I went to my general doctor in January due to a soreness in my left pelvic area. He did some tests, didn't find anything and suggested that I visit my GYN. My GYN did an internal, PAP, transvaginal sonogram, CAT, CBC and CA-125. Everything came back normal. :)

My worry is that my mother, two aunts (my mom's sisters) and grandmother (maternal) all had Ovarian Cancer. My Grandmother and one aunt passed away from it, my other aunt had it twice and is now in remission and my mother had it and thankfully it hasn't returned. My mother had no symptons, she went to the GYN because she was feeling bloated, her testing came back negitive and her CA-125 was 12 (the CA-125 test was new at that time.) Her GYN said to be on the safe side, let's take out your ovaries. When they went in, they found a small mass on her ovaries that turned out to be cancerous. And guess what, my aunt just informed me of all this information!!! My mother won't even admit to it (she is very nice, but cannot deal with negitive reality!...I'm in shock that my family would keep such important information a secret, but I'm trying to move past that!)

My GYN has recommended that I have my ovaries removed (at the least.)
She will do the surgery but my mother says I should consult a GYN Oncologist. But I can't figure out why an Oncologist would see me, when I don't seem to have Cancer?? Right?

My questions is that: what do you think...should I go for the removal or wait a few years? I'm 36 years old, healthy and have 4 kids (my family is complete.)

Thanks for your opinion. I'm totally stressed over this issue.

D.

hi Delaney :wave:

My mum was diagnosed with OC in 1994 and unfortunately she passed away two years later in 1996 age 48. She had two lots of chemo and radiotherapy but as the tumour was attached to her thigh they could not get rid of all of it when they did an hysterectomy.

I had a lot of problems from age 12 with very heavy periods and have 5 laparoscopys., 3 D&Cs, 2 ovarian cysts burst and removed, enedmetriosis and adhesions plus PID!

It all came to a head 8 years ago for me at age 30 when I had had enough and after my mum dying earlier i had a total hysterectomy with removal of both ovaries as the surgeon decided it would be better to do this at the tiime as it would be more life threatening for me to have surgery again at a later stage so I have nothing left but the tip of my cervix!

I am on HRT now for the rest of my life and last September I was diagnosed with suspected breast cancer but fingers crossed everything is fine now!

So that is my life in a nutshell and my mum, being a first degree relative, is the only one in my family who was diagnosed with OC.

I am note sure whether any of the above helps but I would suggest seeing as you have completed your family that you have both ovaries removed as you will feel 100% better and it stems the chance of you developing OC.

Take care please let me know how you go on.

Kind regards

Lynnk :angel:

Many thanks Lynn for your story. It helps to know that others deal with similiar things.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you also.

Del

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Hi Delaney! I can only answer a portion of your question. I do not have a familial history of ovarian cancer that I know of (my mom was adopted). However, I can comment about the gynecological oncologist. Seeing one was the best thing that I ever did. They have many more years training in pre-cancer and cancerous conditions as well as cancer-causing conditions. Even though there is no thought that you have ovarian cancer, I would go ahead and see a gyn-onc. If it were me, I would have one do the surgery just in case something is found. That way an expert would be there.

Good luck!

Hi Delaney

I was diagnosed with stage1a grade1 ovca in Jan 2003. As you have two or more close relatives that have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer you most certainly need to discuss your options with a gynaecologist/oncologist. Most definitely NOT a gynaecologist. They do not have the expertise. A GYN/ONC has 3 years extra training in gyne cancers and that is who you need to see despite you not having cancer. Dont let your GP tell you otherwise! but you do need to discuss this asap with a gyn/oncologist preferably one that specialises in ovarian cancer. Listen to your mother!!

Hi Delaney, Do see a gyn/onc my friend. And maybe have the tests you had once again. I think I would have the surgery as well. I was diagnosed in 1996 with ovarian cancer stage 4 . I'm still here and doing fine. I had no ovarian cancer in my family. In fact no cancer that I know of. I just wish I had seen a gyn years ago instead of a regular MD. We live in a world of specialization now and I thihnk it is a good thing. Be well and take care of you, Jan

Soreness in the pelvic region could be due to a number of things I guess, but given your family history, I would tend to err on the very conservative side, meaning, do what you can to reasonably find out what is causing that soreness, and if you can't conclusively determine what it is, proceed with the ovarian removal.

I don't have a family history but am just offering my personal opinion.

Sporti,

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