I went today for my first Pap test after my laser surgery in May for vaginal carcinoma in situ (cancer which hasn't spread yet.) I also had to have an ultrasound for a 4-cm cyst on my left ovary that has been there for two years.

The ultrasound showed that there was a 4-cm functional cyst on my right ovary that wasn't there three months ago. It also showed a 4-cm complex cyst on my left ovary. This cyst, that used to be just filled with fluid, is now solid. The doctor doesn't think it's cancerous, but advised me that I should go ahead and have my ovaries removed as soon as is convenient for me (probably during Christmas break, since I'm the only professor who teaches the subjects I teach, and it would be difficult to find someone to cover my classes for the week's recovery that is required of the laproscopic surgery.)

Oh joy, instant menopause! I'm so thrilled! NOT!

WOW...im so sorry that you have to deal with one more thing!

But the good news is that its NOT cancer and although menopause isn't something that anyone wants to to deal with you can do it. You have gone through alot and have come out OK. You're one heck of a fighter and a wonderful source of inspiration and support for all of us.

I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers
Take care
~Lisa

Thanks, Lisa. I appreciate the prayers. :)

I am really sorry about all of this but why are you having your ovaries removed? I thought they only did that if a biopsy showed cancer?? It just sounds so drastic. And why would he treat it like it's cancer but then say you can wait until Christmas for the surgery?? None of this makes sense to me. If he "thinks" it's cancer, he knows cancer can spread so he would not let you wait so long. :confused:

Hi Susan,

I guess he wants to remove my ovaries because I keep getting cysts which are very painful. I'm on the brink of menopause anyway at the age of 44, so he is probably thinking that it would be better to remove the source of the problem. He actually said we should remove "what is left of my ovaries", so I guess the cysts have pretty much destroyed them anyway.

He said he didn't think the cyst was cancer. He's an oncologist, so I'm just going to have to trust that he knows what he's talking about.

Hugs,

Lisa

Shashi,

I, too, have a 4 cm cyst on my left ovary. I am post menapausal -age 57
haven't had a period in years, but still get hot flashes occasionally. Don't take any HRT. Since I also have several fibroids, Dr. wants to do an abdominal hysterectory and remove everything. She's more concerned about the cyst on the ovary as it increased last year from 2 cm to 4 cm. and it's now "lineated". I had the CA 125 cancer test taken twice and it came back low: 7 and 8-- well below the norm. But she says just because the score is low we can't rule out cancer. If it would be malignant the contents could spill into the abdominal cavity. I'm opting to go to a teaching hospital that could possibly do this procedure laprascopically. As I live alone, I can't deal with having a large incision, and staples. I'd face a 4- 6 week recovery period. Not too encouraging. I do get crampy once in a while, but other than that no symptoms. Did they tell you its possible to laprascopically remove the cyst and ovary without spilling the contents?