Ovarian Cancer Symptoms

[misawa47]

Hi,
This is my first post. I have symptoms that may correlate with ovarian cancer. For the past 2 months, I have had pain in my abdomen, almost a nauseous feeling where I have to lay down to allow it to subside. I have had to leave work due to the pain. It doesn't come everyday; but probably every 2 or 3 days and lasts about 2 hours. Yesterday, I was feeling my stomach while laying down and felt a lump below my belly button across from my left hip bone. I cannot feel it on the right side. I had an examination in July and nothing was noted out of the ordinary. Can a person feel their ovary? I am 47 years old and have not gone through menopause. I am still having regular monthly cycles; however, last month, it had some extremely heavy bleeding that yielded a great deal of clots and blood in a 5 minute period on the toilet. At the time I had a super duper tampon in and a pad and it leaked through all that in a period of 2 hours. I was scared but thought maybe it is a sign that I am going through menopause.

My mother and older sister have both had ovarian cancer so I just started thinking lately that what if?

I'm too embarrassed to visit my doctor as I am currently being seen for calcifications on my left breast and I don't want to look like a hypochondriac (sp?).

Any suggestions?

[withe]

Make an appointment with a gyn today !

[jlock]

Don't worry about being thought of as a hyperchondriac!!!!  I would go see your Gyn and ask for a ct scan or ultrasound.  As I read your list of complaints..you do have some symptoms but not alot..and I found that when I was in pain..it was constant and everyday it seemed a new symptom would pop up.  Because of your family history I would be all over the Dr and ask him to rule out ovca.Good luck~~~Joanne

[nyc lady]

I don't believe that the symptoms would come and go.  The things that you are experiencing could be "perimenopausal".  But, to alleviate your fears and with your family history you should be seen by a gyn and address all of your concerns.  
please see a GYN and let us know the outcome.
Best of luck,
Pam

[cirella]

I agree...you should see your gyn.  You may be starting to go into menopause.  I experienced the bleeding/clots, too.

[marie3B]

You must keep a close watch on your health.  Because of your family history never worry about being seen as a hypochondriac.  You are not.  Any doc that makes you feel that way is not the doc for you.  Get a good gyn exam and get a referral to a gyn/onc to discuss your family history.  You are probably just fine, but it is sure better to be cautious.  I hope you feel better soon and that all turns out to be okay.  Marie

[misawa47]

Hi,
After reading the posts about Donna (I was in tears), I got up the nerve to call for an appt. I got in this afternoon at 2:00. My primary care doctor did feel the knot. It is not round but oblong and pretty big. She was also concerned about my last cycle. She said if I was going through menopause, my bleeding would be lighter and irregular not heavier. She scheduled me for a transvaginal (sp?) ultrasound for 20 Oct and had lab work done today. She said if the ultrasound proves negative, she would do a ct scan and continue to investigate until she gets an answer.

I am sure it is probably nothing, but with my mother and sister having ovarian cancer, I just want to rule it out. I am glad I have a doctor that is on the ball. I'll keep you posted. Thanks for all the support for those who responded to me.  I don't have any family here I can talk to except my husband and he doesn't like to talk about this stuff. My friends are all Japanese and the translation doesn't come through so having ladies like you is really comforting.
Thanks!