Ovarian Cancer Support Group
Ovarian cancer is a malignant ovarian neoplasm (an abnormal growth located on the ovaries). It is the fifth leading cause of cancer death in women and the exact cause is unknown. Join this community to get support if you or someone you know is affected by ovarian cancer. Share your story and learn from the experiences of others.
After being hospitalized with a totally unexplained blood clot in my arm 4 months ago, my health has gradually deteriorated.
2 months after this first hospitalization, I was hospitalized again with pain in my groin, thigh, and abdomen (I thought I had another blood clot). Turned out it was a very large cyst. Despite the ultrasound technician being slightly alarmed by the size, the ER doctor brushed it off (he was MUCH more concerned about my axillary blood clot and the fact that my blood levels were garbage despite being on blood thinners). Told me cysts are totally normal and it'll go away. The ultrasound tech was under the impression that I would be getting more imaging done, but hey, he's not the one in charge. I was sent home.
Now 2 months later I've gone through bouts of pain. Some days I'm only a level 2 or 3. Other days I'm a level 6 or 7. Back pain, thigh pain, bloating, feeling of heaviness... I can literally feel the ovary moving around inside of me when I move around alot, just this heavy blob inside of me. I'm constantly exhausted, am struggling to eat, and am losing weight steadily. I was thin to begin with, but had muscle. Now I'm losing muscle and body fat, my shoulder blades are starting to protrude, I feel as if I'm becoming weak and frail. I regularly have sudden urges to pee... my bladder is being pressed against.
My gynecologist has concluded there are only 2 possibilities. Endometriosis or ovarian cancer. He wants to do a laparoscopy but would prefer NOT to do it while I'm on blood thinners, but says if I reach an emergency level of pain, to call him and he will come in to the ER and immediately perform surgery and will deal with the blood thinners. I am currently on a 6 week daily monitoring regimen to see if there are any patterns to my symptoms. He's hoping that a pattern will indicate endometriosis.
My hematologist, meanwhile, wants me to continue on blood thinners for 3 more months before consulting a vascular surgeon for clot removal, and wants my gynecologist to wait 3 months before operating on me as well. I understand that nobody wants to rush a 26 year old under the knife, but my blood clot has gotten worse. My body is not responding well to the warfarin.
I'm not one to jump to conclusions. I'm hoping desperately that it turns out to be endometriosis. But I have a family history of breast cancer, and this unexplained blood clot worries me... I've heard that cancer can cause clotting agents to enter the blood.
Up until 4 months ago I was the poster child for health. No drinking, smoking or drugs, ate very well, and was very physically active, in the gym 4 times a week. Took very good care of myself, felt great! Now I've completely deteriorated.
I know that cancer symptoms are vague, and I know that endometriosis and cancer can cause very similar symptoms... I don't know what to think, and feel quite alone... Everywhere I go doctors and nurses say "you're too young for all this... you're just a baby... how did this happen?"
2 months after this first hospitalization, I was hospitalized again with pain in my groin, thigh, and abdomen (I thought I had another blood clot). Turned out it was a very large cyst. Despite the ultrasound technician being slightly alarmed by the size, the ER doctor brushed it off (he was MUCH more concerned about my axillary blood clot and the fact that my blood levels were garbage despite being on blood thinners). Told me cysts are totally normal and it'll go away. The ultrasound tech was under the impression that I would be getting more imaging done, but hey, he's not the one in charge. I was sent home.
Now 2 months later I've gone through bouts of pain. Some days I'm only a level 2 or 3. Other days I'm a level 6 or 7. Back pain, thigh pain, bloating, feeling of heaviness... I can literally feel the ovary moving around inside of me when I move around alot, just this heavy blob inside of me. I'm constantly exhausted, am struggling to eat, and am losing weight steadily. I was thin to begin with, but had muscle. Now I'm losing muscle and body fat, my shoulder blades are starting to protrude, I feel as if I'm becoming weak and frail. I regularly have sudden urges to pee... my bladder is being pressed against.
My gynecologist has concluded there are only 2 possibilities. Endometriosis or ovarian cancer. He wants to do a laparoscopy but would prefer NOT to do it while I'm on blood thinners, but says if I reach an emergency level of pain, to call him and he will come in to the ER and immediately perform surgery and will deal with the blood thinners. I am currently on a 6 week daily monitoring regimen to see if there are any patterns to my symptoms. He's hoping that a pattern will indicate endometriosis.
My hematologist, meanwhile, wants me to continue on blood thinners for 3 more months before consulting a vascular surgeon for clot removal, and wants my gynecologist to wait 3 months before operating on me as well. I understand that nobody wants to rush a 26 year old under the knife, but my blood clot has gotten worse. My body is not responding well to the warfarin.
I'm not one to jump to conclusions. I'm hoping desperately that it turns out to be endometriosis. But I have a family history of breast cancer, and this unexplained blood clot worries me... I've heard that cancer can cause clotting agents to enter the blood.
Up until 4 months ago I was the poster child for health. No drinking, smoking or drugs, ate very well, and was very physically active, in the gym 4 times a week. Took very good care of myself, felt great! Now I've completely deteriorated.
I know that cancer symptoms are vague, and I know that endometriosis and cancer can cause very similar symptoms... I don't know what to think, and feel quite alone... Everywhere I go doctors and nurses say "you're too young for all this... you're just a baby... how did this happen?"
jayrogers
It is not necessary that you have family history so you will diagnosed with cancer. Make appointment with doctor as soon as possible. Also you may take second opinion.
bonnielee88
Hello there. May I ask why a CT-scan hasnt been done? Also, doctors are not looking for OC in a woman your age. for some reason they only consider it in older women. 50+ .... One of the reasons it took so long to be diagnosed myself. I strongly suggest seeing a gynocological oncologist. They are really the only specialist you should be seeing if OC is on the table. Also , has a C-125 blood test been done? One of the later symptoms I had was thigh pain... no one could figure it out,. Severe pain in both thighs that would knock me to the ground. I had nerve tests done, and they concluded it was being caused by pinched nerves, but no one wanted to bother and find out why these nerves were being pinched. Eventually my abdomen swelled up to 3 times its size, and a ct-scan was finally done that showed the massive tumor pinching the nerves . Please do not wait , get a ct-scan, a c-125 blood test, and no, you are not too young for ovarian cancer , but i sincerely hope that is not the issue. Please let us know how things work out.
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