Thanks for the info....I had heard of the CA-125 blood test but had never thought of asking for one. I will ask about this during my next physical exam. Thanks again, Kelly
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 in a GP's office and 5 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.
Geez Roxy I was not aware of all you have been thru with tumors.
You must have gone thru hell with all of this on your mind. When
we are told that we might have 6 months to live it kind of makes RA
less important doesn't it? Seems like women go thru so much more
than men. Don't we?
Luv, N & T
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