Unexpected Twist: Cancer Mimics Pregnancy

A woman's life took a shocking turn when she discovered she wasn't pregnant, but instead, had a rare form of cancer.

Initial Symptoms and Diagnosis

She had gone to the doctor after three months of heavy, irregular periods. Her periods had always been normal before this. Doctors initially thought she might be pregnant because:

A pregnancy test came back positive
She had a lump in her stomach

But further tests revealed a different reality.

The Unexpected Discovery

Instead of a baby, there was a large growth on her right ovary. Surgeons quickly removed:

The growth
Her uterus
Ovaries
Nearby lymph nodes

Tests confirmed it was a very rare cancer called non-gestational ovarian choriocarcinoma (NGOC).

Understanding NGOC

NGOC is tricky to diagnose because it can cause symptoms similar to pregnancy, like:

Vaginal bleeding
High levels of a pregnancy hormone called hCG

It's different from the more common gestational choriocarcinoma (GOC), which comes from cells that were part of the placenta during pregnancy.

Treatment and Recovery

The good news is that in this case:

The cancer was caught early
It hadn't spread

After:

Surgery
Two rounds of chemotherapy

The woman's hCG levels returned to normal. Doctors will keep a close eye on her to ensure the cancer doesn't come back.

False Positives in Pregnancy Tests

This isn't the only reason a pregnancy test can give a false positive. Other reasons include:

Early pregnancy loss
Leftover hormones after an abortion
Certain medications
User error

While this case is rare and scary, it's important to remember that there are many reasons why a pregnancy test might not be accurate.