| Description | This is important to all of us. Pass it on...
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Subject: 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:
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-Breas 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 symptom 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 wha! ! t 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 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 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.
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 not a 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
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.
IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH FORWARDING SOMETHING AS IMPORTANT AS THIS IS,
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. |
