses are benign, even suspicious looking ones. If you do not have a family history or predisposition for ovarian cancer then your lifetime risk is less than 2%.
And yes, the CA125 test is not accurate at diagnosing ovarian cancer. Benign (non-cancerous) conditions can cause an elevated result. A friend of mine had a CA125 level over 1000 (VERY HIGH) when she had a benign cyst. She unnecessarily lost not only her ovary but also her uterus and other ovary.
Although these traits can occur with cancer, they can also occur with benign cysts. And most cysts are benign. The average woman's lifetime risk of ovarian cancer is very low at 1.3%. So if you do not have a genetic predisposition / family history of ovarian cancer then the odds are greatly in your favor that they are benign.
Is your doctor monitoring them for now with periodic ultrasounds?
I had pain on my right side and went for an ultrasound and they told me I have a few small cysts on the right and one had ruptured, but they were more concerned because I had one on my left ovary that is 2.8cm. I think this may have been caused by me abruptly stopping the pill a few months ago. My husband had a vasectomy so I figured why keep taking the pill, I didn't realize how much is would mess up my system.
I was diagnosed when I was 30, I was told then that the cancer had been growing for the better part of 10 years.
Women who are past menopause (ages 50-70) and have ovarian cysts have a higher risk of having ovarian cancer. The only way to diagnose ovarian cancer is looking at the cells under a microscope. There are tumour markers the doctors can test for called CA-125 and CA19-9 (both are blood tests) however numbers can be higher due to inflammation.
Fibroids, ovarian cysts, PCOS, and endometriosis are all symptoms of estrogen dominance (high estrogen but low progesterone levels).
Also I have found a small, hard knot behind the opening of my cervix. Ovarian cysts, ovarian cancer, and endometriosis are something that has occurred in my family many times. I am terrified. I have made an appointment at my gynecologist (sp?) but I have to have a referral to see them. My appointment is in 6 days and I don't know any doctors around where I now live to receive a referral. I am curious to know if others have had these symptoms and what did they turn out to be.
Freinds,
My wife was diagnosed with a complex ovarian cyst about 15 cm in size. She is 58 and is a 10 year survivor of breast cancer. Her family has no history of ovarian cancer. Is there hope that her cyst is benign? We get the C-125 results on Monday.
I hope someone out there can give be some hopeful news. I am pretty much at my wit's end with worry.
This discussion is related to <a href='/posts/show/614814'>Size of Ovarian Cysts and Pain</a>.
My symptoms are what is bothersome, spotting between periods, pressure in abdomen and pelvis, short of breath, abdominal discomfort and feeling bloated, nausea and sometimes loss of appetite, hard time losing weight, feel full all over when I wake up and excessive gas. I have read symptoms of ovarian cancer and of course it seems I have pretty much all of them so now I flashback to that unexpected pregnancy result last year thinking was I really pregnant or God forbid it's ovarian cancer!!
It is highly unlikely you have cancer. Over 95% of all cysts are malignant. Doctors will often intermingle the term mass, tumor and cyst. The symptoms you are having are also very common with cysts. Do take a look at the health pages (top right) for more info on the types of symptoms you can get. However, there are times that they can't be entirely sure until you have it removed. Do you know what kind of cyst you have? When are you having surgery?
I am sorry to hear you had breast cancer and now have an ovarian cyst. Most ovarian cysts are benign (non-cancerous) regardless of the woman's age. However, I believe the risk of ovarian cancer increases after menopause. But even still, a woman without a family history of OC or a genetic link has a VERY LOW lifetime risk (less than 2%).
There are many women who get breast cancer that is not hereditary. But women without a hereditary risk of ovarian cancer rarely get it.
What is the difference between ovarian cysts and ovarian cancer. I haven't had a period for 3 months now and I have a sharp pain in my lower right side, as well as back pain, especially in the mornings. once in a while i am off balance when walking. i am bloated, and a lot of times i don't have an appetite.
Looking these symptoms up they all point to ovarian cancer and I am scared. I discovered I have many risk factors as well. I am Ashkenazai Jewish, 37 & have not had children yet. I never took the pill, and believe I've ovulated practically every month since 6th grade. I really never miss a period and my body always gives me signs of ovulation.
4% chance of ovarian cancer. It is lower if you are under 50. Also it is rare to have ovarian cancer in both ovaries. It happens but it is rare. I had both ovaries but I have the BRCA mutation and I had cancer in 14 places. They could see the cancer on the ultrasound. Over 98% of ovarian cysts are benign. What does your doctor say. You could have Polycystic Ovary syndrome which is not cancerous.
I began experiencing menopausal symptoms within the last 6 months and was prescribed estrogen 2 months ago. My mother was diagnosed with Stage 4 ovarian cancer 18 months ago. She and my sister are BRCA1+, but I am negative. I have no personal history of cancer.
From your experience, is it likely that I'll need surgery soon? Are there any alarming indicators in my description that might point to it being malignant? I'm seeing the doctor soon, but too worried to sleep.
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