dermoid cysts

Well ladies, I am back. I previously posted in this forum a few months back. For a quick recap...since 2001 I have had 8-9 Dermoids. That brought me a total of 3 laprascopic surgeries and 1 c-section, also. The last time I was struggling with my 3rd surgery and was considering just going for an elective oopherectomy. Well....here I am a bit over 4 months since surgery. I elected to be conservative and only had the dermoids removed. Ovaries were spared and the surgery was actually, by far, my easiest. I was convinced that the third time was a charm and that I was done with dermoids....forever. Have any of you every heard of denial....becuase that is all it was!!!!!! Well, a few weeks back I had an abdominal CT for unrelated reasons and guess what they found....another freaking dermoid!!!!!!!! My doctor, bless her heart, assures me that she got everything last time (as obviously if a piece is missed they will continue to grow). I have 100% faith in her and I know that she got everything!!! But here I am facing another surgery! What to do what to do? I want answers that no one can give me and I am just so overwhelmed. I know that we are done having kids and had my tubes tied at my daughters birth 21 months ago. I cannot keep having surgery but do not like the prospect of menopause at 28. I am fearful of cancer and even though it is unlikely, it seems logical to think that chances increase with every abnormal growth! I truly wish all of you luck with your situations and I appreciate you all listening. I really feel like you guys get what I am going through and there really aren't too many of us freaks (no offense) out there, so we gotta stick together! Thanks again!

bumble:
I was just feeling like I was the only person in the world going through this, and then I see your post....I am 35, I have had 5 dermoid removed (3 laporatomy, 1 laproscopy) and I currently have 2 more...I have extensive scar tissue, about 3/4 of one ovary, 1/4 of the other...I have one dd, through IVF....the difference from me to you is that I want more children, we have had 3 IVF attempts since my dd and I have had 1 m/c (empty sac) prob due to damaged ovaries....my dr (OB/GYN oncologist) wants to remove ovaries but I am devastated because even though there is like no chances that I could get pg naturally I still don't want to lose my ovary, for a few reasons...I don't want to go through menopause, it scares me cause I don't want hormones cause of cancer risks...I have alot of cancer in my family and even though I know if won't happen I feel like it would be closing a door that I don't want shut just yet...I am having a real HARD time with this and I feel bad for you because you are only 28, farther away from menopause that I am...I feel like no one understands what this is like...the dr wants to do a laporotomy (like c-section) again cause he doesn't feel like he could do it laproscopy again, so theres the whole awful recovery again, and I don't want to be laid up for my dd's sake...I feel like I can't keep having these surgeries time and time again, enough is enough, but its all so final...I hope you are willing to correspond with me, I need some support and I would be willing to help also...

Hello Bella....
Thank you for your reply and I am sorry to hear that you are in a similar boat! I am even more sorry to hear that you are still hoping for more children and going thru all of this. I can't say as though I don't want more, but I had a ton of pregnancy complications and there are heart risks to any baby I carry due to antibodies that I have, so we made the decision not to have any more. I couldn't take the risk at the babies expense or to be on bedrest thru the whole pregnancy with a toddler at home. I tell people that I am glad that I had my tubes tied because I would have tried for more and really hated myself if there were any problems.....anyways, that's a whole different book. Since I posted a few days ago, I have had a repeat ultrasound which showed that I actually have 2 - 1 on each side. My regular obgyn is consulting with an oncologist because, her words "they can't keep hacking at my ovaries bit by bit". I know what she means and I don't know exactly where her mind is right now. She is going to call me again next week after she gets some other info.
As for your situation (I guess our situation, so nice to find you), I have all of the same concerns. I guess that I secretly hoped that I would get pregnant despite having my tubes tied....I've seen it happen quite a bit, and I guess I kinda hoped it was my loop-hole....more children without trying. In that scenario, it would be a miracle and just meant to be, I suppose. I, too, just feel like it is so final! I am very wishy washy on what is the best choice! I, too, am terrified of the hormones. I have great-aunts with breast ca on both sides, so that scares me too. I wonder why your Dr wants to do a laparotomy....how large are the dermoids now? All of mine have been laparascopic (thank God) and my 1st one weighed over 5 pounds. Have you consulted other docs? I have seen two, as a result of insurance change, but LOVE my current. I have talked to my endocrinologist, who offered no insight and also an oncologist that I work with (I am a nurse). I asked him to tell me what he knew about recurrent dermoids and he said "there is no such thing". After explaining my situation, I asked him two questions.....would they keep coming back and does it increase the probablity that one will be cancerous. He said that they few cases he heard of....they continued to recur and recur....and that he had never heard of the chance of cancer increasing.....but then again, at first he said they don't recur! I wish that I had more info and insight for you. I would love to keep in touch and share info. Good luck and please keep me posted.