A Cancer Test You Must Know About

I just got this in my email today and am in
full agreement with it. I'll post it today
and make comments about it later.

SIGNS OF OVARIAN CANCER
(Even In The Absence Of Ovaries) An Eye-Opener On Ovarian Cancer

THIS IS A MUST TO READ TO THE END
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, thedoctor 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 fore warned 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
them will have this VERY AGGRESSIVE cancer.
Please, go to your doctor and insist on a CA-125 tes
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 $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.


Until next time,
Judy