Could it be Ovarian Cancer?

Question

For the last three period cycles my mom has had anxiety and depression. This is what her cycles go like
Beggining of cycle- anxiety, and anxiety related nausea and dizziness. Fatigue.
Midcycle and during period- depression, headaches, irratability, fatigue, and she feels a dull ache and fluttering in her ovaries during midcycle. (but she has always gotten that even before) The first two period were kind of early, and the 3rd on was 30 days.

Its really scaring me. Her Gyno felt her ovaries and felt nothing , but i am still worried about it. And recently i had a dream where she did have ovarian cancer. I keep having nightmares about her illness. And she says sometimes she feels a flushing sensation go through her neck and chest. Just before this all started, she used Progesterone cream to treat PMS. She never asked a doctor before she used it . The doctor then said that that can casue depression in women and gave her Ativan and Zoloft. They kinda helped. hold on let me add details

Her gyno gave her birth control pills to control the horomones but they made her more depressed. She seems to be getting slightly better but i am still scared out of my mind. Could it be ovarian cancer? I have been worrying for the past 3 monthes about it and recently i had a dream she got ovarian cancer.

Shes not worried. I am. But i'm afraid to tell her i'm worried, cuz then i will scare her. My dad keeps saying not to worry, but i cant help it.

Answer 1

No. From the symptoms you have explained it is not CANCER. Please do not worry.It is only menopause troubles. The gradual decline of estrogen causes a wide variety of changes in tissues that respond to estrogen—including the vagina, vulva, uterus, bladder, urethra, breasts, bones, heart, blood vessels, brain, skin, hair, and mucous membranes. Over the long run, the lack of estrogen can make a woman more vulnerable to osteoporosis (which can begin in the 40s).

As the levels of hormones fluctuate, the menstrual cycle begins to change. Some women may have longer periods with heavy flow followed by shorter cycles and hardly any bleeding. Others will begin to miss periods completely.

The most common symptom of menopause is a change in the menstrual cycle, but there are a variety of other symptoms as well, including:

- hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, mood swings/irritability, memory or concentration problems, vaginal dryness, heavy bleeding, fatigue, depression, hair changes, headaches, heart palpitations, sexual disinterest, urinary changes and
weight gain.

Please do not take Ativan or Zoloft as these drugs are not anti-depresents and they are tranquliser or sleeping tablets. Please consult the gynocologist agains and have treatements. -

Answer 2

She may just be going through peri-menopause. The anxiety, depression, headaches, irritability etc. are all symptoms of that. The use of Progesterone cream can definitely cause the flushing too.

To make you both feel better, you might advise her to go to her Gynecologist:

1. Get blood work done. Check estrogen, progesterone levels to see if your Mom is peri-menopausal. Also have red blood count & Hemoglobin checked to see if she is anemic or from long periods or excessive blood loss that can be a symptom of a fibroid. Have her Thyroid checked T3,T4, & TSH to make sure her her Thyroid is O.K.

2. Ask Gynecologist to order a Transvaginal Ultrasound. This is most often done through the hospital. This is the best way to view the Ovaries, Uterus, & surrounding areas. An Ultrasound tech will perfrorm this & have a Radiologist read the results & give it to your Mom's Dr. This is truly the only way to check your Mom for Ovarian Cancer. They can also check for Ovarian Cysts & Fibroids in this ultrasound which can cause similar problems. I would not worry, if she has anything at all, it might be a fibroid, which is a benign growth that causes bleeding issues & pain but IS NOT cancer.

As far as your dream goes, we often dream of what we fear. You are worried about your Mom's health & it makes sense that this worry would surface in your dreams.

Please don't worry as every symptom you have listed can be attributed to hormone flucuations. The nausea-dizziness factor often occurs when hormones have a sudden drop & this can happen when peri-menopause begins. Peri-menopause can start anytime from 35 on up in women. Hormone flucuations like that can also cause Migraines in women that have never had a problem before.

If she has all of the above tests run you will have a conclusive answer.{ You might let her know that she can take Primrose Oil Capsules for PMS too, I take 1200 mg.} Please don't worry, have the tests run, & get answers. Although I think your Mom is fine, I agree with you, checking everything is the best policy! Good luck & I hope this info helps!

Answer 3

How old is your mom? Her symptoms sound like perimenopause, esp. the anxiety and depression, and the headaches and fatigue. These symptoms are not consistent with ovarian cancer. Is your mom worried about this, or just you? Perhaps your mom can request the CA 125 blood test from her doctor to rule out ovarian cancer and to ease your mind. Good luck, and God bless.

Answer 4

This does not sound like the beginnings of Ovarian cancer. It sounds more like endometriosis, possibly the onset of menopause. If the doctor was concerned, she would do what is called a TRANSVAGINAL ULTRSOUND on your mom. That test gives the doctor a very close and detailed view of the ovaries, the uterus, and the cervix. If your mom has been seen by a doctor, she is probably okay.

Answer 5

It could be ovarian cancer, but it sounds more like peri-menopause.

I am guessingfrom what you have written that she is at least mid-thirties and probably older, so this is a distinct possibility.

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