An update on the friend I took to the emergency room:

[Are_grits_groceries]

This is the original story if you missed it:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022344938

She has been having tests run and she then went to an oncologist. This was NOT done here.
She is having exploratory surgery and a hysterectomy Wednesday the 27th.
The doctors were not pleased that it took forever for any tests to be run.

It's basically a case of taking the cyst out and if it is cancerous, anything else they can. I think there's more that I haven't been told. She is hoping for the best I think and hopes it will be okay.

Me? I think this is a very, very bad situation. I don't think I'm going to like what they find out.

Send her prayers and good thoughts.

...sigh...

[NYC_SKP]

1. Sending prayers and good thoughts...

Thank you for helping her.

[RKP5637]

2. Thanks for the update! Sending good vibes!

[elfin]

3. Hoping for the best for her and you

The women I have known with ovarian cancer (2) had very few symptoms other than feeling bloated and generally unwell.

The women I have known with serious benign ovarian cysts on the point of rupture (2 also) were in a great deal of pain as you reported your friend to be.

Could just be a nasty cyst that looks questionable on Xrays, hence the referral to onc. Keep us updated. We care.

[catbyte]

4. I am sending along my thoughts and here is a virtual hug. I know how scary this is. I had cysts

in both ovaries along with severe endometriosis/adenomyosis until I finally had everything taken out 8 years ago. The hot flashes are still murder, but getting rid of the pain and anxiety makes them tolerable. Please pass along my best wishes to your friend.



Diane

[Waltons_Mtn]

5. I hope everything turns out....

Positive thoughts....Positive thoughts....Positive thoughts....Positive thoughts....Positive thoughts....Positive thoughts....

and more if you need them!

[woodsprite]

6. Sending healing thought and prayers your friend's way!

My friend had a ruptured ovarian cyst that had presented with all the signs of acute appendicitis. She ended up in the hospital for 3 days and had to have her one ovary removed. Also, depending on where it is located, it can cause chest pain and pain between the shoulder blades.

I hope that's all it is and your friend is on the mend soon.

When I was diagnosed with endometrial cancer, other than an intermittent bleeding issue I really didn't have any pain. My ob/gyn said it would have been very unusual to have pain associated with a cancer diagnosis of the 'lady parts'. He also said that if I had pain, he would have started looking at other things that could have been wrong before running the biopsy.

[Rider3]

7. Thoughts & prayers

are with you both.

[riderinthestorm]

8. Oh no! So sorry to hear this. Keep us posted.

[thucythucy]

9. Best wishes and prayers

for you and your friend.

[Are_grits_groceries]

12. If she was just having a hysterectomy or

just some types of surgery, they can sometimes just make small incisions to work through using modern techniques and devices. In this case, they will have to make a large incision to take out some things and, if necessary, other parts may come out if they are cancerous.

[spooky3]

14. Thanks for the update and for being a good friend to her.

Please give her our best.

[gademocrat7]

15. Sending you both good thoughts and prayers.

Take care.

[Are_grits_groceries]

16. Well, sleep is now optional.

So is getting out of bed.
Fighting the Black Dog that has crept up.

[distantearlywarning]

17. I was diagnosed with a large, benign ovarian cyst several years ago.

I had to have the ovary removed, because as your friend likely found out, when they get big enough they can sometimes twist and cause serious (read: deadly) problems.

At one point prior to the surgery I asked about the possibility of cancer, and the surgeon told me that ovarian cancer tends to be deadly well before the tumor would get to the size of the one I had. I think his words were something like, "if that tumor was cancerous, you'd already be dead".

To make a long story short, my point is that if she had a tumor big enough to be causing ovarian torsion, etc., that might actually be "good news" in terms of it being malignant. As someone said upthread, paradoxically, malignant ovarian tumors often seem to be less symptomatic than the big benign ones, at least in the beginning.

[wandy]

18. Sending good thoughts. Don't be too hard on you're self....

If the only thing you can do is be the friend you always were, then remember, that is why that person befriended you.
Take a few moments each day to do something nice for you're self.
It will keep up you're strength. You may need it.
Hoping that is not the case.
Stay well.

[retrogal]

19. Thanks for the update...

Hoping the next update will be better news. My thoughts and prayers are with your friend and you.

[Fla Dem]

20. Sending good wishes. Had similar experience, severe abdominal pain caused by ovarian cyst.

The cyst itself hadn't caused any pain, didn't even know I had a cyst. What cause the excruciating pain, such as you described, was the cyst evidently pushed down on the fallopian tube causing it to twist. The pain was sudden, severe, and unrelenting until I got some pain meds. Eventually had to have the ovary and tube removed along with the cyst. Non-cancerous. I hope your friend fares as well.