Ovarian Cancer Series 08: How Do Ovarian Cysts Differ From Ovarian Cancer?
“There is a cyst on your ovary.” Those words can stay with you long after an ultrasound appointment. Your clinician may have explained that surgery is unnecessary right now, yet waiting for another scan can still feel unsettling. Searching online often brings ovarian cysts and ovarian cancer onto the same screen, making it harder to understand what your result actually means. Finding an ovarian cyst does not mean you have ovarian cancer. Most ovarian cysts are benign. Functional cysts associated with the menstrual cycle may disappear over time, while other types need a different approach to monitoring or treatment. The next step is to understand what was found, which features informed your clinician’s assessment, and what the follow-up plan is intended to check. 1. What Is the Difference Between an Ovarian Cyst and Ovarian Cancer? An ovarian cyst is a sac-like structure in or on an ovary that may contain fluid or other material. Ovarian cance...