Is there a link between PCOS/Endo and Cancer????

Liznz · 02-04-2005, 08:36 PM

Hiya,

Reason I ask...is that late last year my mum was diagnosed with Terminal Ovarian Cancer. This is also (so I found out from Dad) what my nana (Dad's Mum) died of 3 years ago...

And right now, I'm starting to freak out just a little....ok...maybe a LOT!!

I have Endometriosis, and PCOS and now I'm starting to think that OMG I'm gonna get to 50ish...and I'm gonna die of Ovarian Cancer.

I have got some info from the Wellington Cancer Society, and they have been fantastic. I've tried looking on the internet, but am getting horribly sidetracked in all the other information that is out there.

I've know Mum has Cancer for about 2 1/2 months now. But I guess its just right at the moment, that its starting to sink in other things...as in hereditry??

I guess I'm just finding this whole thing incredibly hard right now...My mum and the rest of my family are up in Auckland...and so getting up there to see either her, or family is hard.

I think this is all starting to affect me a lot more than what I realised. I feel completely demotivated at the moment, and totally blech!!

Anyways, this post wasn't really about PCOS...but is something I really needed to get out.

Liz

Serene Tamborine Mummy · 02-04-2005, 09:30 PM

Liz, I hope things go well with your Mum and you get to see her and your family soon.
As for the Endo cancer question. When I was first diagnosed with PCOS, my doctor said that Endometrial cancer was one of the 'side effects' later in life, but only because of the lining of your uterous not shedding if you don't have a period. She said that I would probably have to stay on the pill until Menopause just to make sure that I got a period to reduce the risks of Endometrial cancer. From what I can work out, we are at no greater risk than anyone else so long as we 'shed' every now and then. I hope this helps.
Donna.

Jashobeam · 02-05-2005, 12:42 PM

I heard the same thing. That if you have at least 8 or so AF a year, you are less likly to get those types of cancer.

Am I wrong, but isn't there a test for the virus that causes those cancers? Maybe it was just cervical cancer being caused by a virus, I don't remember. One lady I know has the virus that causes some kind of cancer like that, but she doesn't have cancer. They check her regularly.

Serena · 02-06-2005, 12:20 AM

Hi Liz,
Pretty much, I agree with what's already been said. I know when I was lucky enough to become pregnant and therefore stopped going to the ovulation induction clinic, the professor in charge said to me that once I had the baby, I must make sure that I have a regular bleed so that the lining of the uterus is shed regularly. Later on I had another pregnancy and the same hting happened. A couple of years later I was asked to attend a seminar at Monash Uni (I'm in Melbourne) for women with PCOS and Endo, and again this was highly stressed.

I know it's seems difficult and you're scared, but in many ways you're lucky because so much is known about PCOS these days. (I'd been to docs and specialists since I was 16, and many of them, including Victoria's top endocrine specialist at the time, told me my problems were psychosomatic, that is, in my head! When I was 27 I was finally diagnosed, and in the last few years I found out just how common PCOS is!) There are many ways to regulate and control the different problems. I hope you find yourself a good doctor and get everything under control.

All the best for your mum too.

Liznz · 02-06-2005, 06:20 AM

Hiya,
Just wanted to say thanks to you all for replying!!

Jashobeam - thanks for the idea about whether there is a test...I will check that out with the cancer society.

Guess right now, I'll just have to see how things go!

Thanks heaps for replying!

Liz

TG · 02-18-2005, 10:12 AM

Ok, now I'm starting to get a little concerned! I'm only 24 and I don't need this as well!

I have been on the pill for about 3 years or so - since 21yrs when all this PCOS stuff started getting diagnosed. At first, I think I got reasonably regular periods but they were fairly light. I then went through a very long patch of nothing at all each month, despite the pill. And about 8mths or so later, I started getting regular for 3 months, but incredibly painful and heavy......then they stopped for a good 6 months again, only to come back for a 3.5 week duration once - then gone again for another 4 months and this month I got a light/regular at the 'right' time.

I have only been on 2 types of BCP - changed when I got the 3.5 weeker. There is no way I would have had 8 'sheds' a year for at least the past 5 years. Does this mean I am at risk? My doc just says that sometimes the pill can 'lighten' periods (ie. down to nothing) and its normal - but given that it fluctuates so randomly I'm not so sure.

Serene Tamborine Mummy · 02-19-2005, 06:46 AM

TG - I wouldn't worry too much. Hopefully you will find a BCP that helps you to regulate your period a bit better eventually, but until then, at least you get AF every now and then. When a women is pregnant she doesn't shed her lining for nine months at least, and women who have lots of kids go through that every time. I am no expert, but I would say just so long as you are aware, of the risks. Worrying about them too much will only cause more problems - don't you love being female!
Donna.