Ovarian Cyst Misdiagnosed: It Was a Cancerous Cyst

Janet Delaney was told that her abdominal pain and swelling was caused by irritable bowl syndrome. Three emergency room visits later, the verdict was still the same. But when her stomach became as large as a woman in her ninth month of pregnancy, she demanded an ultrasound. It was then that Janet was diagnosed with a cancerous ovarian cyst.

When Janet was at her largest, people were asking when her baby was due. Men were giving up their seats on the bus for her. Little did they know that Janet had been sterilized thirteen years earlier. Ironically, the only clothing Janet could fit in to were maternity clothes.

“I knew something was seriously wrong,” said Janet. Indeed, she knew her own body and continued to look for an answer. When Janet was finally approved for an ultrasound, the news of her cyst was shocking.

Janet underwent a five hour surgery to have the cyst removed. The cyst weighed 17 pounds and required two surgeons to lift it out of her body. Tests found the cyst to be borderline cancerous. Now Janet has to have blood tests every six months to be sure she does not have cancer. Fortunately, these tests have all come back negative since her surgery.

Ovarian cancer is often called the “silent killer” because it is often found after the cancer has spread throughout a woman’s body. Early detection is the key to a better survival rate.

Common Ovarian Cancer Symptoms Include:

• Pelvic pain or discomfort.
• Frequent or urgent urination.
• Bloating, swelling or pressure in the abdomen.
• Pain during intercourse.
• Lower back pain.
• Feelings of fullness or lack of appetite.
• Constant nausea, gas or indigestion.
• Lack of energy.

If you have any of these symptoms, it is best to talk to your doctor. Early detection is an important factor for an improved survival rate when it comes to uterine cancer.