Eutrusca
26-01-2006, 01:40
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. A blood test finally identified her illness -- but too late.
Kathy's story:
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 healthcare. I thought I had done that because I always had an
annual physical and PAP smear, did monthly Self-Breast Exam, went to the
dentist at least twice/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 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 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 5# 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 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; don't 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 one 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 -- catch 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.
Even though the median age for this cancer is 56, (and I'm exactly 56),
women as young as 22 have it. Age is no factor.
NOTE FROM LISA:
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 prostrate 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 PAS
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.
inconclusive, and she was treated for everything under the sun until it was
too late. A blood test finally identified her illness -- but too late.
Kathy's story:
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 healthcare. I thought I had done that because I always had an
annual physical and PAP smear, did monthly Self-Breast Exam, went to the
dentist at least twice/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 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 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 5# 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 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; don't 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 one 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 -- catch 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.
Even though the median age for this cancer is 56, (and I'm exactly 56),
women as young as 22 have it. Age is no factor.
NOTE FROM LISA:
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 prostrate 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 PAS
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.