Hi,
I am very new to all this and still being tested for ovarian cancer but had skin cancer earlier this year (thankfully given the all clear).
So a little backstory about me - last December I was very poorly and was referred to gynaecology as my stomach was extremely enlarged and I was struggling to breathe. I also put on 3 stone very quickly! After then being sent to hospital for tests I was informed that I had heart failure. I was put on medication, I've changed my lifestyle and my heart now pumps with an ef of 60% instead of the 20% at diagnosis. I then had a mole removed I June which was a stage 1b melanoma so had a wider excision and a lymph node biopsy from my neck. As stated above this thankfully came back clear. I finally received my gynecology appointment last week (nearly a year after being referred) and the consultant wants me to have tests (bloods and scans on thursday) to check for ovarian cancer as my CA125 levels were higher than they should be.
I am now in major panic mode and feel like I am in a very dark place. I lost my dad to cancer at the end of June. I keep telling myself that my original tests were done last year due to the unknown at the time heart failure and that I was scanned at the time and although my cyst on my fallopian tube had slightly grown, the lady doing the scan did not seem concerned. But I then also think did she see something? Then I think we'll its be a year waiting for this appointment. As you can see my head is all over the place!!
I'm nearly 44 with a fantastic husband and an amazing 16 year old lad who I am so proud of and I don't want to go anywhere just yet as there is loads of things I still want to see and do.
If you are still reading and not fallen asleep yet, I really appreciate it. Just need reassurance and somewhere to vent xx
Hi Sillymoo
I understand you feeling overwhelmed and worried by all of this. You have certainly had a busy year health wise. I am very sorry to hear that you lost your Dad to cancer back in June. It must have been a very tough time for you all.
With the heart issues, it does sound like the treatments are helping. Well done for making the life style changes- they are never easy. It does sound as if it was really uncomfortable having the enlarged tummy.
I am glad that the skin cancer was caught in time and that you have recovered from it.
I am pleased that your gynae appointment has finally come through. You mentioned about the scan and the fallopian tube cyst but said the lady was not concerned. Well maybe this is something to think of as good as if they were in any doubt then they would have put you on the 2 week pathway- rather than the routine one. If there was something of concern back then, cancer wise then you would have been seen. However I do understand how worrying it is to have had to wait a year.
With CA125 (I had mine measured during my endometrial cancer journey) it was explained to me that they take a base line and then regularly check levels to look for changes. If the levels go up there can be different reasons for this and cancer is only one reason. I was told sometimes even an infection but that test alone is not fool proof and a higher than normal level does not mean necessarily cancer. I wonder if there is a connection with the cyst. CA125 is a useful marker for them, I was told but on it's own does not diagnose cancer.
Having any tests is always a worrying time but try not to fear the worst straight away. It is good that you are being checked out and a scan will soon show if there is any cause for concern. When I had mine they were done on a Monday at 5pm and I was called from the hospital 10am the next day- so hopefully you will know very soon.
Hope this helps a bit- you have had a tough year but I hope that your scans go ok and that they can rule out anything ovarian. Please let us know how you get on, but in the meantime if there is anything you need then please do ask.
Please do consider giving the Support Line a call if you feel chatting things through would help. The number is below and they are lovely on there.
Good Luck for your appointment.
Jane
