Re: FW: Ovarian Cancer - a must read

[Guest guest]

I had a hysterectomy and they left one ovary. I have this done every year.

Geez... don't know why the nag here forgot to tell you all to have this done

once a year too. I will definately add it to my list.

hugs

OVARIAN CANCER

A little lengthy, but please read . Important stuff. I hope you all take

the time to read this and pass it on to all you can. Send this to the

women in your life that you care about.

Years ago, Gilda Radner died of ovarian cancer. Her symptoms were

inconclusive, and she was treated for everything under the sun until it

was too late. This blood test finally identified her illness but alas,

too late. She wrote a book to heighten awareness.

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,

and they are treated in the same way-surgery to remove the primary tumor

and 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 and hope you will

print it and give it or send it via E-mail to everybody you know.

One thing I have learned is that each of us must take TOTAL

responsibility for our own health care. I thought I had done that

because I always had an annual physical and PAP smear, did a monthly

Self-Breast Exam, went to the dentist at least twice a year, etc. I

even insisted on a sigmoidoscopy and a bone density test last year.

When I had a total hysterectomy in 1993, I thought that I did not have

to worry about getting any of the female reproductive organ cancers.

LITTLE DID I KNOW. I don't have ovaries (and they were HEALTHY when

they were removed), 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 an ABDOMEN that rather

SUDDENLY

ENLARGES and CONSTIPATION and/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; these tests were negative, and I

was

diagnosed with " Irritable Bowel Syndrome " .

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

enlarged abdomen. I swear to you, it looked like I was 4-5 months

pregnant! I therefore insisted on more tests. They took an X-ray of my

abdomen; it was negative. I was again assured that I had Irritable

Bowel Syndrome and 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, and I KNEW something was radically wrong. I

INSISTED

on more tests, and 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, I had to cancel my trip and have FIVE POUNDS

of fluid 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, finally, finally,

the doctor ran a CA-125 blood test, and I was properly diagnosed. I HAD

THE CLASSIC SYMPTOMS FOR OVARIAN CANCER, AND YET THIS SIMPLE CA-125

BLOOD TEST HAD NEVER BEEN RUN ON ME, not as part of my annual physical

exam

and not when I was symptomatic. This is an inexpensive and simple blood

test!

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE TELL ALL YOUR FEMALE FRIENDS AND RELATIVES TO

INSIST ON A CA-125 BLOOD TEST EVERY YEAR AS PART F THEIR ANNUAL

PHYSICAL EXAMS.

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

saying, " IT ISN'T NECESSARY. " Believe me, had I known then what I know

now, we would have caught my cancer much earlier (before it was a stage

3 cancer).

Insist on the CA-125 BLOOD TEST; DO NOT take " NO " for an answer! The

normal range for a CA-125 BLOOD TEST is between zero and 35. MINE WAS

754..... (That's right, 754!). If the number is slightly above 35, you

can have another done in three or six months and keep a close eye on

it, just like women do when they have fibroid tumors or when men have a

slightly elevated PSA test (Prostatic Specific Antigens) that helps

diagnose prostate cancer. Having the CA-125 test done annually can

alert you early, and that's the goal in diagnosing any type of cancer -

catching it early.

Do you know 55 women? If so, at least one of them will have this VERY

AGGRESSIVE cancer. Please, go to your doctor and insist on a CA-125

test and have one EVERY YEAR for the rest of your life.

And forward this message to every woman you know, and tell all of your

female family members and friends.

Though the median age for this cancer is 56, (and, guess what, I'm

exactly 56), women as young as 22 have it. Age is no factor.

A NOTE FROM THE RN: Well, after reading this, I made some calls. I

found that the CA-125 test is an ovarian screening test equivalent to a

man's PSA test prostrate screen (which Ron's doctor automatically gives

him in his physical each year and insurance pays for it). I called the

general practitioner's office about having the test done. The nurse had

never heard of it. She told me that she doubted that insurance would

pay for it.

So I called Prudential Insurance Co., and got the same response. Never

heard of it - it won't be covered. I explained that it was the same as

the PSA test they had paid for my husband for years. 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 and $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). And you must

insist that your insurance company pay for it.

Gene Wilder and Pierce Brosnan (his wife had it, too) are lobbying for

women's health issues, saying that this test should be required in our

physicals, just like the PAP and the mammogram.

PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO SEND THIS OUT TO ALL THOSE YOU CAN. BE IT MALE

OR FEMALE, IT SHOULD NOT MATTER, AS THEY CAN FORWARD IT ON ALSO TO THOSE

LOVED ONES THEY KNOW.

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