Help, solid mass found on my ovary. :( What is the liklihood of cancer? Anyone else have this?

Question

I'm so scared! I'm 33 and I have been having lower abdominal pain for about 6 days. I finally broke down and went to the ER today because I was really starting to think it might be appendicitis and my mom, who is a retired nurse, told me I needed to not wait for the doctor's office to open.

So they do the usual blood/urine tests which are all normal. Then they did an ultrasound and found a 2cm solid mass on my left ovary. I am 33 and so scared! has anyone else been diagnosed with a 'mass' and then found it to be a cyst, or at least benign? Are masses mostly benign at my age? I have to wait 6 weeks for a follow up ultrasound and I'm scared to wait that long. I know it is small, but if it's cancer I want it out now!

Help, i'm so scared and could use some advice here.

Answer 1

From the experience of a girlfriend I know that she too had a cyst and the symptoms you describe in your other post about pain... sounds just like her pains when she had the cyst on her ovary. It eventually "popped" on its own and went away. The doc told her that it was as big as a walnut... And that it will go away on its own and if it doesn't then she'd have to have it popped... (I think that's what they said to her) Something like that. Given your age it is VERY unlikely that it's cancer. Ovarian cancer is actually rare and the average age of diagnosis is well over 50 years old. Most times when things are seen and "found" they turn out to be benign... and NOT cancer. Your risk of breast cancer is statistically higher than ovarian. I have researched this a little after reading your question and have found a few websites helpful. Honestly I would be that it is NOT cancer and just a cyst. According to the National Cancer Society, ovarian cancer only affects 3% of woman in the US. Links below will show you this.

Also, when someone goes to the ER, the docs and nurses there are sometimes overly dramatic. They FREAK out over anything and go the whole 9 yards with people and I find that to be a little odd. They do this because they figure that you come to the ER something must be really wrong and also, they don't know you or your history and docs ALWAYS cover their asses... Also, 6 weeks is a long time... If there is something to worry about they will call earlier than 6 weeks... Is there a regular doc you can talk to? Someone you know, and not an ER doctor? Masses ARE usually benign at your age, yes! I researched this for you and at the time for my girlfriend and she's 32 and it would be REALLY odd for you or her to have ovarian cancer... Cancer takes a long time to grow from normal, to precancer, to cancer, to distant and they say it's about a 10-year period of this growth. So if in fact this is a cancer (which I don't think it is) you would have had precancer at 23, which would be even more odd... Don't worry OK... I know it's easy for me to say, but look at statistics and use logic. Most things that they find in anyone at any age ARE NOT cancer...

Well, at 33 your chances are slim to none and I wouldn't worry and I would fully think that you have a cyst, which is VERY common.

OK, so I talked your lenses off... here are the links:

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_2X_What_are_the_risk_factors_for_ovarian_cancer_33.asp?sitearea

(Average age of ovarian cancer is 63) You're 30 years away from that.

http://www.yourdiseaserisk.harvard.edu/hccpquiz.pl?lang=english&func=home&quiz=ovarian

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=47050

Everything will be fine. With all that I researched... You have more risk of lung cancer than ovarian. Everything will be OK.

Answer 2

Hi There,

I understand what you are going through. I had a lot of pain in my lower right abdominal area and it turned out i had chronic appendicitis. However when i did a Ct scan they also found a solid mass on my left ovary. Mine smaller than yours, at 1cm so mine did not show on the ultra sound. I was really scared and then i had an internal ultrasound where they put the ultrasound stick inside you (down there) The doctors were worried about pregnancy in the fallopian tubes but it was negative. Later on the Gyno told me these lumps are quite common and ofter genetic (Just like a mole or spot on you skin) Mine turned out to be that the sack that holds the eggs was bigger on the left hand side since i had not had a period for a while as i just stopped taking the birth control pill. My advice to you is not to be too worried. Most of the time these things are actually something harmless and are really common in lots of women. Don't worry . They can always do a biopsy to see what it is , most likely it's something harmless and benign. Good luck..I'm sure its fine!!!

Answer 3

In addition to the answer given to you by Beck E. Those things are cysts. I was diagnosed of having three about 6 weeks ago (2cm, 2.4cm, 4cm) No cause for alarm they are miniature womb. Although you did not tell us if are married or not. If you are not married better, this is the right time to bring out time and treat it. They are not malignant tumors but benign. It does not cause death, therefore be not alarmed for anything..

What the doctor did for Beck E is hysterectomy which is trying to correct the hormonal imbalance which will stop her period for some time.This is why I said if you are not married yet, better, so that your husband will not bother during this time, but if you have an understanding man good. After some time you will be okay your period will return and you will leave a normal life again.

But if you are married it is okay ,like me I am married. The doctor said it will not stop me from carrying my baby, since the masses are not located right inside the womb but has commenced treatment.No cause for alarm it would treated and you be fine . GOOD LUCK!

Answer 4

My dear lady, I don't have any advice, but I truly wish you the best and I WILL say a prayer for you. With all my heart, good luck!!

Answer 5

your very young yet sweetie . try not to worry . im sure its just a cyst . this happens to alot of young women and its usually nothing.