i am 53 good general health and trying to keep a good attitude, Dr says prognosis is good but who knows? Im scared and worried chemo will be worse than the surgery which was horiffic, i had tumours around colon and scattered thru the abd, oh btw, i had total hysterectomey ( yes ovaries too) FIVE yrs ago and still got ovarian cancer, Please tell me this is survivable. I need to hear form survivors!!!!!|||I am an ovarian cancer survivor. I was diagnosed in 2005 when I was 54. I had a total hysterectomy and chemo. I joined an ovarian cancer support group before I started chemo and that was one of the best gifts I gave to myself. There were women in the group who were 17-25 year survivors of stage 3 cancer..,…..,which means they were diagnosed and had chemo 17-25 years ago when chemo was not as good as it is today. So YES THIS IS MOST DEFINITELY SURVIVABLE! Please check with your oncologist BEFORE chemo and ask if they have ovarian cancer support groups in your town. I never wanted to hear the %26quot;c%26quot; word……….I had never had surgery, perfect health, hate pills, so the thought of the %26quot;c%26quot; word, surgery and chemo….I was horrified. Cried the entire first visit to the cancer center. But, I have to say, I have had the flu that was worse than chemo………not that I would want it again,…..but, it was not as bad as I thought it would be. I will be happy to answer any questions you have. NO STRESS,. Happy thoughts. This too shall pass.|||i wish the best of luck 2 ya!!♥|||My daughter survived ovarian cancer.Chemo is diffrent for everyone.I hope you have a good support system as this helps so much with recovery.I%26#039;ll be praying for you.Keep your chin up :)|||There is only one cure for cancer.That is your immune system.Educate yourself on the internet about your bodies natural way of healing itself.

I was just diagnosed with having a complicated cyst on my right ovary. The Doctors decided to wait 4 weeks and do a follow up ultrasound and see if the cyst changes or ruptures. I have been having severe pain in my lower right abdomen for approximately 6 months before they found the cyst. I was just wondering if I should be relieved that it%26#039;s a cyst or worried that it%26#039;s more serious than they are treating it. My symptoms are not all that similar to an ovarian cyst-they seem more extreme. I was just wondering what are the different symtoms of cysts vs. cancer??|||Ovarian cysts are small, fluid-filled sacs that usually are not malignant. They may not cause any symptoms, or they may be quite painful. Sometimes, ovarian cysts appear in connection with the menstrual cycle, and they may go away on their own in a few months. When these cysts grow large, they may cause feelings of pressure or fullness.

Although most ovarian cysts are benign (not cancer), they must be taken very seriously. A sonogram will show whether a cyst is fluid-filled or has solid matter in it. If it is solid, it may be related to endometriosis, or it may be cancerous.

Ovarian cancer does not usually cause symptoms at first. But most women do have some symptoms in the 6 to 12 months before ovarian cancer is found. The most common symptoms are gas and pain or swelling in the belly. Other symptoms are diarrhea or constipation, or an upset stomach.

There is a blood test called CA-125 (cancer antigen 125) that is sometimes done to look for cancer in women at high risk. Too much CA-125 in the blood can be caused by many things, like the menstrual cycle, endometriosis, and uterine fibroids, as well as many types of cancer.

It sounds more like an ovarian cyst to me, than ovarian cancer.|||There is no way to say whether an ovarian cyst is harmless or malignant. Don%26#039;t jump to conclusions without your doctor saying anything about it.

Ovarian cancers might present like cysts but a great majority (99%) of ovarian cysts are benign.|||cysts usually present with pain, while ovarian cancer is usually silient and discovered after it has already metastasized

I have not had periods for several months but took a progesterone treatment and period started but did not have a period since. I am concerned that I may have symptoms of ovarian cancer and would like to know if it my period would have restarted if the cause for no periods is ovarian cancer. I may have polycystic ovaries because the pills caused the period to start but am concerned it may be more serious. It seems to me that if the reason my periods ceased was ovarian cancer then the hormone treatment would not have successfully induced a period.|||Only your gynecologist can answer this one and if I were you I would go and ask…Gyenocolgy Oncolgist RN retired.|||they wood.|||your best bet is to be checked by your Dr

only he/she can tell for sure what the best thing to do for you is|||who cares about the hormones if you have cancer? if you suspect polycystic ovary disease or cancer you need to RUN to the gyno. you may have other hormonal issues within your pituitary that could cause you to not produce progesterone or estrogen. in any case id head to the doc.|||I thought I had the same issue. More than likely your hormones are out of whack. I got bc pills Tri Cylen lo and love the but I ran out and was on a sunday when the banks were closed to get money to pay for pills. It just so happened my mom ordered 3 month supply from med co and I went to get the pills and they overcharged me at pharmacy so now I have a 3 month supply but period did not come back yet and is late again and i know i not prego so thats out but just get pills and wait for the period

According to Gene Wilder who established the Gilda Radner Ovarian Cancer Ctr in NYC there is still no protocol for ovarian cancer. Usually, a diagnosis signals morbidity. Why haven%26#039;t we developed a protocol for ovarian cancer?|||i was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2004, i was 26 yrs old. it sucks to know that i had soooo many symptoms of ovarian cancer, but they were easily disregarded as gastrointestinal problems. i wish i would have done my research. it is true….no protocol. the best thing women can do is have regular check ups with themselves! pay attention to your body! know the signs! bloating, cramping, abd pain, fullness, pain, these are all symptoms that i was having. patients who have them should see their GYN and have a vaginal ultrasound. that is the only thing that can detect it. paps do nothing. i had a pap done 3 weeks before i found out i had it, and the pap was normal.

in my opinion, i feel vaginal ultrasounds plus a complete questionnaire should be done on yearly visits just to make it aware what the signs and symptoms of ov ca are. some patients have the symptoms and over look them for yrs.|||I don%26#039;t know why there is %26#039;no protocol%26#039;- it may be that there are several protocols that are being used with varying sucsess. When I did my reserach at UCSF on ovarain cancer, there was a protocol lined out for each staging of the disease.

But- early diagnosis can mean life. I am a 10 year ovarian cancer/chemo survivor.|||Take a look at the site below which explains many misunderstood things about the cancer industry, and has some natural cures too.

Cancer

http://dgwa1.fortunecity.com/body/cancer…

have side pains where my ovaries would be, and back pain, well…i was reading about ovarian cancer and i read that most women with ovarian cancer have these symptons:

Bloating

Pelvic or abdominal pain

Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly

Urinary symptoms (urgency or frequency)

fatigue,

indigestion,

back pain,

pain with intercourse,

constipation

menstrual irregularities

I have all of these symptoms, ALL of them.

I went to the doctors im gonna get an ultrasound. I%26#039;m 18, which is a little too young for ovarian cancer plus no family member has had it. So whatre my chances of having it?Does it sound like i COULD have it?|||Well sorry sweetie but yes anything is possible at any age now a days. Please get checked out and I hope you%26#039;ll be ok. I really cherish you as a Yahoo Answer friend. Best wishes…|||Yeah, i have most of those symptoms too. Don%26#039;t worry about it as most of those symptoms can be related to other things, for example anxiety. You are doing the right thing by having it checked out anyway. Most of the time it is not as bad as you think.|||Huh… I have most of those symptoms, lol… Maybe I should be worried?|||These symptoms are very broad and can mean a number of other illnesses/ problems. It isn%26#039;t necessarily cancer. However, any one can get cancer at any age!! My friend had ovarian cancer when she was 19-20. There is no age limit.

ok well i just want to know the signs of cervical and ovarian cancers. i bleed and cramp when i%26#039;m not on my period and have sharp shooting pains from my pelvic to my cervics and i feel lots of pressure also. i had pre cervical cancer. i%26#039;m only 24 and have a set of twins and a 1 year old baby. i dont want to freek myself out but i am kinda scarred. something tells me i have cancer but i try to ignore it because i dont know if i do or not. who do i see if i dont have insurance? do i just go to the hospital? i dont want them to think i%26#039;m crazy.|||If it is Cervical cancer, you are actually lucky to have this at the time that you do because most states have government funded research grants going right now that will fully pay for ALL of your treatment if it is cervical cancer. I have just been diagnosed with ovarian cancer and unless you are in end stage ovarian cancer, it does not cause you to bleed in between periods. It sounds to me like cervical. You should talk to the county indigent health care provider and get some bloodwork and a pap smear done ASAP. Medicaid offers a %26quot;Well Woman%26quot; visit for free if you sign up for it, that includes a pap smear. If it gets too bad, go to the ER ASAP! I hope this helps!|||i think you need to have this conversation with a doctor.|||ovarian cancer has few symptoms, till way too late.

( the last i knew)

ovarian cancer%26#039;s primary symptom is that it is like having a heavy period, practically EVERY day of the month.

The sooner you see a doc, the better. go on to the emergency room. be sure to tell them ( when you check in) about the pre-cancerous diagnosis in your past.|||I would defiantly get checked out. Planned parenthood might be able to assist you otherwise your best bet is to go to the ER and express your concerns. This is a serious issue (as I also have pre cervical cancer and can%26#039;t get my doctors off my back if I miss a check up appointment by even a day) and you should definitely be seen. I%26#039;m not exactly sure what the symptoms of the cancer are (I have some of the same symptoms and they want to check me for ovarian cancer) and really suggest you speak to a physician about this asap. Good luck!|||If you have pre cervical cancer,I assume you have HPV also,get your self to a doctor asap! Why in the world would you waste time on yahoo answers when you reproductive health/life could be in danger! And why haven%26#039;t you been to a m.d. anyway?|||Since you already have children, I hope you have paps done regularly especially if you have had pre cancerous cells before. If you do have it hopefully it is caught at an early stage and they can remove it even if that includes a hysterectomy. Go see your doctor. Think about you children and how they need you. I know it%26#039;s a scary thing but you need to get checked.

23/F. I have been having discomfort in my right lower abdomen for months now. It is a dull aching pain that sometimes extends to the thigh of my right leg. Occasionaly it will turn to a more moderate pain lasting for only a few seconds. I have also found myself urinating more frequently %26amp; on some days feeling a little nauseous. I am a virgin, still have regular periods, have had no vaginal bleeding other then the times when I am mestrating, and was on birth control for a few months about a year ago due to having fibrocystic breast disease. I am concerned that this may be a cyst or worst yet maybe even ovarian cancer. Any information you could give or personal experiences would be great. PLEASE DO NOT TELL ME TO GO TO A DOCTOR - I AM GOING!|||Its probably a cyst. Usually ovarian cancer doesn%26#039;t have any symptoms until later.|||I had a ovarian cyst when i was 18 going on 19. I would bleed everyday, not alot but alittle at times, and when i was on my period it bleed twice as more than other days, i went to doctor actually to the emergency room at midnight due haveing a sharp pain on my right lower part of my stomache, i went and told me I had 2 of them one ws 2.5 inchs and the other 3 inchs. they gace my birth control pills to get rid of it took the for few months and I stopped bleeding and not i have my regular periods and no more pain, but stuck with a UTI. still haven%26#039;t gone to a doctor for that just yet, no money lol.

my boyfriends sister has ovarian cancer.she found out a year ago at age 28.she had her ovarys removed and went through kemo.she went to get a check up recently and found out that it spread to her lung.. and now to her intestines..she was told she had a year to 5 years to live.. now a different doctor said she had 6 months to a year to live.. shes 29 a pediatricion and a well loved person.. my boyfriend seems to be taking this pretty well. but everytime we get more bad news about it i see how it just kills him…i want to confert him..but hes the kind of person that just srugs it off and dosent want to talk about it.. any suggestions? also i wanted to know..what are the chances of her pulling threw and living longer than 6months to a year..|||there really isnt anything you can say, jsut need to be there for him as much as possible, and talk about her, see her as much as possible, in a positive way, there really is no point talking about the actually illness, but talking about the good old time, from when they were kids, maybe find out a special time or place from their childhood, maybe you can do somthing specail for them to havesome time just for them and bring back memories of happier times|||so sad. its all about her health and what her body can handle.. best of wishes|||The cancer has metasized (spread to many parts of the body), it is very safe to say that she will never recover from this and that will with all probabilty unfortunantely die within a year.

Comforting him will be hard as you could imagine is always that case with this sort of situation. But I wouldn%26#039;t try to confront him about opening up or anything. Casually offer your support and if he doesn%26#039;t want to talk about it, then let him be. Different people have different ways of dealing with things. Just give him time, and keep doing what you are doing.|||Miracles can happen. Keep the faith|||I agree with Davey.

don%26#039;t listen to others that say she%26#039;s got no chance..

THEY don%26#039;t know.. DOCTOR%26#039;S don%26#039;t know either..

look at Lance Armstrong, he was litterally in his death bed and now he is in remission!!! That is why they are called miracles.. just keep praying for her and don%26#039;t lose faith..

good luck.|||Your boyfriend%26#039;s sister has a long journey ahead of her. Men and women handle this type of thing very differently. Women connect with one another. Men tend to deal from a distance. If your boyfriend doesn%26#039;t want to talk about this, don%26#039;t force the issue. He might be uncomfortable talking about it. He might just want things to be %26quot;normal%26quot; and feels it will be, if the cancer stays out of the conversation. Maybe being with you is an escape for him, a place he can get away from the reality that his sister is dying…He knows you are there for him. Be a good listener. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I realize your friend%26#039;s sister is dealing with ovarian/lung cancer, but Cancer is Cancer. When we who are diagnosed first hear those words, %26quot;you have cancer%26quot;, we all go through a devastation that%26#039;s hard to explain.|||It depends upon how strong and determined she is. One thing to try is - 3 - Try Vitamin C therapy. A few years ago a cancer specialist came out with a paper that said the best cancer/infection fighter found to date was Interferon. At the time it was $15,000 a gram. 13 The paper also said that Interferon was a by-product of the natural breakdown of Vitamin C in your body. (If you find this useful, copy it and give it to a friend. Somebody got to Yahoo and they delete this as soon as they find it) Shortly after that the FDA tried to make Vitamin C by prescription only. Guess why? The FDA has the RDA for Vitamin C set at 64 mg a day, just enough to ward off scurvy. 14 Linus Pauling, who got a Nobel Prize for his work with Vitamin C and a second Nobel Prize for Organic Chemistry, said that 1000 mg a day should be the minimum and 2000 mg a day if you are sick or smoke. 15 He played tennis almost daily until the day he died at 96. Personally, I got sick twice a year for 2 weeks at a time, for more than 20 years, with something to this day the doctors have no idea what it was, but for a week in the middle of those 2 weeks I was flat on my back. I started Vitamin C therapy once I gave up on the doctors. I took enough to be asymptomatic for those 2 weeks. 16 Too much and I got diarrhea and too little and I got sick. Within a narrow range, and it followed a bell curve over those 2 weeks, I was not sick. At the height I was taking 40,000 mg a day and 300,000 over the 2 weeks. After 2 years of that I have not been sick since – more than 15 years. Vitamin C acts as a natural diuretic so you need to drink a lot of water and watch your body in total, but my kidneys did not dissolve as the doctors predicted, or get massive kidney stones as other predicted. I did not dissolve my bones as some predicted or completely calcify my joints as others predicted. I had no side effects at all. It might be something to consider.

With ovarian cancer why do I get sometimes painful pains in the latter stages in different parts on my body lasting for about 5-10 seconds. It goes near my kidneys, my side, down my leg, and it comes to other parts of the body when you do not expet it. Like I said it lasts for about 5-10 seconds, why is this. Thank you. serious answers please|||Ask your doctor. As has been stated multiple times to your answers what you describe isn%26#039;t normal for ovarian cancer.

You%26#039;ve already asked this identical question almost 20 times and havn%26#039;t found the answer you want yet.|||THE pain really radiates and due to its tumor… and usually pain is being experience….|||anyway all diseases have various stages of pain and relief.It must be all the effect of ur cancer. having cancer doesnt mean that this is a disease with no pain..it will, of course cause pain!! well hope you live and god bless u!!BOO HOO! (I just hate Cancer!!) and pleez change ur name!!

Is there anybody out there who has ovarian cancer or knows someone who%26#039;s had it? I am really worried that I may have it and am waiting for an ultrasound. I%26#039;ve done lots of reading about it, but it%26#039;s mostly textbook type stuff. I%26#039;m not looking for a list of symptoms really, but am wondering if anybody can tell me their own story about how they were diagnosed etc. I have been having a lot of severe pelvic pain along with bleeding and I know that I have what might be cysts in my ovaries, but I%26#039;m scared that they might be cancerous. Please somebody, if you can share with me I would be most grateful, thank you!!|||I am a male but I have seen few cases of Ovarian cancers. I have also seen few patient surviving if treated in the early stages and by removal of the reproductive system completely. Mere Ultrasound test is not enough to find various factors of the disease you may have. Please consult your Oncologist and he will have to do some other tests and biopsy explained below to evaluate the position and give proper treatment.

Ovarian cancer is cancer of the ovaries, the egg releasing and hormone-producing organs of the female reproductive tract. Cancerous, or malignant, cells divide and multiply in an abnormal fashion.

If ovarian cancer is suspected, several of the following tests and examinations will be necessary to make a diagnosis.

* a complete medical history to assess all the risk factors

* a thorough bi-manual pelvic examination

* CA-125 assay

* one or more various imaging procedures

* a lower GI series, or barium enema

* diagnostic laparoscopy

Bi-Manual Pelvic Examination

The exam should include feeling the following organs for any abnormalities in shape or size: the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, vagina, bladder, and rectum. Because the ovaries are located deep within the pelvic area, it is unlikely that a manual exam will pick up an abnormality while the cancer is still localized. However, a full examination provides the practitioner with a more complete picture. An enlarged ovary does not confirm cancer, as the ovary may be large because of a cyst or endometriosis. While women should have an annual Pap test, this test screens for cervical cancer. Cancerous ovarian cells, however, might be detected on the slide. Effectiveness of using Pap smears for ovarian cancer detection is about 10-30%.

Ca-125 Assay

This is a blood test to determine the level of CA-125, a biomarker or tumor marker. A tumor marker is a measurable protein-based substance given off by the tumor. A series of CA-125 tests may be done to see if the amount of the marker in the blood is staying stable, increasing or decreasing. A rising CA-125 level usually indicates cancer, while a stable or declining value is more characteristic of a cyst. The CA-125 level should never be used alone to diagnose ovarian cancer. It is elevated in about 80% of women with ovarian cancer, but in 20% of cases is not. In addition, it could be elevated because of a non-ovarian cancer, or it can be elevated with non-malignant gynecologic conditions, such as endometriosis or ectopic pregnancy. During menstruation the CA-125 level may be elevated, so the test is best done when the woman is not having her menstrual period.

Imaging

There are several different imaging techniques used in ovarian cancer evaluation. A fluid-filled structure such as a cyst creates a different image than does a solid structure, such as a tumor. An ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves that create a visual pattern of echoes of the structures at which they are aimed. It is painless, and is the same technique used to check the developing fetus in the womb. Ultrasound may be done externally through the abdomen and lower pelvic area, or with a transvaginal probe.

Other painless imaging techniques are computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Color Doppler analysis provides additional contrast and accuracy in distinguishing masses. It remains unclear whether Doppler is effective in reducing the high number of false-positives with transvaginal ultrasonography. These imaging techniques allow better visualization of the internal organs and can detect abnormalities without having to perform surgery.

Lower Gi Series

A lower GI series, or barium enema, uses a series of x rays to highlight the colon and rectum. To provide contrast, the patient drinks a chalky liquid containing barium. This test might be done to see if the cancer had spread to these areas.

Diagnostic Laparoscopy

This technique uses a thin hollow lighted instrument inserted through a small incision in the skin near the belly button to visualize the organs inside of the abdominal cavity. If the ovary is believed to be malignant, the entire ovary is removed (oophorectomy) and its tissue sent for evaluation to the pathologist, even though only a small piece of the tissue is needed for evaluation. If cancer is present, great care must be taken not to cause the rupture of the malignant tumor, as this would cause spreading of the cancer to adjacent organs. If the cancer is completely contained in the ovary, its removal functions also as the treatment. If the cancer has spread or is suspected to have spread, then a saline solution may be instilled into the cavity and then drawn out again. This technique is called peritoneal lavage. The aspirated fluid will be evaluated for the presence of cancer cells. If peritoneal fluid is present, called ascites, a sample of this will also be drawn and examined for malignant cells. If cancer cells are present in the peritoneum, then treatment will be directed at the abdominal cavity as well.-|||I havent known anyone who%26#039;s had it.|||Well, %26quot;Copy and Paste%26quot; had given you a thorough description of everything you need to know. I%26#039;m a survivor of ovarian cancer - i had it 7 years ago. I%26#039;d had only very mild symptoms for about a year …some urinary tract infections, bowel problems, heartburn…nothing serious though. My abdomen was swelling, but I thought it was just that I was gaining weight. I was finally diagnosed after about 9 months of this, and subsequently had a pelvic clearance operation, where they remove all organs not needed for continuing life from the abdomen, including all but 9 of my lymph nodes. I%26#039;m one of the lucky ones - the doc got all of the cancer and I%26#039;m here to tell the tale.

My main advice would be, don%26#039;t let yourself be put off by any doctor. Get all of the previously mentioned tests done. If one doctor doesn%26#039;t take you seriously, find one who will. Its your life ! Best wishes on your journey.|||I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer a week after my 13th birthday. I had severe abdominal pain, and flu like symptoms for about 2 months before the doctors figured out what was wrong with me. Every time my parents would take me to the dr%26#039;s office (which was almost daily), they would say that it was just a virus. Finally, they took me to a different dr, who figured it out within a day. They did surgery immediately and removed 1 of my ovaries and the tumor (which was bigger than a softball at that point). Eleven months later, the cancer was back and was starting to spread…so they did a complete hystorectomy and I started on 6 months of chemo. I have been cancer free for 15 years now!

I really hope your test turns out well! God Bless!!|||Dear winekissedlips, my aunt had ovarian cancer, but at the time i was very young, the only thing i remember was that she didn%26#039;t worry too much about it, she used to say %26quot;worry about it won%26#039;t do any good%26quot;.

Hope it helps, My best regards