Have a ovarian cyst 8cm, on ct scan mesenteric and retroperitoneal lymph nodes noted? does that mean enlarge?. i'm confused. it didn't say enlarged.

Not necessarily : 8cm cyst ( depending on what it looks like on the scan) does not have to be cancer in someone your age. Lymph nodes are often visible on scans and as long as they are not enlarged ( greater then 1cm) they are just a normal finding. The cyst should be followed up on in a short period of time (6weeks) with a pelvic ultrasound, but if there was anything questionable about the lymph nodes then ct.

Monitoring Centers: Lymphatic system absorbs/carries things too big to go into the arteries/veins like bacteria eaten by white cells and digested food. Lymph nodes "taste" the lymph for anything bad like bacteria/viruses/cancers, etc. When it detects a problem, it alerts the immune system and your body reacts. They enlarge in response to the inflammation they create when they react. They shrink when all is well.