Is 33 too young to worry about ovarian cancer?

jicardi · New User Joined: 07 Nov 2006 Posts: 3

Hello. This is my first post. I didn't know such a place existed. Smile

I have been doing a bit of research online concerning possible causes for the symptoms I have been experiencing. They are eerily similar to that of ovarian or uterine cancer. All of the articles I read suggest that I am too young; that it mainly affects women in their 40's and older. I am 33 years old, have never been pregnant and don't go the doctor regularly.

For the past 5 months my abdomen has become more and more distended/bloated. I feel like I am full all the time and I can't stand any pressure on my belly. Needless to say my appetite has decreased. I don't have any "severe" pain but more of a constant dull ache that seems to go right through to my lower back at times. At the same time my menstrual cycles became irregular and I have a bit of pelvic discomfort that I've chalked off to menstrual cramping. I had 2 periods per month for 3 months in a row. I wasn't alarmed by the irregularity because I had some job stress at the time. For the past two months now I have been bleeding continously, first having a heavy 3-5 day period with clotting. This is followed by light spotting (which is very dark like a brownish-black color) then back to heavier bright red bleeding. Confused

Sorry for the graphic description.

Recently, within the past month, I started having bouts of diarrhea and constipation. This is more of a nuisance than anything and isn't daily. On occasion when I urinate my bladder hurts and I have trouble releasing it. There is no burning or change in frequency to suggest a UTI. Overall, I feel quite lethargic and drained of energy.

I went to my primary care doctor and explained everything to her, focusing mainly on the weight gain (I am a bit chubby Laughing

), discomfort and the abnormal bleeding. She ordered blood work and a urine specimen checking my thyroid, and wanted to see if I was anemic. Everything else she said could be related to my type II diabetes which was dx this past March.

My bloodwork came back indicating good thyroid function, no anemia, my 3 month blood sugars looked fine and I don't have a UTI. I am left to assume that the abnormal bleeding isn't a problem as long as I don't become anemic. She prescribed a drug called Phentermine and said it would give me more energy and help me lose the weight in my abdomen. There was no mention of any follow up testing.

It's been a week and I called her office today and told her nurse that I am still spotting and don't feel any better despite the medication she prescribed.

My gynecological history is the following:
When I was 19 I had undiagnosed PID which resulted in having one of my ovaries and both fallopian tubes removed. When I went under anesthesia it was for a laporoscopy to remove what they said was an ovarian cyst. I woke up minus my ovary and tubes. Crying or Very sad

At 25 I had a cone biopsy for severe dysplasia. They said it wasn't cancerous and the dysplastic cells were all self-contained. He was able to get it all in the dissection. I had one F/U visit after that and was told everything was fine.

Question

I would like to know if there are other women here that have experienced the same symptoms in their early 30's like me? I am going to make an appointment with a gynecologist if my primary doctor doesn't. I just don't want to worry in the meantime that there is a cancer risk.

Robinflamingo · Regular Joined: 10 Sep 2006 Posts: 25 Location: Michigan

Please go to a gynecologist and tell them exactly what you told us. Soon. Even though I'm 50, my "non symptoms" were so much like yours, including the recently diagnosed Type II diabetes, that it's eerie. Whenever there is unexplained bloating of the abdomen, it is far better to have it checked by a GYN than to worry. I had an odd gynecological history as well, childless, PID, overweight...please have this checked out soon. Your age is meaningless. "Too young" and "too old" are what combines to create an average age.

Please post here, or send a private message after you've been to another doctor.

Sincerely,
Robin K.
_________________
Forget regret - or life is yours to miss. -Rent

eternallove5 · New User Joined: 16 Jan 2007 Posts: 2

i don't know if you found out what the outcome of all your symtoms are but 33 is not too young to be worried about ovarian cancer. my sister is only 27 and just found out that she has stage 4 ovarian,colon cancer. it totally snuck up on her. she's a really healthy young woman and we never thought anything like this could happen to her. so please...if you haven't already...get checked.

derbyslove · New User Joined: 27 Jan 2007 Posts: 1

I would say not. My sister was 24 when we found ut that she had ovarian cancer (stage 4) they gave her a total hysterectomy. That was to do the job. She has never had kids. Well, anyway 2 1/2 years later the cancer comes back. She was in the hospital for about 3 months they had to take out 6 inches of her intestines and 6 inches of her colon. Well, less than a year later she back in the hospital for another operation. I am her only sister and I am the only one that was able to have kids. Does anybody out there understand what it is like to be the oldest daughter with kids and a healthy life when your younger sister is so sick? Sometimes I feel so guilty.

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