OFF TOPIC: Important Info About Ovarian Cancer

[Guest guest]

Thought this would be a great way to reach all you ladies out there about

something very important to your health or your loved ones health!

I think this is very important.

----- Forwarded by Galli/HO/MAIL/MBUSA on 05/09/2002 09:28 AM -----

" Martha Princi "

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anzas.com> " Bald " <Sandcbald@...>,

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05/09/2002 11:21 <mvbrunken@...>, "

Galli "

AM <gallim@...>, " Lydia Mikus "

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" Laurie Masterson "

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Matias "

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Marklew "

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cc:

Subject: FW: FW: Important Info

About Ovarian

Cancer

> >

> >Gilda Radner's Story...

> >Years ago, Gilda Radner (Sat Night Live Actress) died of ovarian

> >cancer. Her symptoms were inconclusive, she was treated for everything

> under

> >the sun until it was too late. This blood test finally identified her

> >illness, too late. She wrote a book to heighten awareness. Gene Wilder

is

> >her

> >widower.

> >

> >Pierce Brosnan's wife had it too ... they are lobbying to make this

> >test a requirement, so healthcare practitioners will include this test

> with

> >a

> >woman's annual exam.

> >

> >Kathy's story...

> >As all of you know, I have Primary Peritoneal Cancer. This cancer has

> >only recently been identified as its OWN type of cancer, but it is

> >essentially Ovarian Cancer. Both types of cancer are diagnosed in the

same

> >way with

> >the " tumor marker " CA-125 BLOOD TEST, they are treated in the same

> >way-surgery to remove the primary tumor, then chemotherapy with Taxol

and

> >Carboplatin.

> >

> >Having gone through this ordeal, I want to save others from the same

> >fate.

> >That is why I am sending this message to you in hope you will print it

> >and give it or send it via E-mail to every woman you know. One thing I

> have

> >learned is that each of us must take TOTAL responsibility for our own

> >healthcare. I thought I had done that because I always had an annual

> >physical, PAP smear, did monthly Self-Breast Exam, went to the dentist

> >at least twice/year, etc. I even insisted on a smgmoidoscopy and a bone

> >density test last year. When I had a total hysterectomy in 1993, I

thought

> I

> >no

> >longer had to worry about getting any of the female reproductive organ

> >cancers.

> >

> >LITTLE DID I KNOW. I don't have ovaries, but I have what is

> >essentially ovarian cancer. Strange, isn't it? These are just SOME of

the

> >things

> >our Doctors never tell us. ONE out of every 55 women will get OVARIAN or

> >PRIMARY PERITONEAL CANCER. The " classic " symptoms are: abdomen that

rather

> >suddenly enlarges, constipation & /or Diarrhea. I had these classic

> symptoms

> >and

> >went to the doctor. Because these symptoms seemed to be " abdominal " , I

> went

> >to a gastroenterologist. He ran tests that were designed to determine

> >whether there was a bacterial infection; the tests were negative, I was

> >diagnosed with " Irritable Bowel Syndrome " .

> >

> >I guess I would have accepted this diagnosis had it not been for my

> >enlarged abdomen. I looked like I was 4 - 5 months pregnant, therefore

> >insisted on more tests. They took an X-ray of my abdomen; it was

> >negative, I was again assured it was Irritable Bowel Syndrome, was

> >encouraged to go

> >on my scheduled month-long trip to Europe. I couldn't wear any of my

> >slacks or shorts because I couldn't get them buttoned. I KNEW something

> was

> >radically wrong.

> >

> >I INSISTED on more tests, finally they (reluctantly) scheduled me for

> >a CT-Scan (just to shut me up, I think). This is what I mean by " taking

> >charge of our own health care " . The CT-Scan showed a lot of fluid in my

> >abdomen (NOT normal). Needless to say, my trip was canceled. FIVE POUNDS

> of

> >fluid was drained off at the hospital (not a pleasant procedure, I

assure

> >you, but NOTHING compared to what was ahead of me). Tests revealed

cancer

> >cells in the fluid. FINALLY, the doctor ran a CA-125 blood test and I

was

> >properly diagnosed. I HAD THE CLASSIC SYMPTOMS FOR OVARIAN CANCER, YET

> THIS

> >SIMPLE CA-125 BLOOD TEST HAD NEVER BEEN RUN ON ME, not as part of my

> annual

> >physical, not when I was symptomatic.

> >

> >This is an inexpensive and simple blood test.

> >PLEASE, TELL ALL YOUR FEMALE FRIENDS AND RELATIVES TO INSIST ON A

> >CA-125 BLOOD TEST EVERY YEAR AS PART OF THEIR ANNUAL PHYSICAL EXAMS.

> >

> >Be forewarned that their doctors may try to talk them out of it,

> >saying, " It isn't necessary. " Had I known then what I know now, my

cancer

> >would

> >have been caught much earlier (before it was a stage 3). Insist on the

> >CA-125 BLOOD TEST; don't take " NO " for an answer. The normal range for a

> >CA-125 BLOOD TEST is between zero & 35. Mine was754...that's right, 754,

> If

> >the number is slightly above 35, you can have another one done in 3-6

> >months, keep a close eye on it, just like women do when they have

fibroid

> >tumors or when men have a slightly elevated PSA (Prostatic Specific

> >Antigens)

> >test that helps diagnose prostate cancer.

> >

> >Having the CA-125 test done annually can alert you early, that's the

> >goal in diagnosing any type of cancer - catch it early. Do you know 55

> >women? If so, at least one of them will have this very aggressive

cancer.

> >Please,

> >when you go to your doctor, insist on a CA-125 test & have one every

year

> >for the rest of your life.

> >

> >And forward this message to women you know & care about. Though the

> >median age for this cancer is 56, (I'm exactly 56), women as young as 22

> >have

> >it. Age is no factor.

> >

> >NOTE FROM LISA:

> >After reading this, I made some calls. Found the CA-125 test is an

> >ovarian screening test equivalent to a man's PSA test, (which most

doctors

> >automatically give men with their physical each year & insurance pays

> >for).

> >I called my GP's office about having the test done. The nurse had never

> >heard of it, but told me she doubted insurance would pay for it. So I

> >called Prudential Insurance and got the same response. Never heard of

it -

> >it

> >won't be covered. I explained it was the same as the PSA test they pay

for

> >with men's physicals.

> >

> >After conferring with whomever they confer with, she told me that the

> >CA-125 would be covered. It is $75 in a GP's office, $125 at the GYN's.

> >This is a screening test that should be required just like a PAP smear

(a

> >PAP smear cannot detect problems with your ovaries). You must be the one

> to

> >insist your doctor do the test & your insurance co. pay for it.

> >

> >Gene Wilder and Pierce Brosnan are lobbying for women's health issues,

> >we should join in and say that this test should be required in our

> >physicals just like the PAP and the mammogram.

> >

> >Please share this information with women you care about.

>

>

>

>

>

>