Aussie mum, 36, reveals how a common symptom was the only sign of a huge tumour growing on her ovary

Lynsey McDonald was overjoyed when she became pregnant for the first time at the age of 35, but a worrying symptom turned out to be the sign of something more sinister.

High blood pressure was the only sign that a life-threatening 14 cm tumor was growing on the young mother’s ovary.

The then 36-year-old, from Birkdale in Queensland, had a healthy pregnancy until she was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia eight months later.

Her condition continued to deteriorate day by day and Lynsey eventually had to undergo a caesarean section when she was 40 weeks pregnant.

During the operation, the surgeons were surprised to discover a giant tumor the size of a grapefruit growing on Lynsey’s right ovary.

“There I was in the middle of celebrating the birth of our first child and doctors were discussing the large mass that had grown on my ovary,” Lynsey said.

‘If my son had not been born by emergency caesarean section that day, the tumor could have continued to grow. I really think Lennox saved my life.”

Dr. Huda Safa, an obstetrician and gynecologist at the Mater Hospital, revealed that the 14cm tumor ‘looked aggressive’.

High blood pressure was the only sign that a life-threatening 14 cm tumor was growing on the young mother’s ovary

The Lynsey tumor – struma ovarii – only occurs in less than 1 percent of all cases of ovarian cancer.

The disease is typically accompanied by symptoms such as abdominal pain and distension, abnormal menstrual cycles, vaginal bleeding, frequent and urgent urination, deep vein thrombosis and more – none of which Lynsey experienced.

But the ordeal was far from over.

Minutes after giving birth to her son, Lennox, the new mother had to make a life-changing decision: whether to let her doctors remove her ovary, fallopian tube and the 5-inch tumor.

‘I just couldn’t make the decision, but [my husband Matthew] called and said I was too important,” the mother said.

‘All I wanted was to have another baby and I didn’t know if that would be possible if I only had one ovary.’

The couple continued to try to have another child despite Lynsey’s condition.

‘We both really wanted another child. It was difficult to maintain the pregnancies; we had four miscarriages in a row and it was a very difficult time for Matt and I,” she said.

Dr. Mater Hospital obstetrician and gynecologist Huda Safa said the 14cm tumor ‘looked aggressive’

Despite the heartbreaking experiences, Lynsey and Matt never gave up their hopes for another child.

She became pregnant naturally in late 2023 and welcomed a second baby boy in June 2024, after turning 40.

“We are so happy that we were able to carry Evander’s pregnancy to term, and we are so grateful to have our little family,” she said.

“I’m holding my boys in my arms and I just can’t believe it, my dreams have come true.

‘I’m so proud of my body, after such a difficult time trying to stay pregnant, we have another little miracle we’ve created with one ovary!’

Lynsey thanked her health team at the Mater Mothers’ Hospital for caring for her family during one of the most difficult times of her life.