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September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

I was just 9 years old when my grandmother died from ovarian cancer. When she was diagnosed, I was at an age where I didn't understand what cancer was let alone what my grandmother was experiencing. By the time she was diagnosed with cancer, it had already progressed to stage IV, the most advanced stage. Surgeries to remove the cancer and the organs it had affected were not successful, because the cancer had already spread too far. Radiation treatment and chemotherapy were not enough to stop the cancer from continuing to spread. She died in November of 1981.

Several years later, my aunt was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, also in the advanced stages. That was when I learned that ovarian cancer was a hereditary disease that had been passed down by the women in our family for several generations. With repeated surgeries and chemotheraphy she was able to struggle through a couple more years, but it was very painful and difficult for her. When my aunt passed away I began my quest to learn more about this deadly cancer and how to prevent it.

I've lost two beautiful women in my life to this silent killer and want to spread the word to women everywhere, so they can understand the risks of ovarian cancer and what they can do to reduce them.

Ovarian Cancer Facts

The American Cancer Society estimates that 22,430 new cases of ovarian cancer will be diagnosed in 2007. It is also estimated that 15,280 women will die from ovarian cancer this year. In fact, ovarian cancer is the 4th most common cancer in women and causes more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system.

Get the facts about Ovarian Cancer. Learn what all woman need to know about this silent killer.

Who is at risk?

All women are at risk of developing ovarian cancer and should be aware of its symptoms and what they can do to help prevent this deadly disease.

Recognize the Symptoms

It has been called a silent killer because the symptoms of ovarian cancer are very subtle and not easily recognizable. The most common symptoms are:

pelvic and abdominal pain
urinary frequency and urgency
increased abdominal size
bloating
difficulty eating and feeling full quickly

Other symptoms may include:

constipation or diarrhea
nausea, indigestion or gas
abnormal vaginal bleeding
unusual fatigue
unexplained weight loss or gain
shortness of breath
low back pain

Reduce the risk

The first and most important step in preventing Ovarian Cancer is to talk to your doctor about your risks.

Some other steps that may help to reduce the risks of developing ovarian cancer are:

Taking oral contraceptives
Tubal ligation or hysterectomy
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
Maintaining a healthy diet
Prophylactic oophorectomy (the surgical removal of one or both ovaries)

Talk to your doctor about these options to determine which ones may be right for you.

Help spread the word!

September is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. Click here to view a short public service announcement video about Ovarian Cancer. Feel free to forward the video to all the women in your life to help spread the word and reduce the threat of Ovarian Cancer.

For more information about Ovarian Cancer talk with your doctor or visit the American Cancer Society, National Ovarian Cancer Coalition or the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance.

Posted by Bonny Puckett ~ REALTOR ~ Fountain Hills, Scottsdale, AZ on 09/01/2007 11:36 PM

Comments (2)

ovarian cancer, ovarian cancer awareness month, cancer

2 Comments on September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

SEP

2007

Like you, I lost my grandmother and other special women in the family to ovarian cancer. Before one of my Great Aunts died, she stressed to me the importance of a test she had done and it's role in detecting her cancer. The test is called CA-125. It is a blood test that detects the level of white blood cells. An elevated reading can indicate that your body is busy fighting a battle that you aren't even aware of. Because of having this test done she was able to get the cancer detected earlier and treated. She spent several years in remission before finally succumbing to the disease, giving her time to enjoy her grandchildren that she may not have had if she hadn't had the blood test. You see, she had no other symptoms of the disease at all. Just the family history that prompted her have the test done yearly. Some doctors I have seen in the past have tried to talk me out of having this test, saying it's not necessary and not a good indicator. But I promised my Aunt that I would have it done yearly. I think anyone at a high risk for ovarian cancer should consider it.

Thank you so much for sharing that story Shannon! The CA-125 blood test has been instrumental in the early detection and ongoing monitoring of Ovarian Cancer. I also have had doctors in the past who have tried to talk me out of having the test. The challenge is that the CA-125 blood test, while often used to monitor patients who are already known to have ovarian cancer, is not generally regarded as a useful detection method. The test is not very accurate, only about 50% effective in detecting stage I ovarian cancers, and returns a lot of false positives. Approximately 20% of women with ovarian cancer never have elevated CA-125 levels, and many women without cancer do have elevated CA-125 levels. However it is recommended for women with a familial history of Ovarian Cancer. Although results are not highly accurate, it does allow someone with elevated levels of CA-125 to seek out futher diagnostic screening and treatment.

It was recommended to me that women with a familial history of ovarian cancer should see a Gynecological Oncologist. A Gynecologic Oncologist is an Obstetrician/Gynecologist who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of women with cancer of the reproductive organs. Contact the Society of Gynecological Oncologists to find a Gynecological Oncologist near you.

If you believe that you may have a family history of ovarian cancer, you can also consult the Gilda Radner Familial Ovarian Cancer Registry or the Creighton University School of Medicine Hereditary Cancer Center. They offer information, support, research, educational resources and clinical studies in relationship to preventing hereditary forms of ovarian cancer.