How did your ovarian cancer get diagnosed?

I went to my oncologist the other day, a very good one BTW, and I told the nurse all of my symtoms. They are all symptoms of OC. But they did nothing, not even a pelvic exam. I was there for my annual and they did a pap, that's all, no pressing on the stomach, feeling the uterus, etc.

The past 3 months I've felt preg (huge bloated stomach), gained 4 pounds, I have to urinate all of the time, I have severe pain in my ovaries - the kind that keeps you awake at night. I've had colon cancer and another female cancer, so it's not like there's a chance I'm imagining things. Pain is usually a sign of something. The last time I had severe ovarian pain was in 2003. My CA125 came back elevated so they removed a couple of cysts and everything was ok.

So, I was thinking of going to my primary doctor and telling her my symptoms. She's really good and she may order me an ultra sound. Otherwise, I will wait until I have abdominal hernia surgery. The doctor usually looks at all of your organs when they cut you open. I have that surgery in a month - a result of a colectomy.

Demand a CT of the pelvis and abdomen!!  My Mom was treated for IBS for about 6 wks before she finally had to demand that a test be done and came back stage IV Ovarian....Don't wait call tomorrow!  All of those symptoms are red flags!

Thank you for your advice. I will make an appt next week. did they find a growth or tumor when they did your mom's u/s? I'm sorry to make you talk about something that makes you sad.

I hope by now you have received an answer to your problems.  I can't believe your oncologist did not do any other procedures to check for you.  I would make one suggestion that I do hope you will follow up on.  Find a gynecologic/oncologist in your area and see him/her.  Since this is there specialty, they take all symptoms and concerns seriously and will order you tests as needed.  Whether you find a gyn/oncologist in your area or not, I do think you need to have a conversation with your oncologist and find out why they did not do anything regarding your concerns.  This really upsets me when a doctor does not seem to care about our concerns.  Your oncologist certainly should have done more than just a pap, especially with your history. 

Please, let me know if you did finally find out what is going on and what the result was.  Feel free to send me a private message about this if you want.

Hugs and prayers,

Linda

I hope by now you have received an answer to your problems.  I can't believe your oncologist did not do any other procedures to check for you.  I would make one suggestion that I do hope you will follow up on.  Find a gynecologic/oncologist in your area and see him/her.  Since this is there specialty, they take all symptoms and concerns seriously and will order you tests as needed.  Whether you find a gyn/oncologist in your area or not, I do think you need to have a conversation with your oncologist and find out why they did not do anything regarding your concerns.  This really upsets me when a doctor does not seem to care about our concerns.  Your oncologist certainly should have done more than just a pap, especially with your history. 

Please, let me know if you did finally find out what is going on and what the result was.  Feel free to send me a private message about this if you want.

Hugs and prayers,

Linda

Thank you for your concern. Because of you I made an appointment this morning with my regular doctor. She is going to schedule a pelvic U/S for me. She is the greatest doctor and if anyone out there lives in KCMO, I would recommend her greatly. She couldn't do a pelvic exam because my appt with my oncologist was supposed to do an annual. So I can't have two done within a year. I will let you know how it goes. I'm guessing I may have some ovarian cysts since I had that surgery in 2003 to remove some, so it's a problem with me. My dad just told me my sister has been having problems and they found two cysts on her ovaries. They want them to get bigger before they do anything. I told her to tell the doctor she wants them removed right now. I know a couple of women who had cysts removed and the doctor told them cysts are almost benign, which is true, but they ended up having cancer, everything removed, and couldn't have children. They were both in their 20's.

I am glad to hear that you are following up with this.  My sister had ovarian cysts removed a few times.  They were always just that.  I was told I had an ovarian cyst but it was a tumor, not a cyst.  You are right to tell her not to wait to have them removed.  You can never be sure you are going to be the exception to the rule.  What a shame for those women who thought they just had cysts.  I hate when young women have to go through all this.  I hate when any one has to go through this.  Please keep me updated on what they find.  I will keep you in my prayers.

Hugs,

Linda

Seek another doctor!  I have ovarian cancer and my ca was over 400!  It should be 25-40 or so! I am going through chemo and it has dropped dramatically.  I had no idea what ca was until last week. I was just told that by my oncologist. He is surprised and overjoyed when he reviewed the number. 

 I was bloated and thought it was IBS irritable bowel syndrome....and went up to 220 pounds~ from 190 or so.  Had to urunate, could not eat, diarrea, you name it. GO NOW!  If I had waited a few weeks longer, my oncologist told me I could have died.  He saved my life  Be persistant!  PLEASE! 

my mothers cat diagnosed her, true story,  he would continuosly massage her tummy in the same spot, and since it hurt so bad and she was peeing every five minutes, she went to her doctor, they gave her all the tests they could and she came out with stage 4... which luckily was capsulized in her ovary.  they took out the whole factory (plus her appendix) left the play ground and gave her 6 months of chemo, and shes still in remission almost 5 years later