Question:
Christy try not to worry about the menopause theory. I am 43 have just finished up my 8th treatment of folfox and I have had two periods while on chemo. And I actually was already in menopause and had not had a regular period in many years. I am sorry for everything you are going through but try not to worry too much.
Answer:
Christy
Try to get a copy of the operative report. If there was anything abnormal about the ovary, the surgeon who looked around during the operation may have said something about it, noting size or shape. If there is something going on inside the ovary, I don't think it would have been apparent to visual observation, just as a CAT scan can't see what's doing inside the colon unless it is large enough to have thickened the walls.
As far as my daughter goes, she already had completed her family - she is in her late 30's - I had strongly suggested that if she ended up having the ovaries removed, she should have the uterus taken out at the same time. She opted to leave it in - her body - her decision.
With your strong family history, perhaps an egg from your partner might be a better choice in conceiving a child. No matter when you go into meopause, it is still a feeling of loss - a door being shut against future possibility - even if one's family is complete or a person never wanted to have children anyway. it is only human to want to be able to keep one's options open.
Please take this one step, one day at a time. You may very well be dealing with a large painful ordinary cyst and not need any complicated removal of ovary with cyst. It is hard to be patient, but sometimes you just have to.
Leslie
Answer:
Christy:
I honestly don't believe you are dealing with a cancerous growth. A cyst, by definition is a fluid filled sac. Usually harmless. As Leslie says, there are other types of cysts that can have solid tissue in them, but they would have noted that on u/s.
Keep in mind too that you can harvest some eggs prior to chemo. And, discuss this with your oncologist... depending on the agents used, you may not go into early menopause... or if you do, it very well may be temporary. I know when you have had cancer, you worry about everything being related to that cancer. Sometimes it is, but most times it's not. Keep your chin up and do some more research... get those reports, speak with the surgeon (they can't see microscopic cancer, but a well-trained surgeon can usually notice if your ovary (or other organs) are cancerous based on a variety of things such as color, texture, touch, etc). Also, speak with your oncologist. I think this will put some of your anguish to rest. There doesn't always have to be a black cloud. I think it's a great idea to take it one day at a time, and my famous saying, try not to freak out until you have something to freak about.
Good luck, and please keep us posted.
~CD
Answer:
I'm fairly new here but have been checking in now and then. I have chatted with Chrisy on another post and when I saw this one I just wanted to respond to give you a little more moral support. I know how hard the waiting is. I don't have very good patience especially when it comes to my health. So I can relate to "freaking out".
Cancerdad gives some great advice and everyone on this board is so supportive.
I will keep positive thoughts for you that it is just a cyst and hopefully will be gone before your 6 week wait is up.
...BK