Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with GoogleGet your health question answered instantly from our pool of 18000+ doctors from over 80 specialties
Is Hysterectomy Required For Tumors In Uterus, Cyst On Ovary, Heavy Periods With Lots Of Clots ?
I AM 46 YEARS OLD, HAVE 3 CHILDREN AND HAVE HAD A TUBAL. I WAS DIAGNOSED BY A TRANSVAGINAL ULTRASOUND WITH TUMORS IN MY UTERUS AND A CYST ON MY OVARY, THEY COULDNT SEE THE OTHER OVARY DURING THE ULTRASOUND. I HAVE HAD LEVEL 2 MODERATE DYSPLASIA REMOVED FROM MY CERVIX AND HAVE HEAVY PERIODS WITH LOTS OF CLOTTING AND IRREGULARITY WITH SOME LASTING WEEKS. IM LOOKING FOR A GOOD GYN WHO CAN TELL ME IF I NEED A HYSTERECTOMY OR OTHER PROCEDURES. I WENT TO ONE LAST MONTH WHO DID NOT SEEM LIKE HE KNEW WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT. HE WANTED TO GIVE ME A SCRIPT FOR THE HEAVY BLEEDING AND WHEN I SAID I WAS MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE UTERINE TUMORS AND ASKED IF THERE WAS A WAY TO TELL IF THEY MIGHT BE CANCEROUS HE SAID NO ITS JUST A CHANCE YOU TAKE, THAT MOST WERENT CANCEROUS. I HAVE SEEN HORROR STORIES ABOUT HYSTERECTOMYS AND REALLY DONT WANT ONE UNLESS I NEED IT. IS THERE A WAY TO TEST TO SEE IF THE TUMORS AND CYSTS ARE BENIGN? OR A SURE WAY TO KNOW IF I NEED SURGERY? I AM A SINGLE MOM AND CANNOT REALLY AFFORD TO MISS 6 TO 8 WEEKS OF WORK IF IT ISNT NECESSARY. BUT I DON T WANT TO WAIT AND FIND OUT ITS CANCER EITHER. PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU
Sat, 29 Mar 2014
Hello and welcome to HCM,
I am Dr Nilajkumar a consultant gynecologist and I will be helping you in your queries.
Please calm down.
I understand your concern. Uterine and ovarian tumors are very common and most of them are non cancerous. There are some tests to detect if they are cancerous or not but none are 100% perfect. The only way to know with guarantee is examination of the hysterectomy specimen.
Not all hysterectomies are done for cancer. Certain other conditions like fibroids, dysfunctional bleeding [where no cause is found] are also other indications for hysterectomy. So please do not think that a hysterectomy is for cancer only.
it would help to know a complete ultrasound report to provide a better opinion. However it seems that most likely you have uterine fibroids. If they are causing bleeding then different procedures are available for treatment depending upon their size location, desire to keep the uterus and so on. Hysterectomy is one of them. Rarely fibroids may be malignant and may have an associated endometrial cancer. Hence in my setup, I follow a protocol of doing an endometrial biopsy in every women posted for hysterectomy to rule out underlying cancer. It is not possible to biopsy a fibroid.
It would also help to know the details of ovarian cyst. If they are small, most likely non cancerous. Certain blood tests are useful to detect ovarian cancer like CA 125, AFP, LDH, Beta HCG. You may get them done after consulting your gynecologist.
If you are not comfortable with your doctor see another one and discuss everything before you opt for a surgery for best results.
I understand that you are stressed. But do not worry. Hysterectomies are safe if done by skilled people.
Wish you all good health.
Hope this was helpful.
Feel free to ask any further queries and I will be happy to help.
Thanks for using HCM.
Have a good day.
Dr Nilajkumar Bagde
Consultant Obstetrics and Gynecology
I am Dr Nilajkumar a consultant gynecologist and I will be helping you in your queries.
Please calm down.
I understand your concern. Uterine and ovarian tumors are very common and most of them are non cancerous. There are some tests to detect if they are cancerous or not but none are 100% perfect. The only way to know with guarantee is examination of the hysterectomy specimen.
Not all hysterectomies are done for cancer. Certain other conditions like fibroids, dysfunctional bleeding [where no cause is found] are also other indications for hysterectomy. So please do not think that a hysterectomy is for cancer only.
it would help to know a complete ultrasound report to provide a better opinion. However it seems that most likely you have uterine fibroids. If they are causing bleeding then different procedures are available for treatment depending upon their size location, desire to keep the uterus and so on. Hysterectomy is one of them. Rarely fibroids may be malignant and may have an associated endometrial cancer. Hence in my setup, I follow a protocol of doing an endometrial biopsy in every women posted for hysterectomy to rule out underlying cancer. It is not possible to biopsy a fibroid.
It would also help to know the details of ovarian cyst. If they are small, most likely non cancerous. Certain blood tests are useful to detect ovarian cancer like CA 125, AFP, LDH, Beta HCG. You may get them done after consulting your gynecologist.
If you are not comfortable with your doctor see another one and discuss everything before you opt for a surgery for best results.
I understand that you are stressed. But do not worry. Hysterectomies are safe if done by skilled people.
Wish you all good health.
Hope this was helpful.
Feel free to ask any further queries and I will be happy to help.
Thanks for using HCM.
Have a good day.
Dr Nilajkumar Bagde
Consultant Obstetrics and Gynecology
I find this answer helpful
1 user finds this helpful
Note: Revert back with your gynae reports to get a clear medical analysis by our expert Gynecologic Oncologist. Click here.
Disclaimer: These answers are for your information only and not intended to replace your relationship with your treating physician.
This is a short, free answer.
For a more detailed, immediate answer, try our premium service
[Sample answer]
Related questions you may be interested in
Recent questions on Cervix
Loading Online Doctors....