Ovarian Cancer - The Silent Killer...

[Aurora_s_Flame]

We are just stepping into October, Breast Cancer, but you have to remember ladies, your "girls" aren't the only thing that should have a regular check-up.

Ovarian cancer is a silent and very deadly killer. I know this from personal experience.

In the summer of 2001, my mother started burping. Silly thing eh? A little bit of excess gas...nothing to worry about. Something one might even giggle about. We had no idea what this was an indicator for. In the period of less than 2 weeks my mother went from her normal size to looking as though she could give birth any day now do to the swelling.

My mom was the most active person I know. She never drank, she never smoked, she ate right, she took care of herself. But cancer does NOT discriminate...age, race, sex, financial background...it is there, and it is serious.

Three weeks after her diagnosis, my mother passed away. Her body could just no longer take the tolls of this viscious killer attacking her body.

I remember her always telling me to go for my mamogram, to just make sure. But she herself hadn't been in for a full physical in over 5 years. She believed her body would tell her ahead of time if anything was wrong. The doctors said that if she had gone in for her physical there is a good chance she could have had a much better chance.

You should know that a Pap smear will NOT show if a woman has ovarian cancer. Researchers are still looking into trying to determine what will be an indicator earlier on in this cancer, but for now only regular (yearly) check ups are the only preventative measures.

If you don't want to do this for yourself, fine...then do it for your spouse, your kids, your friends. Don't be willing to risk letting them lose someone they care about.

For more information, check out these sites:

Canadian National Ovarian Cancer Association

American National Ovarian Cancer Coalition

"I am woman, hear me roar!"

~ Rora

 

[Anais Dahl]

Thank you Aurora for the post.

My sister is battling breast cancer and she is not winning. Ladies, please take care of yourselves and be checked regularly, both orchestra and balcony.

 

[Parklife]

My mother went in to have a cyst removed from an ovary last November. The Dr.s assured her that there was no chance of cancer.

Of course, she had ovarian cancer, the cyst burst during surgery spreading fluid throughout her body cavity...

I'm happy to say that after 6 months of chemo, things seem to be well and she is now back to her feet and indications are that the cancer has been kept at bay.

I started getting a regular check-up for various things myself (as a male) this year and have promised her to keep it up.

Something we all should do.

Park~

 

[intrigued]

I'm very sorry for your loss.

This thread was just what I needed, I thank you very much.

 

[Cheyenne]

Might I add a suggestion for annual skin checkups, too? Get those moles looked at by a professional!

Melanoma, in particular, can easily spread to your lungs (or other organ) and kill you if you don't kill it with early detection and treatment, first. I learned this first hand yesterday, from someone who didn't catch it soon enough and now won't be around much longer, unfortunately.

 

[Aurora_s_Flame]

Thank you everyone for your posts. It's nice to know that people understand the risks out there.

I do want to say, that check-ups really can help! My friend's mom went in for her annual, and she too was told there were cysts on her ovaries, but they were pretty sure it wasn't cancerous. She too went in for surgery, and the doctors discovered otherwise. But the thing was...they caught it early. With chemo and radiation they were able to help treat it. That was 5 1/2 years ago, and her mom is as healthy as can be. She has told me she is thankful every day for her check up. So is her daughter and husband.

Just remember, sometimes the biggest thing you can do for others, is doing something to help/protect yourself!

~ Rora

 

[Aurora_s_Flame]

Bump's are okay...

Lumps are bad...have them checked out!

~ Rora

 

[SexyAmber]

Great thread ... Eduction is the key...I have ovarian cancer when I was 18. No symptoms at all. I just had always had an irregular cycle and I started to get migrane headaches and gain some weight that was not normal for me. When they did a full body CAT scan when they couldn't discover the source of my migraines and they discovered a cyst on my ovary.

You are right when they say it is a silent killer...I was 18, perfect health and no other sympton besides irregular periods. I was fine, they caught it earlier and my recovery was actually simple. I just got lucky even enough for them to do reconstructive surgery on my ovary, after the removal of the tumor around it.

Thank you for bringing this subject that is rarely mentioned to light.

Amber

 

[intrigued]

Great thread ... Eduction is the key...I have ovarian cancer when I was 18. No symptoms at all. I just had always had an irregular cycle and I started to get migrane headaches and gain some weight that was not normal for me. When they did a full body CAT scan when they couldn't discover the source of my migraines and they discovered a cyst on my ovary.

You are right when they say it is a silent killer...I was 18, perfect health and no other sympton besides irregular periods. I was fine, they caught it earlier and my recovery was actually simple. I just got lucky even enough for them to do reconstructive surgery on my ovary, after the removal of the tumor around it.

Thank you for bringing this subject that is rarely mentioned to light.

Amber

You had none of the swelling and heavy bleeding?

I have lost alot of weight in the last year, yet no matter that i've dropped three sizes and look like a totally different person, my actual weight (the number) has not gone down that much. It puzzles me....I often look 4 months pregnant. My stomach is hard and smooth, and when I look down, one side is larger, and sticks out more...and my periods are often frightening in the amount of blood I lose.

I have gone to my gynecologist with different concerns, and to a new one as well. They always tell me it's just that I'm in perimenopause. It's gotten to that point that I just stopped going...I don't know how to ask them to do more than they have...which is only a vaginal ultrasound tha last time I started gushing blood, to determine that it wasn't an ectopic pregnancy, as i've had one before. They deduced that it's all hormones.

It would be really nice is there were a screening for ovarian cancer.
What exactly do they do to determine that you have it...just the discovery of a cyst, through an ultrasound? I'm sorry for all the questions, I'm just frustrated.

 

[SexyAmber]

You had none of the swelling and heavy bleeding?

I have lost alot of weight in the last year, yet no matter that i've dropped three sizes and look like a totally different person, my actual weight (the number) has not gone down that much. It puzzles me....I often look 4 months pregnant. My stomach is hard and smooth, and when I look down, one side is larger, and sticks out more...and my periods are often frightening in the amount of blood I lose.

I have gone to my gynecologist with different concerns, and to a new one as well. They always tell me it's just that I'm in perimenopause. It's gotten to that point that I just stopped going...I don't know how to ask them to do more than they have...which is only a vaginal ultrasound tha last time I started gushing blood, to determine that it wasn't an ectopic pregnancy, as i've had one before. They deduced that it's all hormones.

It would be really nice is there were a screening for ovarian cancer.
What exactly do they do to determine that you have it...just the discovery of a cyst, through an ultrasound? I'm sorry for all the questions, I'm just frustrated.

No no feel free to ask. I had heavy bleeding but because of my age the doctor told me it was just caused by irregular periods. I think in my case it was the my age was so young that they didn't even think of it. I had an ultrasound and it didn't show the cyst. The only thing that showed it was the cat scan...so I would recommend that! Feel free to ask any questions, I am a nurse too so I will try to help in anyway I can

 

[intrigued]

No no feel free to ask. I had heavy bleeding but because of my age the doctor told me it was just caused by irregular periods. I think in my case it was the my age was so young that they didn't even think of it. I had an ultrasound and it didn't show the cyst. The only thing that showed it was the cat scan...so I would recommend that! Feel free to ask any questions, I am a nurse too so I will try to help in anyway I can

Well, thank you very much. I have decided to go, its just that I'm not certain what exactly to say. I got so upset the last time over the fact that I had to practically take them by the hand to get the vaginal ultraound...they saw nothing very serious about the fact that one minute I was just fine, the next I was cramping severly and had blood gushing out of me, and running down my legs.
The swelling is so bad that at times, I cannot wear my usual clothes, and have to wear big t~shirts. What I mean by "at times" is that around my cycle, it really gets big, (and that encompasses about 2.5 to 3 weeks because I'm so whacked) and then goes down a little.
I eat like a bird, so I know this truly isn't a weight issue. My arms, legs and everywhere else is very thin...yet have this huge tummy. Also, it is all in the pelvic area, very low down, and not above the belly button, there...I am quite small and flat.
It's just odd.....

I really do appreciate this thread. I had honestly stopped going to the doctor because I've had some really bad experiences/medical problems and I basically gave up. This thread gave me a huge push...I thank you.

Now...if only I can learn to do a breast exam...my breasts are nothing but lumps, and I have a very hard time doing it. But I'll keep at it. You have to.

Thank you all, for this thread and the thread about Breast Cancer.

 

[Aurora_s_Flame]

Intrigued,

Most definitely go back to the doctor...or a different doctor if that one isn't making you feel reassured. Tell him/her about all of the problems, complications you've been having, and keep track of how long these things are occuring.

It's true that ultrasounds can eventually show something, but usually it is in too advanced of a stage. Go demand a cat scan. Your body is obviously out of wack. At least make yourself feel better by finding out what is going on. Taking that first step is the most important. And who knows, it could be nothing. Better to find out now then further down the line.

The best of wishes and prayers for you in support. If ever you want to talk, feel free.

~ Rora

 

[Guest]

 

[littlekateyes]

Thank you for posting this, this is something I needed to see.

 

[Aurora_s_Flame]

Thank you for posting this, this is something I needed to see.

It's all about making people aware!

~ Rora

 

[intrigued]

Intrigued,

Most definitely go back to the doctor...or a different doctor if that one isn't making you feel reassured. Tell him/her about all of the problems, complications you've been having, and keep track of how long these things are occuring.

It's true that ultrasounds can eventually show something, but usually it is in too advanced of a stage. Go demand a cat scan. Your body is obviously out of wack. At least make yourself feel better by finding out what is going on. Taking that first step is the most important. And who knows, it could be nothing. Better to find out now then further down the line.

The best of wishes and prayers for you in support. If ever you want to talk, feel free.

~ Rora

Thank you. I've been promising someone I would go and kept putting it off, but no more. I will make an appointment Monday, and I'll schedule a mammogram too.

Wonderful thread!

 

[Aurora_s_Flame]

Bump...

because I said so!

~ Rora

 

[Mrs Christophe]

intrigued, i would also recommend a different doctor, one who actually will order the tests you need, this is NOT normal for you, by all means. sounds like you need a hyster. if so, just call on me anytime, had one last year. best thing i ever did. it was hell at first after surgery but there are slso good web sites out there for all the problems.

 

[intrigued]

intrigued, i would also recommend a different doctor, one who actually will order the tests you need, this is NOT normal for you, by all means. sounds like you need a hyster. if so, just call on me anytime, had one last year. best thing i ever did. it was hell at first after surgery but there are slso good web sites out there for all the problems.

Thank you. I have made up my mind to get to the bottom of this, I'm just tired of it and how it makes me feel as well as how I look, and tired of being scared.

We need to keep this thread bumped.

 

[Aurora_s_Flame]

Bumpity...

Bump bump bump!

~ Rora

 

[bknight2602]

Good morning Rora, how are you?

 

[JerseyBoy]

I just read that Jersey City has the highest Cancer rate (esp. ovarian) in the country...

Run Peachykeen, run...let's just hope you didnt live there too long

 

[Aurora_s_Flame]

Good morning Rora, how are you?

Good morning night...

I'm feeling a little bit better...still stiff and ribs hurt...c'est la vie!



~ Rora

 

[phrodeau]

Aurora_s_Flame, this might not be the right place to ask, but I'm eager to know.

Is your AV a picture of the balcony or the orchestra?

 

[Golden Eyes]

thank you for this thread , I just happened to be looking at the new threads and I saw this one. I myself am going to the Dr. tomorrow for a checkup. I found something on SUnday morning, and he wants to see me. It might be just a cyst. So wish me luck.

thanks