SIGNS OF OVARIAN CANCER (even in the absence of Ovaries)

[Guest guest]

SIGNS OF OVARIAN CANCER (even in the absence of Ovaries) THIS

IS A MUST TO READ TO THE END

An Eye Opener on Ovarian Cancer

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. Gene Wilder is her

widower.

KATHY'S STORY: this is the story of Kathy West

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 yea! r. 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 bacteria

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 drawn off at

the hospital (not a pleasant experience I assure you), but NOTHING

compared to what was ahead of me.! < /B>

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 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 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

as 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 thi s

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 prostate

screen (which my husband'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 ALSO TO THOSE LOVED ONES THEY KNOW.

IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH FORWARDING SOMETHING AS IMPORTANT AS THIS,

HERE'S A LITTLE HINT THAT MAY ASSIST YOU WITH YOUR DECISION ~ JUST

PRETEND

THAT THIS IS A JOKE, WHICH IT CERTAINLY IS NOT, AND SEND IT OUT TO ALL

THE

FOLKS YOU WOULD IF IT WAS. THANKS.

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