Ovarian Cancer Support Group

Hi, It's hard not to worry when you don't know what's going on. Ovarian cancer is definitively diagnosed with a biopsy and we generally have to wait until surgery to get the answers. The odds are that it is something other than ovarian cancer since ovca is rare and your CA 125 is normal (although it can be normal and cancer still be present.) Ovarian cysts are very common. They are often filled with fluid and can be huge but not be cancerous.

It is scary and waiting isn't easy. Is your doctor a gynecological oncologist? If not, you might ask for a consult/referral to one. I found that I could only absorb information in little steps. My disease was advanced at diagnosis and I had multiple cancerous sites throughout my entire abdominal cavity that were evident before surgery but am still doing okay at this time. Best wishes and keep us posted. Janet

Hi there! I'm sorry you're feeling so overwhelmed. My mom has cancer and before we found out, the waiting was excruciating. The surgeon told me by saying, "Your mom's abdomen is full of large, angry tumors and it's not good." Sometimes, I guess they just don't know how to deliver what could be bad news. As Janet said though, it sounds like it's NOT cancer if your CA125 is good... according to all the research I've done. I wish you the best and will include you in my prayers. Hang in there and keep us up to date, k? Becky

Thinking of you this morning. When my mother had her initial appointment, the doctors predicted things were much worse than they were in realty. Because of her symptoms they guessed her cancer was in a later stage, but honestly, you never really know until they do the surgery. You can see the tumors on a C.A.T. scan but until the doctors goes in, he's guessing. Once surgery was done, we discovered that my mother's cancer was encapsulated in one ovary and that the cancer was Stage I. This was wonderful news, but during the time of waiting, and we had to wait over four months, because my mother's tumor that showed up on C.A.T. scan was large (grapefruit size) and her symptoms were so severe that the doctors could not operate right away.

The first two weeks of waiting were awful, but then we felt this incredible peace that everything was going to be okay, and it was!

But I totally agree with Janet to find a gynecologist-oncologist. His method of treatment was totally different from gynecologist's suggestions. We shutter to think if we had taken the first course of treatment that was ordered for my mother.

What happens when these tumors are large, they press on the abdomen, and it causes symptoms, some of which you are experiencing. Recently a friend of mine, who suffered the same symptoms as my mother, had several large ovarian cysts that were non cancerous. So you never know.

From what you have said, especially with the fact that your CA-125 is not elevated, I agree with Janet, it doesn't sound like ovarian cancer. Large cysts can cause some of the same symptoms as was the case with my friend. But if it is determined you have ovarian cancer, you can be encouraged. The treatment has advanced tremendously and there is hope even in the later stages! Janet is a perfect example of this.

Please keep us posted as to your progress! You will be in our thoughts and prayers.

Hi

Thanks for all your kind words. I have managed to get a grip and much more perspective and feel ready for Saturday, surgery and whatever comes.

In fact, strangely looking forward to it as over this weekend I started to bloat and am now really uncomfortable and wriggling all the time. Feel like everything is up in my throat!

You are amazing women and I feel a little silly so best wishes to you all. xxx