Subject: SIGNS OF OVARIAN CANCER

THIS IS A MUST TO READ TO THE END P L E A S E!  (Guys:
pass it on to your lady).

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 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.
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >>
> >
>
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