New here: about to have TAHBSO, worried about upstaging and menopause.

[figroll]

Hey everyone,

I'm new here. I've read about a billion posts trying to find out as much info as possible. I'm only at the beginning of the journey. I've had scans in the last few weeks which revealed an 8.5cm cyst in one ovary and 3 x 2cm cysts in the other ovary. The MRI 'looks worrying' I've been told - they think they're borderline ovarian tumors but are not sure as there are a few things that don't sit with that diagnosis. I'm trying not to freak out, instead just reading as much as I can to be properly informed.

I'm going for full staging surgery next week - total hysterectomy, BSO and omentectomy, and whatever else they need to do. If BOT is the diagnosis, it sounds like the op will hopefully take care of it all. What I'm wondering is, did anyone here who had a query BOT prior to surgery get upstaged? Has anyone had a recurrence?

And also how did you all cope with going straight into surgical menopause? After having the easiest life regarding periods and hormones - no real mood issues or swings at all, I think I'm more worried about the banging menopause than surgery!

ps. I'm 48 and have already had my kids, so am hoping I won't be too down about losing my bits.

Thanks

[Lyndy]

Hi there figroll

I am so sorry to hear you are going through this.... it’s stressful at the best of times.

One of the most difficult things to get used to is uncertainty. Your post asks many reasonable questions but the nature of OC means that there aren’t any easy answers!

You will find that comparisons are not always helpful- what happens to one person does not always mean that the same thing will be true of another... even though their presentation and stage of disease seem the same.

Sticking with the positive:

Your team are on it and you will get your op.

Stats for OC survival to five years and beyond have risen massively in the last few years, there are more new treatments every few months.

You will get help with menopausal symptoms if you need it... some have difficulties, some don’t.

Take heart... you can do this and you are much stronger than you know.

I was stage 4 and now nearly 5 years on with no recurrence.... you don’t know what’s ahead but it could be really positive xx

[figroll in reply to Lyndy]

Hi Lyndy, thanks for your reply.

You're right, I shouldn't really be looking for comparisons but it's hard not to, isn't it.

That's great that you're still on the go after five years. Hope you have many more!

[Cropcrop]

Hi fig roll and welcome to the lovely gang that none of us wanted to join, but, here we are. We will support you anyway we can and advise as best we can, we advise from our own experiences but have the back up from a wonderful admin team.

Lindy has totally nailed this. Everything she has said is spot on. Your team have got you and will do everything in their power to look after you.

The surgery is what it is, like you say, you’ve had your babies so your lady parts are no longer the issue. You may we’ll find you get weepy once surgery is over, it’s really very common for ladies to mourn their ovaries, uterus etc, they’re a big part of what makes us ladies so don’t worry if you get the blues, it’s another part of this process.

The menopause isn’t a barrel of laughs but they’ll most likely offer HRT as you’re still relatively young and that will defer the effects.

Please don’t research this disease too much at the minute, Dr Google is very outdated and the information is often wrong and you will only scare yourself witless unnecessarily.

The diagnosis is really scary, but the professional help is there, we’re here too to help and support you through this.

Take lots of care, big virtue hugs ❤️xx Jane

[figroll in reply to Cropcrop]

Thank you so much for your long reply. I'm not getting too stressed about the info so far. Figure there's no point till they know what it is exactly. I'm sure I'll have a weep after the op. I'm a crier anyway!

Good to have the support and reassurances from you lovely ladies, though.

Thanks.

Stay well! X