The real bad OC

My friend, who's about 45, was just diagnosed with stage IIIc Ovarian cancer. I understand that this is a sure killer, like within about 18 months. She's being very brave and going to do chemo and all that. Has anyone heard ANY success stories, or does anyone know of any new treatments? I've heard that New Zealand and Australia are doing the most interesting cancer research.

I'm sorry to hear about your friend. That is brave of her to want to go through chemo. LLL

I'm really sorry to hear about your friend, as well.

Here are some links about Ovarian Cancer Treatments

http://www.cancergroup.com/em15.html

http://www.cancercenter.com/

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_4X_How_is_ovarian_cancer_treated_33.asp?sitearea=

http://www.oncologychannel.com/ovariancancer/treatment.shtml

There really is a lot of information on the web... especially about clinical trial treatments.

http://host.veritasmedicine.com/index.cfm?cid=150444&did=733&rfr=goo

DJ, is this a local friend?

My sister discovered The HopeWell Center. It's a house on Falls Rd. that offers a community of love, care, and all kinds of services for cancer patients and their loved ones. Please let me know if you're interestd.

no, s he lives in Santa Cruz

DJ, maybe there is such a place where she lives. It has been a real blessing to my sister.

What is your friend's name and I'll add her to my prayer list? Or I can pray for DJ's friend in Santa Cruz. That works too.

I feel more compassion for cancer patients since watching Mom go through chemo and radiation.

Please keep us posted on her progress!

DJ I wanted you to know that I am adding your friend to my prayer list.
chick

Her name is Lisa. Thank you for praying for her. I'm checking out the links, Vicky, and will forward to her also. Has anyone heard of Louise Hay? That's another thing to research -- supposedly she survived a terrible cancer, liver I think.

DJ,
Dianne spoke of Hay house and Louise Hay in a post somewhere I think. I can't find it now. Dianne, am I right?
My sister is an ovarian cancer survivor. 10 years now. If you want, I can ask her to e-mail you.

chick

Read and Heed, everyone -- I just received this email and it seems appropriate for here. Another example of how women are not well served by our health care system.

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 (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 wouldn'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.

DJ, thanks for sharing. Let's all line up to have that test.

It amazes me how many women do not even go for an annual exam. My mother was one of them. She was going through menopause, she knew something was wrong, yet her doctor wrote it off as part of the menopause.

She was finally diagnosed with cervical cancer in September of 1994 and died 7 months later at 55 years of age.

Between her neglect to care for herself and her doctor's refusal to listen to her, she never had a chance.

What really angered me was, cervical cancer is one of the few cancers that is curable if caught early.

So for those of you who have been putting off your exams. GO!

You can't afford not to.

DJ - your post is a necessary reminder that women need to be responsible to themselves and take charge; and proof that a doctor's evaluation and opinion are not the be all and end all of what is going on with your health.