September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.     

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Ovarian cancer ranks as the 5th most common cause of cancer death among women in the United States.  As an early stage ovarian cancer survivor, I'm very interested in raising awareness about this disease.  Raising awareness increases early detection and can boost much-needed funding for research. 

 

From my own experience, early detection makes all the difference in prognosis.  When ovarian cancer is caught early (before it has spread outside the ovaries) more than 80-90% may survive 5 years. 

 

These risk factors have been known to significantly increase a woman’s chances of developing epithelial ovarian cancer (about 85% of ovarian cancers are epithelial ovarian cancer):

 

·          Women with two or more first-degree (mother, sister, daughter) or second-degree (grandmother, aunt) relatives who have had ovarian cancer

·          A family history of multiple cancers such as uterine, ovarian, colorectal in either female or male relatives especially in their 20’s, 30’s & 40’s 

·          Women diagnosed with breast cancer are at an increased risk for developing ovarian cancer

·          Inherited BRCA-1 or BRCA-2 gene mutation

·          Women of Ashkenazi Jewish descent

·          Infertility

·          Use of talc in the genital area may suggest a slight increase in risk

 

There are specific symptoms that many women with ovarian cancer have reported, even in early stages. Although many women can experience these symptoms from time to time, too often they are misdiagnosed.  Please see your doctor if you experience a combination of these symptoms that seems unusual and persists for more than 2-3 weeks, or if they increase in intensity:

 

·          Bloating, a feeling of fullness

·          Increased abdominal size and clothes fitting tighter

·          Gastrointestinal symptoms such as persistent gas, indigestion, nausea, constipation or diarrhea

·          Unexplained weight loss or gain

·          Low back pain

·          Leg pain

·          Unexplained fatigue

·          Frequent or urgent urination

·          Shortness of breath

·          Menstrual disorders such as unusual vaginal bleeding

·          Pain during intercourse 

 

I experienced several of these symptoms.  Most women do not report them to their doctor early enough.  By the time the cancer is found, it's already in advanced stages.   If you exper­ience symptoms suggesting the disease, be assertive with your doctor and ask for these three tests.  They are not foolproof when used alone, but when used together they can be very helpful in diagnosing ovarian cancer :

 

·          A bimanual pelvic exam

·          CA 125 blood test

·          Transvaginal sonography

 

If your results suggest you have ovarian cancer, I strongly recommend that you seek treatment by the best-qualified GYN/Oncologist available.  I was fortunate to find an excellent Gynecologic Oncologist who specializes in women’s gynecologic cancers.

 

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to let you know that Philadelphia will be raising ovarian cancer awareness by lighting up Boathouse Row "in teal" on September 8, 9, 13 & 14, 2006.  The lighting will run for five minutes every hour. The PECO Building will also have a message sometime in September.  Over Labor Day weekend, a plane will be flying an Ovarian Cancer Awareness banner above New Jersey beaches.  I just wanted to give you a "heads up" in case you're in the area at that time. 

 

Thank you for your attention.  Please pass this along to everyone on your mailing list so that we can raise awareness to this silent disease “that whispers.”

 

Barbara

Ovarian Cancer Survivor                        Barbara's Story:  http://ovariancancer.jhmi.edu/stories2.cfm?PersonID=256