Detecting signs of ovarian cancer

By BONNIE LEMKE
Posted 2/14/03

I am writing this letter in hopes to educate women on ovarian cancer. You see, I have ovarian cancer that has spread to other organs. Women are educated and screened annually for breast cancer but nothing is ever shared about ovarian cancer. I encourage the clinics to have pamphlets available that list the signs and symptoms. If I had known more about ovarian cancer maybe we would have caught this sooner.

Almost four years ago I was told I had cysts on my ovaries and I accepted that as fact. An ultra sound was done but there was never any follow-up; as the pain got worse it was assumed the cysts were getting worse. Ovarian cysts are common and most of the time they are not cancerous. I always went for my annual exam every year, but because I had a partial hysterectomy many years ago, I was told you do not need a Pap smear every year or to be given a complete vaginal exam. I am telling women to demand a complete exam - that is how tumors or other abnormalities are found.

Some of the things that would have helped detect this sooner: a follow-up ultra sound could have shown whether they were growing, a CT Scan which tells them more about the growth, and then a simple blood test called CA-125, similar to the PSA count they do on men.

I want to clarify I am not blaming my doctor. He has moved me along quickly and got me down to University Clinic in an unbelievably short amount of time. I am just concerned that we are not educated on the signs and symptoms, and maybe they aren't either, and if I can help one person with an earlier detection then it will help make my having this disease worthwhile.

In its early stages, ovarian cancer is often a silent condition producing few, if any, noticeable signs and symptoms. As a tumor grows in an ovary, it may exert pressure on your bowel, bladder and other organs in your abdominal cavity, causing vague symptoms that are easily confused with those of other conditions. Many symptoms can be indications of other less serious conditions, but if they persist they may indicate ovarian cancer. Consult your doctor if you experience any or all of the following signs and symptoms:

ïAbdominal swelling.

ïAbdominal pain.

ïBloating.

ïIndigestion, gas or nausea.

ïA feeling of pressure in your pelvis.

ïFrequent urination.

ïUnexplained weight loss or gain.

ïA feeling of fullness, even after a light meal.

ïAbnormal bleeding from your vagina.

ïDyspareunia- painful intercourse.

Ovarian cancer is the sixth most common cancer in women. It's diagnosed in about 23,000 women in the United States each year, and almost 14,000 women die of the disease annually.

I also know God is with us and that He will see us through this and somehow use this experience for His Glory.

Editorís note: Bonnie Lemke is a resident of the Bock area.