Re: To: Cranky gg re: cyst & C-125

[Guest guest]

I had a baseball sized cyst on each ovary which were found through

ultrasound. I was sent for the CA-125 test even though the radiologist told

me it was worthless due to it's high inaccuracies, but it was ordered by my

GYN.

I don't recall the exact reading, but it was slightly elevated according to

my GYN.

I was told to wait one cycle and repeat the ultrasound. When I did, one

cyst had seemingly disappeared and the other had shrunk to the size of a

grape.

The following month, I repeated the ultrasound - now, the grape sized cyst

was gone and I had developed a small one on the other ovary! Both the

radiologist and my GYN assured me that these cysts were not cancerous and

were shrinking and growing due to fluctuating hormones.

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[Guest guest]

Dorothy:

Thanks for your reply!

The C-125 blood test was presented to me as the definitive tool as to

whether or not you

should worry. hahaha. I should have done my homework...silly me! ;-)! gg

Dorothy wrote:

> I had a baseball sized cyst on each ovary which were found through

> ultrasound. I was sent for the CA-125 test even though the radiologist told

> me it was worthless due to it's high inaccuracies, but it was ordered by my

> GYN.

>

> I don't recall the exact reading, but it was slightly elevated according to

> my GYN.

>

> I was told to wait one cycle and repeat the ultrasound. When I did, one

> cyst had seemingly disappeared and the other had shrunk to the size of a

> grape.

>

> The following month, I repeated the ultrasound - now, the grape sized cyst

> was gone and I had developed a small one on the other ovary! Both the

> radiologist and my GYN assured me that these cysts were not cancerous and

> were shrinking and growing due to fluctuating hormones.

>

> ---------------------------------------------

> Introducing NetZero Long Distance

> 1st month Free!

> Sign up today at: www.netzerolongdistance.com

>

>

[Guest guest]

ROMA:

Good point. I will. I went to the head of the dept. and talked to him re:

the past year and he

thought my new doc was doing a good job. I realized then, DOH!, that of course

he would have to say

that since she was under his supervision!

So I will have to go to an undependent. It seems I am aware of the cyst

as a dull, low-level

presence. gg

ARomaWithAView@... wrote:

> In a message dated 12/28/2002 10:07:00 PM Eastern Standard Time,

> gschaumburg@... writes:

>

> > EEEEECCCKKK!!!!!

> > I was told that the C-125 test would tell if I had ovarian

> > cancer.....perhaps I should research

> > further.....my cyst is a baseball-sized " complex " cyst, according to the

> > report. I jate to have to be

> > so hyper-diligent about all this medical crap but the stats show that

> > cranky, demanding patients do

> > much better in terms of progneses. sigh and double sigh. gg

> >

> Dear gg:

> I'm not 100% sure, but my recollection about the inaccuracy of C-125 is only

> as it pertains to " false positives. " Many of us with fibroids and endo and

> benign cysts, and maybe even adenoymyosis will have higher than normal C-125.

> I know my reading was very high-- prior to my complex cyst surgery (for a

> benign cyst).

>

> The problem is that a higher than average number on C-125 can be indicative

> of MANY different things, including-- BUT NOT LIMITED TO ovarian cancer.

>

> If your result was normal (with a cyst and the presence of fibroids), this

> should be reasonable, (if not absolute) reassurance that your cyst is NOT

> malignant.

>

> Yet most MDs suggest a complex ovarian cyst over 5 cm. be removed, no matter

> what, because the likelihood of it going away on its own is remote. It's also

> possible that the cyst may increase in size as time goes on, and become more

> symptomatic for you.

>

> Is your doctor suggesting you watch and wait with this baseball-sized cyst?

> I think it's time to unleash some of that crankiness and do get a second

> opinion!

>

> -Roma

>

>