MedicineNet.com

I had ovarian cancer eight years ago and had a hysterectomy, appendectomy, and omentumectomy, followed by chemotherapy. My initial symptoms were very strange, firstly with altered taste and smell. I was uanable to eat because everything tasted so vile and altered. I lost 8 stone and slowly deteriorated over several weeks. I ended up practically bedridden by weakness. Many tests for stomach bugs were all futile. I eventually got so weak I told my GP I thought I was dying. He palpated my abdomen and found a large mass. Within two weeks, I was in the hospital and feeling much better. The cancer was encapsulated in a very large football-size cyst, which was removed successfully. Six months of chemo followed, with regular nonevasive check-ups. It is all just a memory now.

I had severe lower back pain, nausea, tiredness and bleeding after many years of not having a period. I went to the gyno and she did a pap smear and some other tests. Everything came back normal. I went to my doctor, and he performed a pelvic MRI, which found the mass on my ovary. I went back to my gyno, and she ordered an ultrasound. Within three weeks of that, I went to see an oncologist. It is important to have a team of doctors helping you. If you know something is wrong with your body, pursue it with a vengeance. I have had the full ovarian cancer surgery and continue to be examined every three months.

I am 33 and was recently diagnosed with ovarian cancer. My symptoms were: sharp painful sides, weight gain, and what I thought was a urine infection. I felt as if I needed to pee a lot but then always felt as if I hadn't gone. In my later stages, my symptoms were: kidney infections, back aches, and 4.5 pounds of weight gain by the time my operation had taken place. Inside my left ovary was a small, grade 1 tumor. After they removed it, I had six months of chemo and a 90% chance of survival. The odds are good that this will not come back. I can still go on to have children.

I felt some pain in my right upper rib cage when I breathed deeply. My doctor's x-ray showed fluid in the lung cavity and I was referred to my oncologist. I have had breast cancer in both my breasts and had mastectomies 7 years apart, but they were both stage zero. He wanted to be sure it wasn't breast cancer and it wasn't. It took 2 1/2 months to correctly diagnose ovarian cancer after all kinds of scans and tests. I finished chemotherapy 3 1/2 months ago, but my doctor told me today that my CA-125 test has risen from a low of 7, then 12, then 20, and today 42. I will add that I had the BRCA1 test and result was negative.

I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at the age of 24. The symptoms I experienced were occasional pains in the top of my thighs, and abdominal cramps that I attributed to an intestinal virus. Lastly, looking and feeling bloated, and my clothes were tight. I looked pregnant! After I was promoted at work, I had to have a routine physical where the doctor who examined me discovered my abdominal cyst, he advised me to go to my ob/gyn and get an ultrasound. The ultrasound showed a mass which had to be removed but we did not have the technology we have today - nobody even thought of cancer. As a result, I had stage 2 ovarian cancer, so I had a complete abdominal hysterectomy, followed by 9 months of chemo, then a 2nd look laparotomy 10 months later. I have been blessed with good health and a great family. I got married to a wonderful guy and in 1996 I became a mom when we adopted a baby! I'm still here!

I have experienced mild to moderate consistent pericardial effusion (pericarditis) which is chest pressure with chest and upper back burning pain with dry cough and nausea and diarrhea and pressure that goes up and down depending on how much pain and chest pressure I have that day, and shortness of breath. Legs and feet hurt and I am fatigued. I have gradually and slowly become more ill over time with the body constantly struggling to adjust to the increase in symptoms. Now, it hurts to digest food. And, I like to eat so now it has gotten serious for me. I became ill on October 14, 2004. Doctors have told me the following: you have stress, depression, anxiety, persistent mild to moderate pericardial effusion, fibromyalgia, menopause, cervical stenosis. It is all in your mind perhaps this medication can help. A doctor finally gave me an MRI on July, 2008. Guess what was found? No one was willing to check me for cancer. Why? They checked me for MS, infections, heart problems, arthritis, lupus, psychological problems, respiratory problems, etc. but refused to check me for cancer.