If it wasn't for that, I would have probably ignored the other symptoms of bloating and stomach pain. The fact that the tumour was so big meant it put a lot of pressure on my bladder and I had to go to the toilet more – that saved me. The surgery had been a success, to the point that I didn’t require chemotherapy. Thankfully, at a follow up appointment a few weeks later I found out that I was cancer free. I'd never heard of ovarian cancer before, and I wasn't aware of any of the symptoms. Stage 1A clear cell carcinoma of my right ovary arising within endometriosis. It was then that I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Just after my 33rd birthday, I awoke from surgery and asked the nurse if they had had to remove my lymph nodes. If it was cancerous, they would also remove my appendix, omentum and lymph nodes during the operation. They explained that confirmation would happen once the cyst had been removed and tested. I had a CA125 of 1788 (healthy women’s CA125 is between 0-35) but they still weren't able to confirm if it was cancer or not. As a healthy 32-year-old you imagine a gynaecologist telling you you might be pregnant – not that you might have cancer.Īfter about a month I met with a surgeon that explained to me that surgery was necessary to remove the cyst and my left ovary. They did a CA125 blood test and told me someone would be in touch to share the results once a multidisciplinary team had analysed my notes and decided what would be the best course for me. At that stage they couldn’t tell me if it was benign or cancerous. There the doctor explained that I had a cyst on my left ovary the size of a grapefruit – my ‘tennis ball’ – approximately 11cm in diameter with a solid component in the middle. Waiting for confirmationĭespite the urgency it was still a struggle to get an appointment, but three weeks later I was at the hospital. I started to face the possibility of having cancer. She could only tell me they had found a cyst.Īfter a search on the internet, I understood what a two-week referral could mean. Unfortunately, that person on the phone wasn't allowed to explain the results of the ultrasound. They made it clear that these tests needed to be done within two weeks. My ultrasound appointment was at the end of March, and they called me the next day to say I needed to do more tests as there was an anomaly. I could still feel the ‘tennis ball’ as I referred to it, and I just knew I wasn't feeling ok.ĭuring that appointment in February, the doctor felt my stomach and referred me for an internal and external ultrasound as she couldn't tell if the problem in the pelvic area was related to my bowel or my uterus and ovaries. It was then that I asked for a face-to-face appointment – until that point I had been using an online medical service. As I was constipated, the doctor then prescribed laxatives which still didn't help and the need to wee more returned. It started to feel like there was a tennis ball sized object on the left-hand side of my pelvic area and I began to get more concerned. I went to the doctor in January 2022 and I was treated for a UTI, but it didn’t relieve any symptoms (which now included bloating and stomach pain) and left me with difficulty going to the toilet. However, once I got back to the UK in January it started again, to the point where it became unbearable and that was when I decided to seek medical attention. I went home to Italy for Christmas and the urge of needing to go to the toilet seemed to ease. Other than that, I felt well so didn't think too much about it. Initially I thought it was due to anxiety or excitement as I was hoping to change jobs at the time. In November 2021 I started experiencing the need to go to the toilet a bit more. I played football regularly and cycled to work every day, so I considered myself quite healthy. Fundraise for Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.Donate during Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.How are cancer drugs approved across the UK?.Talking about ovarian cancer facts while campaigning.Influence your Integrated Care Board (England only).Campaigning on ovarian cancer across the UK.Engage with your elected representatives.Campaign by raising awareness of ovarian cancer.Common questions about ovarian cancer and diet.What does a positive result mean for my family?.Epidermoid cyst.Donate Menu Search for something Submit search query Search Puberty is a major factor in pilonidal sinus disease: Gender-specific investigations of case number development in Germany from 2007 until 2015. Acne-like breakouts could be folliculitis.You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations.
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