Borderline Ovarian Tumour

[BAH2507]

Hi Everyone,

I’m new here so a little nervous... in the last 2 months I’ve been diagnosed and had a very large borderline ovarian tumour removed, along with my left ovary, Fallopian tube and appendix, right hand side has been left there for now. Im only 26 and have no children yet. Have been told it’s “rare” for it to have happened to me so early, but I’m so “lucky”...

Physically my recovery is going okay, just the big ugly wound and scars. But mentally I’m a mess. Hormones are obviously a mess but I’m constantly crying, can’t stop worrying about anything and everything and I just don’t feel like myself anymore. I’m on week 4 of my recovery and keep being told how brave and how strong I am, but I’m incomplete denial that this has even happened and I don’t really understand firstly what’s happened and secondly what the future holds.

If anyone has any stories or advice, I would really appreciate it, but feeling a little lost and I don’t know how to move forward.

[Jacqui1737]

Hi bah2507

I'm in similar boat. 8weeks post op left ovary and 2 tubes removed. Found borderline ovarian tumour mine was serous. Yours must of been mucinous if appendix removed. With you wanting a family you keep your other ovary and womb and will be monitored. I'm older 52 and menopause age thus I'm offered completion surgery for risks of spread are increased at menopause.

It is very natural to feel tearful emotional angry confused. Anything to do with your ovaries leave you this way. Plus it's a big shock and I'm still asking why me. I know lots of ladies are in worse situations but this is your body. I was very tearful front 4 weeks and the brain fog was awful I'm out other side now and getting back to normal until Jan when I have to get omentum removed with other ovary and uterus. Keep your ovary as long as possible it has major health benefits.

Try not to stress you have come through a very confusing time. Hope this has helped.heart hugs x

[Terrileeloughlin]

Hello, I had a different cancer to you, although still ovarian, and I'm older and have had my children. The only things I can say is, I'm 12 weeks post OP, I have a scar from breast bone, to pubic bone, and I still dont think the enormity of it, has hit me. I think that, that is perfectly normal, as it's such a massive life changing thing, to be told, and then the efforts to get rid of the disease all happen rather quick. As for the way you are feeling now, it will go, I promise. I was in a terrible state for weeks, and didn't think I'd ever feel, any way close to feeling, normal!!. I've never thought, why me? And in the words of Liam Gallaghers album, why me? Why not. That's the way I look at it. My family on the other hand, dont think that.

Dont feel you have to be strong, if you dont want to. If you want to feel sorry for yourself, then do, you've been and are going through a massive life change (that you will deal with) but when you're mentally ready. So cry, shout, and punch walls, (gently). But you will deal with this. Hope I haven't made you feel worse. Sending love sweetheart, ❤❤

[doodoolatrice]

Hi and welcome, I'm so sorry that you've been diagnosed with this disease, especially so young. We all understand completely how you're feeling as we've been there. It's a massive shock being diagnosed and it turns your world completely upside down and that together with major surgery and changes in hormones is going to make you feel lost. All I can say is give it time, speak to us on here when you need to and I promise it does get better. Your life has changed but in time you will find a new normal once you've got your head round everything and you will start living again and building a new future. Take care and massive hugs, Kerry xx

[bamboo89]

At 26 years old, its bound to be a real shock and very confusing. It would probably be helpful if you could ask to speak to the specialist gynaecology nurse, or a MacMillan nurse if they were involved so that you can get a clearer picture of what just happened and what it means for you. If you see the surgeon again, you could talk to him, but sometimes surgeons aren't that great in terms of dealing with people's feelings, and you are probably unsure what questions you should ask anyway.

There is some helpful, clear information regarding borderline OC in this link cancerresearchuk.org/about-... which you might find useful in the meantime. You will see from that information that it mentions staging, so read that - if you did not have your appendix removed, then what they found may not have been mucinous in nature either, but that's something you could ask for more information about. If they've said you were 'lucky' it seems likely you were only Stage I; that might not feel lucky at all to you because it's meant this massive change that you now have to adapt to, but it is lucky from their point of view because it's been dealt with so early and you don't need further treatment. And you will come to realise, eventually, that it is lucky for you too, in that if you had to have this problem at all, at least it was caught so early.

I imagine the surgeon will have taken samples from elsewhere within the pelvic region just to check for evidence of any spread, so ask what the results were of that; ask also if it was Stage I or not. If everything was clear and it was Stage I, then ask them how often they're going to check up on you - maybe ask how much risk there is of the other ovary developing problems too, if you are worried about that, and whether there are implications in regard to having children later on, or anything else that might be troubling you. You may need a bit more time to sort your head out in order to grapple with precisely what it is you need to know - at the moment, you're effectively still in shock, as well as your body still dealing with the after effects of surgery and the anaesthesia drugs they will have used - they can take up to six weeks to clear the body.

From the emotional point of view, you might ask whether what you're feeling is partially hormonal from losing an ovary, but at your age particularly, I'm not surprised you're feeling emotionally devastated, you've had the rug of certainty pulled out from under you. At your sort of age, no one expects any serious health problem to affect them, and that's why its such a shock. Fact is, though, serious health issues can and do happen at any age and to quite a lot of people - it's just not so common as it is in those over 45 or 50. The Macmillan service usually has a counsellor or psychotherapist available for you to talk to if you feel you need it - ask if that's something they can offer you too.

Finally, hang in there - you will eventually come to terms with this shock, realise you have dodged a bullet and had a lucky escape, and then carry on life normally. Come back on here whenever you're feeling desperate or just want to chat... take care

Miriam