Worried
About Ovarian Cancer After a Cyst? What Are Your Next Steps?
When you have abdominal pain, and an ultrasound reveals you have an ovarian cyst, you’re undoubtedly worried about what this means. Does this mean you’re at risk for ovarian cancer or another form of cancer? What should you do next? In this article, we’ll walk you through what an ovarian cyst means, the types of cysts that can be risky, and what you can do next.
What is an Ovarian Cyst?
During the reproductive cycle, small cysts can develop on the ovaries as a result of ovulation. These cysts are small fluid-filled sacs and are often a normal part of reproduction as the ovaries produce hormones such as estrogen and progesterone during the reproductive cycle or to support a pregnancy.Most ovarian cysts are normal and go away on their own without any treatment. But there are a few types of cysts that can develop into ovarian cancer. If your doctor recently diagnosed you with an ovarian cyst, it’s a good idea to understand what types of cysts may increase your risk for ovarian cancer.
Types of Ovarian Cysts
- Functional Ovarian Cysts:
- Functional cysts are benign cysts that form on the ovary as a part of the reproductive cycle and resolve without treatment. These cysts are often symptomless and aren’t typically cancerous. You may not even know you have one until a doctor finds it during a routine pelvic exam.
- Pathological Ovarian Cyst:
- When an ovarian cyst forms as a part of abnormal or excessive cell growth, this is called a pathological cyst. Pathological cysts can be cancerous, which means they can sometimes lead to ovarian cancer. If you’ve gone through menopause, you have a higher chance of developing a pathological cyst. Medical conditions like endometriosis can also cause pathological cysts.
Ovarian cancer happens when cells in or on the ovaries grow uncontrollably into a tumor. An ovarian epithelial tumor is the most common form of ovarian cancer, and it forms in the cells on the surface of the ovaries. Ovarian cancer cells can spread to surrounding tissue and other organs in the body.
What Can You Do?
If you’re concerned about ovarian cysts or at higher risk for ovarian cancer, you can watch for symptoms. Ovarian cyst symptoms include:
- Pelvic pain, including a dull or sharp ache in your lower abdomen over the ovary,
- Bloating,
- Fullness or heaviness in your abdomen,
- Abnormal bleeding.
If you have any of these symptoms, you should see your doctor as soon as possible. You should also ensure that you see your doctor for routine pelvic exams and cancer screening regularly.If you or someone you love is facing ovarian cancer that you believe was caused by asbestos or product use like talcum powder, we may be able to help. Give the Madeksho Law Firm a call at 1-888-910-6376 or contact us through our online form. There is never a cost to talk with a lawyer, and you won’t pay a dime unless we recover compensation on your behalf.
