Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer
Moms View Message Board: General Discussion: Archive July 2006:
Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer
I'm posting this as I'm currently having some unusal symptoms that are not listed below, but are also symptoms of ovarian cancer. So far I have had an Upper GI series (a barium xray of your upper GI tract) a Lower GI Series (a barium xray of your lower GI tract). Some other symptoms are: GI Upset, freqency in urination, urgency to urninate and the others listed below. My symptoms seem to coincide with my period, usually a week before and during, then they go away until my next period. My results so far have been negative, however, I am going in and asking for the blood test even if I have to pay for it. I don't want to scare anyone, some of the symptoms listed are very common for women who have had children, I just want everyone to be informed. Even though the average age for women to be diagonsed with Ovarian Cancer is 52, Gilda was only 42 when she died.
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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 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 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.
>
> 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 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.
>
> 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
http://www.snopes.com/medical/disease/ca125.asp
You beat me to it, Colette. 
http://www.snopes.com/medical/disease/ca125.asp
Thanks ladies for posting that, I will not however rely on Snopes for medical advice. I guess we could probably debate this all day.
I have read the clinical trials and studies produced by people in the medical field. There is some validity to what Snopes is saying that the c-125 blood test is not the ideal screening method for the general public however, coupled with other symptoms it can certainly add to helping detect if a problem exists, whether that be ovarian cancer or some other problem as listed on the snopes site. I guess my point was in posting this is that you do have to take charge of your own healthcare, if you think there is a problem sometimes you have to push a little bit for answers rather than relying solely on doctors to make a diagnosis, they are only human after all and do make mistakes. My cousin's wife who is dying from lung cancer bugged her doctor for 3 months and she (the doctor) kept putting her off, who knows what the outcome could have been had she insisted sooner. She's the one who had to insist on a CT Scan.
Here's what the National Ovarian Association has to say about the test:
"The National Ovarian Cancer Association advocates that if you suspect you have ovarian cancer, ask about the CA 125 as part of an overall investigation for Ovarian Cancer."
They do concur that the test is not useful solely as a screening method. To read more here is a link:
National Ovarian Cancer Association
My maternal grandmother died of ovarian cancer so I am at a higher than normal risk. My mother and sister have both had hysterectomies and oophorectomies both due to some problems, but largely out of fear (even though you can still get ovarian cancer without your ovaries). I choose not to live in fear, so my ovaries are still with me for now. However, I am wise and my GYN and I have thoroughly gone over my health history together. Usually by the time symptoms of ovarian cancer appear it is in its advanced stages. My GYN does a thorough manual check of my ovaries for changes and I have periodic ultrasounds to also check on them. From my reading/research, ultrasound is one of the best methods of early detection.
Thanks Pam, forgot to mention I had a trans V ultrasound as well last week.
Heaventree, I totally agree with you! Snopes just points out that the CA-125 blood test is not the end all for diagnosing ovarian cancer, as the article seems to want readers to believe. No debate necessary, because we're on the same page. It's important for us to educate ourselves and insist on further testing if we don't feel our doctors are doing enough.
No problem Trina, I getcha.
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