ovarian symptoms - Cancer: Cervical & Ovarian Message Board

laf8884 · 07-08-2002, 02:55 PM

hello,
Just wondering if anyone can help me. For about 2-3 weeks I've had on again off again symptoms. Gas that I feel in my abdomen (lower and upper and in my back), pressure, abdominal pain, some bloating but it's off and on...I wake up with a flat stomach and when I eat it balloons out or I can push it out really far, constipation, diarreha, nausea, burping...every morning I have a really queasy stomach and have some sort of bowel movement. I've had twangs of back pain and inner thigh pan but nothing overpowering. (thigh pain started after I read something about symptoms) There is also a clear or pinkish discharge during bowel movements sometimes (sorry to be graphic) and my last period was really light which is odd for me. I also have on again off again pain in my ovaries which I've had before and the doctor said it was gas. I saw my obgyn two weeks ago and she said my ovaries felt fine and the pain was probably ovulation. I'm 29 with no cancer history in my family but I've never been on the pill and have no children. Basically I've been reading ovarian cancer stories and convincing myself I have it as I have a lot of the symptoms. I have another dr. apt. tomorrow. has anyone else experienced anything like this? I'm really scared.
Thanks so much for your help.

chelan · 07-09-2002, 09:21 PM

Hi, I'm 33 and had many of the same symptoms as you. I was given an ultrasound where they discovered a large ovarian cyst with a tumor. All the doctors except the radiologist told me it wasn't cancer. The radiologist thought it was more likely cancer, even after a second ultrasound. Well, the radiologist was right. I had the cyst removed as well as an ovary and a fallopian tube and the pathology indicated a borderline ovarian cancer which is a very slow growing cancer - fortunately the prognosis is good and I don't have to have chemo and it rarely returns (less than 5% chance of recurrence). My point is, my gyn, my family dr, a second opinion from a gyn cancer specialist all said they didn't believe I had cancer - mostly because of my age - even though my CA125 (ovarian cancer tumor marker) was raised (66) and all my symptoms pointed towards cancer. When I first complained of symptoms my family dr tried to convince me it was gas pain and discomfort - I had to insist more than once in the same office visit that something else was wrong. My persistence paid off and he ordered an ultrasound. Your symptoms are indicators of other illnesses too, irritable bowel syndrome for one, but really your dr should eliminate cancer first then look for other options. Ask for an ultrasound if your still uneasy and if they go for it a CA125 blood test.

Good Luck and let us know how you're doing. Remember it's your life and sometimes we have to push to get things done. And don't let them tell you you're too young to have cancer.

laf8884 · 07-10-2002, 12:31 PM

Thanks for the reply. Now I am even more scared after hearing your story but I'm glad you shared it. Just curious, do you have family history of cancer? I went to my obgyn yesterday and she didn't say I was too young to have cancer, she just said that young people, when they have this type of cancer, ususally have a large mass that can be felt and as you get older it's harder and harder to find. She said I could get an ultrasound "if it would make me feel better." I said I would wait but last night I was up all night with trapped gas that I just couldn't expel so I think I should have the ultrasound.
Anyway, thanks for your help. I'll let you know how it goes.
-Lauren

chelan · 07-12-2002, 10:30 PM

I'm sorry I scared you - that wasn't my intention. I just want to make sure you're well informed. I'm in Canada where we don't have to fight with insurance or pay for most health services, but I think you'd be more at ease if you have that ultrasound.
Oh, and my father and many of his brothers and sisters died of cancer, but none of the women had gyn. cancers.

You'll be in my thoughts.