Hello.......

I'm new to this board and I have some questions for those of you that have been diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer. I went for my check-up and I had also been experiencing some odd symptoms for a while, bloated stomache, pressure on my bladder, cramping, and backache, all of these off and on for sometime now. On the Pelvic exam a mass was found between my Ovaries, I had a Hysterectomy in 2003, but the Ovaries remained. The Doctor ordered a blood test CA125 and told me to get in for a Pelvic and Abdominal MRI as soon as possible....... Ok FEAR SET IN AT THAT POINT.....

All that I have read say's that an Ultrasound should be done, then a CT scan, so why the rush to the MRI first???? I have lot's of cancer in my families background, none of which is Ovarian, or Uterine, but my Father died at 67 of Multiple Myeloma, Blood Cancer, and my Aunt and Grandma, both died of Lung cancer......

I have my MRI on Monday, and then an appointment with a Gyn- Oncolgist on Thursday......... Any advice or experiences you can share with me will really help, I'm a bit terrified.....

Thanks, Lisa

hi lisa,
i'am new also to the board. i read your concerns. i had ovarian cancer almost 2 yrs. ago,had lots of problems but thought i was starting menopause, i went in for an mri for another reason and they found the tumor, it was large and had to have an abdominal hysterectomy, it had not spread so i was very fortunate i did not have to have any other treatment. in october it will be 2 yrs. and should be my last visit to the dr. if it was'nt for the mri i don't know when it would of been discovered. i have no history of ovarian cancer in my family. the only problem i have had is the weight i have gained since surgery!!!!!!!!!!!!! let me know how you are

I was diagnosed with a borderline ovarian cancer in November '04. It started with a gallbladder attack, and when my doctors were looking for the cause of that, they found a large mass over my uterus about the size of a large grapefruit. The first gyn I was sent to had a bad prognosis for me, and he sent me to a gyn-oncologist.

That physician had a different view of things, and told me that going by what the other doctor sent him, he thought the mass was either borderline or benign. I had an abdominal hysterectomy - he took everything out except for my cervix. I don't have to have chemo or radiation, but will have to see my oncologist for followups for awhile(not sure how long - he didn't say). The prognosis is excellent.

So, I guess you could say that the gallbladder attack was a good thing - if it weren't for that, the mass might not have been found in time. I believe this was a miracle from God!

Anyway, I'm not sure why they would recommend an MRI over another test, but I would suggest that you ask your doctor all kinds of questions - before your next appointment, write down anything that comes to mind so you won't forget. If it's going to be awhile before your next appointment, then give them a call.

Please let us know how you're doing!

I am not sure why the Dr. would set you up to ran MRI 1st. I would ask him/her about it.

I had an MRI done a few months before I was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer, and though they were looking at my lower spine and trying to find out why I was having back pain I did not hear anything in regards to that MRI identifying a Mass. But then a Mass was discovered a few months later thru a vaginal ultra-sound. But even after identifying one Mass on the ultrasound, after surgery there were actually two masses (one softball sized and the other as large as football). I did not have a CA-125 test because my doctors did not think I had cancer, in fact even after they removed the two tumors they did not think I had cancer. I was told over the phone a few weeks after my surgery that both tumors were malignant. At 1st they told me stage 1c and tumor grade 3, but a gyn/onc said that since I was not treated as a cancer patient during surgery that I was not properly staged.

My early symptons were back pains so severe it ran all they way down my leg, (but that may not have been related to the tumors), feeling full all the time, gassy - just uncomfortabe in general, I began getting up in the middle of the night 2-3 times to urinate, my lower stomach became more swollen and I could feel something hard like a muscle and finally when I was ready to contact my general practioner I had some abnormal bleeding and made an appoint with GYN instead. Good thing I opted for GYN, or I'd probably be still trying to find out what was wrong with me.

Did your doctor tell you the results of your CA-125? Anything under 35 is suppose to be normal. Let us know how you are doing.

Ribbons, can I ask how old you are? I have symptoms very similar to yours, and have been searching for an answer for 9 months.