Are these possible symptoms of Ovarian cancer?

[LollipopAndSweets]

Hello, I am a 22-year-old female that has been experiencing strange symptoms since last year of 2021. My first symptoms were very painful period cramps that only happened at the start of my period and only occurred twice. A few months later, probably around August or September, I started getting yellow discharge and one month later I had cottage cheese discharge. I had the infections for probably about 3 months before it was treated. I went to the doctor and they prescribed me 2 kinds of medication, 1 for bv and the other for a yeast infection. I started to notice pelvic pain on my left side that feels like a jolt of lightning that will go away immediately. With my pelvic pain, I have also noticed changes in my menstrual cycles. My menstrual cycles are a bit longer now. My periods are usually 4 to 5 days long, but for awhile my periods are usually 2 days longer than usual or my periods only last 2 days with brown spotting for the remaining of my period. I also get bloated during my period, which usually only lasts for 2 days. I don't have persistent bloating, I don't get full quickly, there is no frequent urination or constipation, but I'm worried it could be ovarian cancer because of a family history of ovarian cancer.

This has been stressing me out for months. I had pelvic pain for 7 months now and periods that seem to be very out of wack for me. The rest of the symptoms just went away. I know you can't diagnose me, but I would greatly appreciate it if i can get some advice or some ideas on what might be going on.

Plz don't hesitate to ask any questions about my situation.

[Heidels]

no one can answer your question. Schedule an appointment and have a CT scan taken.Dont waste time.

[Tvam]

Given your family history and symptoms it's probably advisable to check in with your doctor and request an ultrasound and blood for ca125 and perhaps referral to a gynaecologist , if only to put your mind at rest. Chances are , given your age, that it's absolutely fine but by the sound s of things your brain is going into overdrive worrying

[Sashay2020]

Lollipop, I’m so sorry to hear that you are feeling unwell and are experiencing stress because of your symptoms. While the ladies on this site freely share their experiences and offer support, we cannot help you with a diagnosis. Heidels and Tvam are quite right. Schedule with your doctor now. Then ultrasounds or other tests can be done and you can get to the bottom of this. Please let us know how you make out. Best wishes from Louisiana,

Sashay

[Newbie_2020]

If you have a history of OC, the best thing is to ask the GP for a CA125 test and to make a referral so a CT scan can be arranged. This will eliminate any doubts that you may have and will give you some peace of mind. Again, because of your history, you are also eligible for BRCA test which can determine you genetic disposition for OC and for breast cancer.

[WildflowerTheWarrior]

I understand how scary this must be. Insist on being tested to ease your mind. I agree with Heidels—don’t waste time. Keep us posted, we’re here for you.

[GwenHP]

Couple of questions. What is your relationship of the family history of OC? Do you know if they had any genetic testing done? Have you discussed your family history with your doctors (both primary and gynecologist)? Depending on what the history is, they may recommend you be monitored more closely with yearly CA125s and transvaginal ultrasounds.

The current recommendation is that anyone diagnosed with ovarian cancer be offered genetic testing. There is a panel the includes the BRCA genes but also several other genes that have been implicated in increasing risks for OC. Typically they don't do the genetic testing until someone is actually diagnosed or if a relative has been tested and there is a known mutation to look for.

As for your current symptoms, they seem serious enough that you should be persistent in getting answers as to what is causing them. While you are not too young to develop ovarian cancer, your symptoms could also be indicative of other serious conditions and should be identified and addressed.

Short answer: If you aren't getting answers from your current doctors please seek out another that will take your symptoms seriously.

Best wishes to you. I hope you get answers soon. - Gwen

[LollipopAndSweets in reply to GwenHP]

My grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer, but it was caught early enough before it spread. She later developed ovarian cancer, which was unfortunately not caught early enough. When it happened, she was in her late fifties. My mother and aunts immediately had tests to check whether they were going to develop cancer, and the doctor indicated they were not going to develop cancer at their age yet. I don't believe my grandmother or mother carried the BRCA gene because no one in my family has ever been diagnosed with cancer at an early age, but I never asked my mother about it.

[Bensie]

Get a CA125 blood test. This is a protein marker for ovarian cancer. I did not have any of those systems but mine was epithelial. There are other types of ovarian cancer.