Ovarian Cancer - What you need to know

[nothing2lose]

Hiya

For those of you who might not know, I have recently had a scare regarding ovarian cancer. I had an MRI on Wednesday and I have been given the all clear () but I wanted to share some information about ovarian cancer with you all. Mainly because ovarian cancer has been "overtaken" by breast cancer in terms of marketing. But the horrible truth is that ovarian cancer is much more insidious and the prognosis much less promising than most sorts of cancer.

Each year about 1100 Australian women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Not many, but each year about 800 women die of ovarian cancer. It is known as the "silent killer" because overwhelmingly, more often than not, you dont know you have it until it is too late to successfully treat it.

I dont want to alarm anyone with this post but I do want you all to know what to look for. IMO everyone should know the symptoms of ovarian cancer.

According to Ovarian Cancer Australia, symptoms may include:

- Abdominal bloating
- Unexplained pelvic pain
- Feeling full/difficulty eating
- Weight gain
- Increased urgency to urinate
- Change in bowel movements
- Fatigue

When these symptoms are new for you and persist for more than two weeks see your GP immediately!

If you have a family history of ovarian cancer, you can request a blood test to check your CA125 levels. This stands for Cancer Antigen 125 which is a tumour marker for ovarian cancer. While it can be elevated by other factors, and also not always pick up ovarian cancer in its early stages, it can be extremely useful in determining whether further testing and investigation is warranted.

I hope this is of help to you all.

Stay healthy x

n2l

[Aussiegirl777]

Ovarian cancer is really the silent killer....so any information is something to be thankful for. I'm glad you received the all-clear.

[blessedatlast]

I didn't know N2L you had a scare. Glad you were given the all clear!

[Taurean]

Thanks for sharing and I'm glad to hear you were given the all clear!

[Tinsel]

Thanks for the info. Good news for you.

[Floweryfields]

See, it's all great that we are aware of the symptoms of oc and how to be proactive, but the medical profession needs to listen to women as well! I had all the symptoms you list recently, went to gp - saw a female doctor - I asked could it possibly be oc. She really wasn't that concerned, rather blase about it, gave me a referall to get and ultrasound when I asked for one, but wasn't at all insistent that I go and get it done soon. Actually it was at the same time that you posted about your scare and being sent for a MRI - I was suprised at that was never even suggested by my doctor. Just find it quite frustrating really....


In the end nothing abnormal was dectected at the US - BUT there was the chance that it could've been different and all the advertising campaigns, etc in the world are not going to help if you feel like a right dill when you do go to the doctor.

PS Glad your outcome was good!

[M22]

I have all the symptosm inculding inc freg for urine, my dr gave me tests adn ultrasound and all clear I only had a lap 6 in april last year..

still seeing ob in 3 weeeks but pretty sure he will tell me nothing!!

[Miss_Dee]

Scary! I have all those symptoms which started a few days ago. Will keep an eye on it and speak to my doctor if things haven't changed when I see her. I had just put it down to stress and not eating properly, but who knows.

[briggsy's girl]

See, it's all great that we are aware of the symptoms of oc and how to be proactive, but the medical profession needs to listen to women as well!

This is so true!! i've had to seriously fight to be heard over issues with bleeding, fatigue, and a whole list of things - the doctor pretty much said stop breastfeeding, it will fix everything. i had to request blood tests, i had to request ultrasound, i had to request referral to gyne. yeah, i know places with specialists have waiting lists and are hard to get into, and maybe GP's are trying to weed out the "non-pressing" cases - but at some point, they have to respect that we live in these bodies, we know that things aren't right. and even if it's normal, it's better to rule out anything properly rather than dismiss a potentially deadly problem!!

N2L - glad you got the all clear hun

[nothing2lose]

[StrawberryMumma]

Thanks for posting N2L.
Would you be willing to share your story hun?

[nothing2lose]

Sure...I didn't/don't have any symptoms. My scare was purely due to blood test results....

Following three BFNs after IVF transfers this year (as well as a cancelled cycle), my FS ordered blood tests for me and DP to check for chromosomal and other disorders. She also re-did FSH, glucose, thyroid, etc, as well as my CA125 levels.

CA125 stands for Cancer Antigen 125 which is a tumour marker for ovarian cancer. It measures a protein in your blood which, when normal is below 35.

A few years ago, when I first had this tested by my GP due to family history, my levels were 69. Everyone freaked out (me included) and I was referred to a gynae oncologist at the Royal Women's here in Melbourne. I had scans and tests and it was revealed I have adenomyosis (similar to endometriosis but your endometrium invades the muscle wall). That also can account for evelated CA125 levels.

Anyhoo, it is something I have to have tested periodically (six monthly or so) and the highest it has ever been is about 150 (a year ago when I started AC).
Cut to the recent test and it came back as 739 !!!!

The scary thing about this is that 739 is the sort of level that women with stage 3 or 4 ovarian cancer have. It is extremely unusual to be that high due to anything but OC. My FS ordered an immediate MRI and had the results cc-ed to an ovarian cancer specialist at the Women's. In the meantime, I spent the week crying, thinking at the very least I would have to have a hysterectomy , chemo and radiation.

I still don't know what has caused the high CA125 levels as the email from my specialist last night only said "no evidence of sinister pathology". I have an appointment with her on Wednesday to find out more.

So, while ovarian cancer is something I have thought about quite a bit over the past couple of years, this week has really brought it to my attention in a big way.

It really is a horrible disease, and one which we all need to be more aware of IMO.

Thanks for listening x

[~Hestia~]

Firstly, I'm so glad you were given the all clear

Now I have heard of ovarian cancer being called the silent killer but honestly didn't know much else about it. Thanks very much for the info.

[beckoes]

thanks for the info N2L, glad you had the all clear!!!

[Isadora]

Very relieved for you, thanks for that info

[buffy1]

Scary. Thank you so much for posting n2L - and incredibly glad you're ok

[nothing2lose]

Just thought I would bump this...Have an appointment with the oncologist coming up in a couple of weeks and I thought now is as good a time as any to remind women to take care of their health

take care everyone x

PS While you are at it, don't forget to give yourself a breast check every month!

[*LittleMissSummer*]

This is a great post and i also want to add that Ovarian Cancer doesn't discriminate a womans age. A very close friend of mine who is only 24 confided in me that she got a positive result for OC. She is under going treatment, i'm not sure how she is doing as i don't want to press her. But her message was don't put off seeing a doctor if you notice anything different it very well may be nothing but you just never know.