Test for Ovarian & Primary Peritoneal Cancer

[Guest guest]

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.

Below is the story of Kathy West

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 [by conventional medicine] in the same way - surgery to

remove the primary tumor and then chemotherapy with Taxol and Carboplatin.

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 wa s 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 INSISTED on more tests, and

they reluctantly) scheduled me for a CT-Scan

The CT-Scan showed a lot of fluid in my abdomen (NOT normal).

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, 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 fore warned 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 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 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.