I'm post-menopausal and a probable endo was found as an incidental. I have no pain or anything so should I have surgery anyway?

[starrynight5626]

I wouldn't have had any idea that I had an issue unless it happened to be found as an incidental on a CT scan. I don't have any pain and the only reason I did have pain is because it was diverticulitis.

In the past year I've started to, on occasion when I get up in the middle of the night, have a bit of pee come out. I don't know it's happening until I feel a little dribble on my leg. I just assume that is due to getting older. There were also a couple of embarrassing times earlier this year when I woke up in the middle of the night to find I actually had a bowel movement in the bed, but that is usually because I'd go to bed having had diarrhea leading up to it and I think it was just loose bowels and being out of it.

I don't know if either of those things are signs that could be related. But I just keep reading up on these stories where people had no idea anything was wrong and then they go and have surgery and find they are riddled with lesions.

Wouldn't i have SOME kind of pain if there was something to be worried about?

[ZenaJ]

Hi, Starrynight,

My ovarian cancer was found exactly the same way as yours. Once the tumour was discovered there was no further mention of diverticulitis and I forgot about it myself. I had no pain and no idea.

My tummy did swell up but I put that down to leaving work and eating more.

All that was 11 years ago and things have changed a bit since then. I had Stage 3C with the usual operation and chemo. That was it. I didn't even know about CA125 levels or BRCA for several months after.

I hope all will be well with you. Zena xx

[starrynight5626 in reply to ZenaJ]

So you went in with stomach pains out of the blue and then they did a scan and that's when they found it? You didn't have appendicitis or diverticulitis or anything? How old were you when they discovered it? Mine actually WAS diverticulitis and after eating the bland diet as they said, the pain went away after a few days and hasn't returned.

I have noticed a weight gain myself but I also put that down to eating more and being less active.

[Katmal-UK]

To answer yr question about whether there would be some pain if something was wrong, I was diagnosed 3b OC. and had no pain or symptoms. I’ve had 2 recurrences both with no pain or symptoms.

[JMB1966]

Hi Starry

Sorry you find yourself here!

I was 46, pre-menopausal and no pain or bloating at all but frequent, as in two or three, trips to the loo to pee every night, and my periods were turning up every 14 days instead of my usual 28. My CA125 was always within normal range.

Eventually diagnosed with 1C3 OC. The tumour was pressing on my bladder hence the pee issue. Total hysterectomy and chemo. That was nearly eight years ago.

Anyway my intention is not to put the fear of god into you, but to encourage you to keep seeking answers as you know your body best!

Best wishes

Janine

[starrynight5626 in reply to JMB1966]

Hi Janine. Thanks for your story. I ALWAYS have to get up in the middle of the night at least once or twice to pee, but that's been happening for years because of the water or wine I drink in the evening before bed.

I just stopped taking the pill about a year ago (at age 51) just to see if my periods were done and after no periods for two months and an FSH blood test to see if I was post menopausal it turns out the number was very high and had had me as very post-menopausal, so I could have been in menopause for years. I read that being post-menopausal with a cyst can be a higher chance of cancer.

My GP never seemed very concerned. Even after the CT scan and ultrasound couldn't say for sure if it was a mass or not, my GP said in a note" The ultrasound results still suggest the mass near the left ovary is most likely a fibroid extending out from the surface of the uterus, but the radiologist isn't 100% confident". Then after the MRI where they could see it was what they think is an endometrioma or a hemorrhagic cyst but also a pedunculated fibroid, the OB/GYN said "Since patient is not symptomatic and I have low suspicion for cancer, surveillance is reasonable. Will plan for 3 month and then 6 month ultrasound. If decreased in size or stable, can discontinue monitoring at 1 year".

It kind of scares me that if it remains as is for the next year that they aren't even going to monitor it anymore. That is why I am thinking of the surgery or I'll always be wondering.