Hi everyone, I’m new here and just wondering what your stories were leading up to your diagnosis? Did you present to your gp with symptoms? What we’re they? We’d there pain or just a discomfort? Constant or intermittent?
I am scheduled for an ultrasound next week but have had a normal ca125 result since this was booked so trying to focus on the positive.
I know everyone’s stories are different so can’t ‘compare’ symptoms, just interested to know the variety of ways these things transpire.
I went to my GP on 5th Feb with a large rapidly growing lump in my pelvis. Because of its size and because I'd already had breast cancer I think, found myself having a full hysterectomy on 25th. I couldn't believe the speed and efficiency of the NHS. So my theory is that if they suspect cancer, it all happens quite quickly - not sure if that helps you though.
Thanks for sharing gardennut, NHS are amazing aren’t they. So pleased you got sorted so quickly. Hope your recover is going well.
Hi. I have never had any symptoms or pain despite diagnosis and 2 recurrences. I went for a smear test and the nurse asked some questions and I mentioned an unusual period. She sent me for a hysterscope. Dr picked up a small cyst of left ovary, said it was nothing to worry about. I replied thats what they. told my mum (she had had ovarian cancer years before). Dr said I'll get an ultrasound done in 3 months to put yr mind at ease. When I had the ultrasound the radiographer said oh yes I can see the cyst on the right, I said its on the left..... things moved quickly after that, I was operated on just over a week later . Hopefully with a normal CA125 yours will be fine xx Kathy xx
Thank goodness that nurse was on the ball. So pleased to hear you’ve recently had the all clear despite your awful journey. Thank you for sharing x
I went to the gp with classic symptoms - bloatedness, pain in side, lack of appetite, breathlessness, weight change. Fortunately she was on the ball and had a Ca125 done which indicated I had oc.
October through December of 2014 I was racing between work, home and the nursing home where my dad was rehabbing. I was beginning to feel like I was putting on weight around my belly. I wasn't eating, yet, my belly was growing. I didn't think anything of it. Then I thought it was constipation. For about a week in January, I began to feel feverish and shake at night. By morning I was fine. Just figured it was a touch of a virus. I put off going to my GP since I had no time and tending to my dad.
I was diagnosed in April, 2015 but during Feb and March my body and shape became weird. I weighed about 130 lbs but I lost my waist. That was my tumor which had burst and I was walking around with Ascites for a long while. Went to my GP, but, still thinking it was constipation he got me in to the radiologist to discover I had a 12cm tumor which had burst and the ascites were not up against my lungs. Breathing was difficult.
I guess the moral of this is that my body was trying to tell me something way back in October, but, I didn't listen. I have myself to blame for letting this get to a dangerous point. Early detection is key to survival.
You are doing the right thing by going to your GP. I'm sure all will be fine for you. The best of luck!
XOX
Marisa
Last March I went for my mammogram, however I had skipped the previous year. They found a small cancer spot, Stage 1 lumpectomy was done and I had 16 radiation treatments. Late August, my oncologist ordered a full body CT scan to have a baseline for future reference. They found cancer in both ovaries and a spot on the endometrium. That’s how my Stage 2a low grade serous ovarian cancer was found. I had hysterectomy and finished my Taxol/Carbo treatments end of February. If I hadn’t had the breast cancer the ovarian cancer would probably not have been found until much later!
Thank you so much for all your replies. It is mind boggling how it can present so differently across each person... from no symptoms and being found by chance, to severe symptoms pointing directly to it.
The last couple of days I have felt really bloated and gassy, unable to eat much and was so exhausted today I fell asleep on the sofa in the middle of playing shops with my youngest. Could be from not eating too much the last couple of days though I guess. Just counting down to Thursday now and seeing what if anything is going on in there!
I went to my GP telling him initially I had breathlessness (it turned out there was a pleural effusion caused by oc) & some persistent light vaginal bleeding. I did also have some bloating which I had thought was due to having recently been through the menopause, & I was trying to lose weight but was losing it from everywhere but my abdomen. After my GP sent me for a chest xray, he examined me on my next visit & said he could feel a large lump in my abdomen. He contacted the local hospital, & I was seen at the end of the gynae clinic that afternoon, where I was told they suspected oc. Di
Hi Grey-green! So glad you're getting checked out. We need to listen to our body! My cancer was discovered during a routine hernia operation. I had no symptoms of OC. But enough cancer tumors were found in my abdomen for him to suspect PPC. Surgery found a tumor in the Fallopian tube so I was diagnosed OC 3b. That was 3.5 years ago.
The only way I found out I had OC was two lymph nodes came up in my groin in april 2017 They were biopsied and came back OC stage 4 advanced I had no other symptoms and was working as a nurse. I had chemo then major surgery then more chemo and then avastin for 18 sessions I finished last November 2018 and now on watch and wait with CA125 done every 3 months .
Hi, I'm still in the process of diagnosis. I had an ovarian dermoid cyst around 6 years ago, it cut off the blood supply which hurt and is how it was discovered.
Around Christmas time (Christmas just gone) I began to feel the same kind of pain in my other side. I went to the GP in late January who arranged an ultrasound scan and blood test, it came back that I had a complex mass on my ovary and high ca125. They possibly weren't as concerned as they should have been because I am in my 20s and premenopausal. However after another scan last week they are rushing me through to surgery on the 25th due to increased size, ascites and increased blood flow to the tumour.
Also good luck for your scan, fingers crossed it ends up being nothing.
Also I realised I didn't quite answer your question, for me the pain started off intermittent and quite vague. It's now constant but not normally too bad, it flares up at random times though, usually at night. The constant pain is an ache and the flare ups are more like crushing/stabbing type pains.
My CA125 was very high when I first got diagnosed.
How often do you see your Oncologist?
How do you get your appetite back after surgery?
When did you start losing your hair?
Survival stories!?
