Is irregular bleeding a sign of ovarian cancer risk?

Question

Hello doctor,

My grandmother had a big goiter that she did not get removed. Later, she got a large cyst on the ovary. I mean 17.6 pounds. When she removed it, she found out she had ovarian cancer. She removed it and is healthy today. Now I am terrified that this is hereditary. What do you think?

I am so scared for my mother. The doctor told my grandmother to remove the goiter a lot of times; it was huge, and she had hyperthyroidism. I have read somewhere that there might be a link between hyperthyroidism and ovarian cancer. I think that the body is trying to tell something when she got all this stuff.

My grandmother was smoking for almost 30 years before she got this, and was 55 when she was diagnosed. Do you think it is hereditary? She is the only one in the family with this type of cancer; no breast cancer has been known in the family.

My mother was on a check before a few days, but she is 44 and has irregular bleeding and has an appointment with a specialist next month. I am terrified. My grandmother had an early menopause, and the doctor thinks the same is going on with my mother. If she got the menopause from my mother, I think she can also get cancer? But it is very normal to get the menopause at the same age as your mother, isn't it?

My mother is 44 years old, has 4 kids, and has never tried a smoke. Do you think she is in danger? I also have OCD and terrifying thoughts all the time.

Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

First, it is perfectly normal if your grandmother had and now your mother is starting to have premenopausal irregular cycles at the age of 44; there is no harm in having menopause at this age, and studies have concluded that early menopause protects from breast and ovarian cancers.

Second, since your grandmother had ovarian cancer, here are a few questions.

1. What was the age of your grandmother when she was diagnosed?

2. What was the histological type and grade of the tumor?

3. Has she undergone screening for other cancers that are common in this age group?

4. And your complete family history with cancer history in family members.

5. The use of hormonal replacement therapy or other exogenous hormones.

The third thing is that being concerned (sometimes over-concerned) about the health of a family member should not be considered as OCD or any other disorder until and unless the thoughts make you sick.

One suggestion that I can give to you to relieve your anxiety is that you should take the advice of a medico if in doubt, rather than ruminating on thoughts of impending doom. And last, thyroid swelling can be tackled with a simple surgery, so convince your GM.

I hope this helps.

Kindly follow up if you have more concerns.

Thank you.