Swelling on fallopian tube/ovary

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Hi,

I had an ultrasound due to postmenopausal bleeding and there is a swelling on my tube/ovary, that wasn't there 18 months ago when I had a scan for a polyp.

I'm awaiting ca125 result, however I have two symptoms, one that my GP has dismissed for a while now, as just 'getting older'.

I've had groin ache in the creases of my leg/body joint, sometimes quite badly and it's been there permanently for months. I didn't mention it to the specialist as I was in a bit of shock from the ultrasound scan and was being whizzed from one person to the next.

Could this groin ache be a symptom of the fallopian/ovary swelling, benign or otherwise?

I've read about lower abdominal pain being a symptom, I occasionally get the odd fleeting stabbing in the lower abdomen and a bit of an ache coming and going, but this groin pain is consistently there.

Additionally, for a while now, I've had up to 1100 WBC in my urine, without any infection, which my GP has scratched their head about. Could this in any way be linked to the swelling?

The reason I ask is, the consultant said if the ca125 comes back as ok, they're just leaving it at that, no further testing, but I've read that the ca125 result isn't always conclusive and I'm worried these other things could perhaps be related.

Thanks

  • Hi Sooey,

    Thanks for getting in touch and welcome to the online community. My name is Fiona and I’m one of the Macmillan cancer information nurses.

    It’s understandable that you are worried about your symptoms and the tests you are having. Many symptoms that are associated with cancer can be the result of other illnesses and conditions. However, doctors usually want to rule out cancer first before looking at other causes.

    There are NICE (National Institute for health and Care Excellence) guidelines that help to guide healthcare professionals. You can read about the guidelines for suspected ovarian cancer here.

    We are unable to diagnose on this platform as we don’t have access to your hospital records or test results. We therefore tend to err on the side of caution. We normally advise people that if they have a new symptom, a symptom that persists gets worse or, is changing then they must report to their doctor in the first instance, so they can physically assess and best manage from there.

    It’s important that you inform the specialist about all your symptoms, so they have the full picture. This will help them when making decisions about what to do next.

    I hope this information helps. Please feel free to get back in touch if you want more information or support.

    Best wishes,

    Fiona P,

    Cancer Information Nurse Specialist 

    You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or send us an email

    Ref: FP/LJ

  • Hi again, just an update.

    So 3 weeks later I'd heard nothing back from my fast track appointment, my GP still has nothing to date either, so I rang the hospital to get an outcome letter.

    I'm still losing watery blood postmenopause, I'm still getting strong groin pain continuously, but I also now have developed low back ache, my pelvic ache/pain has increased and is there all the time to a lesser or greater degree and I'm needing pain killers often, especially since pain is keeping me awake at night.

    In response to my call, the hospital just sent a letter saying  the CA125 was normal so no further appointment needed. Nothing at all was mentioned about the swelling seen on my fallopian tube/ ovary during my ultrasound, which caused lots of questions from the doctor, nor about a prescription they'd talked about.

    I tried contacting the hospital liaison people, who said they'd get a doctor to ring me since there is some mistake or lack of communication going on, but as yet a week later, nobody has rung.

    My GP has also contacted the hospital to ask about the ultrasound results etc, but they've heard nothing back, although it was only a few days ago.

     I'm fairly concerned, with all the bleeding and pain I have and the fact that they did actually see something unusual on ultrasound.

    During my appointment they said they didn't know what the swelling was, if they could just tell me it was safe I'd be happy to wait until they could sort the pain out, but this not knowing, for so long, is awful.

  • Hi Sooey

     

    Thank you for getting back to us with an update. My name is Vanessa, and I am a colleague of Fiona’s working on the Macmillan Cancer Support Line.

     

    I can understand you remain worried about your health. It sounds like you are struggling to obtain clear information.

     

    There are several potential reasons for post-menopausal bleeding and swelling of the ovary.

     

    I can see Fiona gave you the guidelines for ovarian cancer, but you do also mention post-menopausal bleeding and its not clear if this has been fully investigated. Cancer Research UK have a summary of referral guidelines for symptoms which could be caused by womb cancer. It would be worth checking with your GP is these guidelines apply to you and if they have been followed, if not you may need another referral to the gynaecology team.

     

    As Fiona said, we can’t diagnose on this platform but can make some practical suggestions in this type of situation.

     

    Firstly, you mention hospital liaison. I’m not sure what you mean by this but if you haven’t already you could contact the hospital patient advice and liaison service (PALS). They should be able to help resolve any concerns you have.

     

    Some hospitals do not have a PALS team but they will have a patient experience team. You can normally find contact details via the hospital website search facility.

     

    If this is the type of liaison team you have already spoken to, you can raise a formal complaint. There is normally information about how to do this on the hospital website.

     

    Another option is to speak to your GP about a second opinion. This may be possible within the NHS.

     

    You could also explore a second opinion through a private hospital. There would obviously be a cost to this and it’s not possible for us to estimate what this might be as it will depend on what a private consultant charges and what tests they may wish to undertake. If you choose to pursue this option, you can search for a gynaecological consultant working close to you on the private healthcare information network (PHINS). 

     

    If you choose to see someone privately, we recommend that you take any copies of clinic letters which you may have. Also prior to any appointments think about the key points you need the healthcare professional to know and note these down. It can be very easy to get overwhelmed or distracted and forget to mention key points.

     

    We have some information on making the most out of a consultation which you might find helpful.

     

    Regarding your pain and symptoms, I’m sorry that you pain is not controlled. There are a range of painkillers which can be prescribed, so if your current medication isn’t controlling you pain please do go back to your GP and ask for a further review.

     

    Whilst waiting for a GP appointment it may be helpful to start a pain diary as this can help the GP see what may be triggering or relieving your pain.

     

    There are also some techniques to manage pain without medication, including some self-help measures which it may be helpful to look at. 

     

    We would always advise that any new, persistent or worsening symptoms are discussed with a healthcare professional, this may include your GP, 111 , A&E or 999 (as appropriate).

     

    I hope you find this information helpful. You can also always call one of our nurses directly if you want to talk over your concerns or require any further support.

     

     

    Take care

     

    Vanessa G, Cancer Information Nurse Specialist 

    You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or send us an email. 

    Ref VG/LZD