This was written by my forum friend Renee....a very special lady....who has ovarian cancer. Please take the time to read it, and pass it on to your loved ones. It could save the life of someone very dear to you.
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Please sign the petition to have an Ovarian Cancer stamp created in order to help increase awareness. Click link below.
This will no longer help me but if I can spare one other woman from dealing with this I'll be happy.
So many women think there is a screening test included with the pap smear. I even had a NURSE tell me she had NO idea there was no screening and assumed the gynecologists regularly look for it!
So many women assume their gynecologist will find it.
So I repeat, there is NO screening, the subtle signs listed are the ONLY signs. It is RARELY "found" by your gynecologist.
75-80% of women are NOT diagnosed until they are stage 3 or stage 4.
Until there is a screening test, women need to learn these symptoms themselves, so they can pay close attention to their bodies and get diagnosed earlier, while the survival rate is so much higher.
Late stage survival rate is only 20%.
There is so little awareness for ovarian cancer -- Please pass this to all your friends.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/ovcastamp/
This will no longer help me but if I can spare one other woman from dealing with this I'll be happy.
So many women think there is a screening test included with the pap smear. I even had a NURSE tell me she had NO idea there was no screening and assumed the gynecologists regularly look for it!
So many women assume their gynecologist will find it.
So I repeat, there is NO screening, the subtle signs listed are the ONLY signs. It is RARELY "found" by your gynecologist.
75-80% of women are NOT diagnosed until they are stage 3 or stage 4.
Until there is a screening test, women need to learn these symptoms themselves, so they can pay close attention to their bodies and get diagnosed earlier, while the survival rate is so much higher.
Late stage survival rate is only 20%.
There is so little awareness for ovarian cancer -- Please pass this to all your friends.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/ovcastamp/
SYMPTOMS
These can include (but are not limited to): Bloating Pelvic or abdominal pain, discomfort or heaviness Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly Urinary symptoms (urgency or frequency) Additional symptoms may include: Fatigue Indigestion Back pain Pain with intercourse Bowel changes Menstrual irregularities Loss of appetite Increasing abdominal girth
TAKE ACTION: See your doctor, preferably a Gynecologist, if these symptoms are unusual for you and occur or increase in intensity over two weeks. Experts suggest a combination pelvic/rectal exam, a trans-vaginal sonogram, and a CA-125 blood test. And, any woman at risk, suspected of having or diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer should consult a Gynecologic Oncologist.
EARLY DIAGNOSIS IS THE KEY TO IMPROVED PROGNOSIS.
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More myths and facts:
Myth: The Pap test can diagnose ovarian cancer.
Fact: A Pap test only diagnoses cancer of the cervix (the opening of the uterus).
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Myth: Ovarian cancer has no symptoms.
Fact: Symptoms may include persistent and progressive abdominal pain, bloating, or discomfort; nausea, indigestion, or gas; urinary frequency; constipation, or diarrhea; abnormal vaginal bleeding; unusual fatigue; unexplained weight loss or gain; and shortness of breath. There may also be pain with intercourse. Most symptoms are not gynecologic.
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Myth: There are no risk factors for ovarian cancer.
Fact: Risk factors for this disease include increasing age; family history of ovarian, breast, or colorectal cancer; personal history of breast cancer; never bearing a child or having a child later in life; and using talc in the genital area for several years. Use of high-dose estrogen without progesterone for long periods of time (10 years) is a risk factor. However, today combination therapy (estrogen and progesterone) is more common.
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Myth: A high CA-125 blood level always indicates ovarian cancer.
Fact: It is not uncommon for pre-menopausal women to have a high CA-125 level because of non-cancerous conditions such as uterine fibroids, inflammation of the fallopian tubes, or endometriosis. The CA-125 blood test is more accurate in post-menopausal women. Currently, no screening test is 100% accurate in detecting ovarian cancer.
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Myth: If ovarian cancer does not run in my family, I cannot get it.
Fact: All women are at risk for ovarian cancer. Only 10% of cases are hereditary (inherited).
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Myth: Ovarian cancer has no cure.
Fact: If ovarian cancer is detected early and treated properly, there is a 90% chance of survival for at least five years. However, only about one quarter of ovarian cancer cases are diagnosed early. Late diagnosis is associated with significantly lower survival rates-about 20-25%.
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Myth: Women who have their ovaries removed cannot get ovarian cancer.
Fact: Women who have their ovaries removed can't get ovarian cancer unless a bit of undetected cancer spread before the removal. This is a rare event. In addition, a rare type of cancer called primary peritoneal carcinoma, a close relative of ovarian cancer, can develop when there are no ovaries. Primary peritoneal carcinoma starts in the inside lining of the abdomen and pelvis. It looks similar to ovarian cancer under the microscope. It also has the same symptoms, spreads in a similar pattern, and is treated the same way as ovarian cancer.
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Myth: Ovarian cancer can be prevented.
Fact: Currently, there is no way to prevent ovarian cancer with 100% certainty. However, several things can help reduce the risk: -Prophylactic oophorectomy-having both ovaries removed along with the fallopian tubes as a preventive measure-can reduce risk by more than 80%. -Taking oral contraceptives for at least five years can reduce risk by 50% -Pregnancy and breast-feeding, tubal ligation (tying the fallopian tubes), and hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) can all reduce risk.
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Myth: Having ovarian cysts increase your risk of ovarian cancer.
Fact: Most cysts develop from the changes in hormone levels during the menstrual cycle and the production and release of eggs from the ovaries. Most cysts are harmless and go away on their own. However, some can be cancerous.
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