Imagine going threw puberty dealing with normaly body changes as well as growing a full beard. As I struggled with trying to figure out why I have a beard or why I have chest hair, my family just told me don't worry about it nothing is wrong. After years of asking questions and tearful research I find out that Ovarian Cancer runs in our family, and my aunt even has it. Knowing this my family never took me to a doctor. I had all the symptom of both Polycystic Ovaries and Ovarian cancer,(excessive hair, no longer getting periods, obesity etc). This cause my situation to get worse and now that Im old enuff I'm finally taking my health into my own hand. Why would my family let me search aimlessly for the answers they already know and put my health in jeopardy instead of just telling me what runs in the family. Now my self-esteem is s low cuz I have hair growing on my chest, breast and all over my face.Am I wrong for being angry at my family?
Cysts On My Ovaries? I'm to scared to go to the doctor cuz Ovarian Cancer runs in our family?
Calm down, take a deep breath. I am not going to tell you you are wrong for being angry at your family, but I am going to tell you they did not 'give' you this.
As for them 'knowing' are you sure? Are you 100% positive they KNEW that you had PCOS or cancer? I doubt they would have let you search for a cause instead of getting a cure for cancer, and as for PCOS, it wasn't really the first thought until the last 15 years or so.
Rather than worry about what they 'did' to you I would worry about getting a dx immediatly, especially since you have the cysts, acne, hirsutism and IR (obesity) that comes with PCOS.
It can be treated, it can be managed, and you can live a fairly normal life. From what you describe it sounds more like PCOS than cancer. Since you have done much research, as you state, I am not going to go into the other things it could be, it sounds like you might have ruled them out on your own
Follow the links below for one of my favorite PCOS forums. You are not alone!!!
Make and appt with your OB/GYN and take control. Forgive those in your family who may have wronged your through ignorance.
Reply:Yes, you have every right to be angry with your family, this is something you needed to know. But, now that you do know, you need to go to the doctor to be on the safe side. If it is ovarian cancer 9 time out of 10 they can get rid of it and you'll be fine. I may be dealing with the same issue myself except I don't have excessive hair. Please go to the doctor and take care of yourself.
Reply:NO, not wrong. But do not let this get the best of you! I know easier said than done. I too have cysts on my ovaries and it isn't the end of the world. Painful but really they burst and then go away. The cancer part, very scar but something you need to deal with. It is good you are taking your health into you own hands, after all it is your body. But no need to over react. This whole growing hair thing sounds like an imbalance of hormones and that can be fixed. Also if you are old enough to take care of yourself, then you can get a job and pay for laser hair removal. It is hard to understand shy some parents (care takers %26amp; family members) do what they do but fallow your heart and just except them for who they are. You will be just fine if you stay strong!
Reply:What you're describing is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), not Ovarian Cancer. Ovarian Cancer is fast-growing and almost always fatal and not at all related to PCOS.
Please visit your physician because while there is no cure for PCOS, there are many ways to treat and manage symptoms and health conditions associated with it. Read more here: http://www.4woman.gov/faq/pcos.htm
Your family sounds poorly informed about treatment for this condition and while it's sad, it appears that they have given you little information from ignorance, not from trying to be cruel. I think they probably wanted to spare you the knowledge that you might have problems with fertility and probably didn't want to discourage you about your future by explaining the conditions that you might face as you became older.
In no way am I saying this was right... but I know that even with diabetes, people (especially African-Americans living in rural communitites) just accept the fact that they will "have a little sugar" and they do not treat the disease. Amputation and blindness and kidney failure are just accepted as a fate for each of them. It is difficult to change the mindset of a family who has known generations of a condition or disorder.
It's okay to be angry... but be angry while you are receiving treatment. Show them (and all your siblings, cousins, neices etc) that you CAN receive treatment and that it will improve your life. Be strong. Someone has to be the first generation to challenge a condition like this. Let it be you. Let it start here and now.
Once you're empowered... once you've taken your power for your own health back... once you're on the right track with treatment... you'll begin to let go of your anger. And you must, because this is your family and they didn't keep anything from you with malice... they actually did it with love. They mistakenly thought they could somehow reduce your suffering by leaving you in the dark. Let them know it was painful and that you wish you'd been told. Tell them you're going to take care of it now. Tell them how you feel... but then forgive them for their ignorance on the subject.
For many years we had no idea how to treat this condition and it was just accepted. Unless your family is full of professionals in the field of treatment of reproductive disorders, chance are they just did not know.
You'll be fine. You'll take charge. You'll hug your mother and say "I know you were only doing what you thought was best for me and I love you for that."
Best to you...
Reply:First things first. Go to the doctor. I had female cancer and the sooner you go the higher likely hood you will survive.
Next, it also sounds like you have a hormone imbalance. Possibly too much testosterone??? If you want to take matters into your own hands, then do so, immediately. Besides these issues are ones that you shouldn't wait to go have taken care of.
Reply:Sorry for this anavoidable situation but remmember we can always dwell on the past and asking too many whys which will not revoke the current situation. Ialso have a problem of excessive hair growth but i find ways of dealing with it for if not it causes one to be very catious and sometimes have a low self esteem. you can try waxing or lotions to remove excessive hair but please visit a doctor for the cyct case for i believe you are a sweet person who is worth of living life to the fullest. Istrongly believe going to the doctor as early as now will save you alot of pain or doubts that you may be having. Also try to forgive the your family members for maybe they with held that inforamtion thinking that they are saving you from a lot of harm and worries not knowing that this will create issue in the future.You can also confront them and tell them how you feel about them for i usually think this helps alot in terms of therapy. Good luck in all your endevours
Reply:we are all scared of doctors, but if we follow that fear, that is when we end up really sick. you should really go, then if it is something and they catch it early enough, you'll be glad you went. especially if it runs in your family, go now!
Reply:How could your family not tell you about this? Yeh i think its perfectly normal to be angry and please get yourself to a doctor straight away!
Reply:Being angry is normal. especially when you feel that your family didnt tell you the truth or show genuine concern. I know the feeling, my mom was a nurse for 18 years and when i had symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy, she said it was probably just a cyst. I went to the hospital and found out that i was right. I was hurt and a little upset that she would "blow" me off like that, but i had to look at it as maybe she didnt want to believe that this could be happening to her baby. You are in control of your life. I know you are scared, but you should really see a doctor and get tested. The sooner you find out, the better the chance is that it can be helped. Good luck.
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