Day 4: A Month of Teal - You Experience Symptoms. Now What?

Yesterday I wrote about symptoms. What if you have those symptoms? What do you do?

I recommend reaching out to your gynecologist for an appointment. Be sure to mention the severity and duration of the symptoms you feel. The gynecologist will most likely:

• do a PAP test ( if you haven't had one )
• perform internal pelvic exam
• get your family history ( let her know about any breast, ovarian, colon  cancer in your family - both mother and father's side). Ovarian cancer and breast cancer have a hereditary link (BRCA mutations) as does colon cancer ( Lynch Syndrome).
• if your doctor has concerns she may send you for a transvaginal ultrasound and also run a CA-125 blood test. 

 For graphics of the pelvic exam and transvaginal ultrasound mentioned above please see this page ( https://www.cancer.gov/types/ovarian/patient/ovarian-screening-pdq#section/_12)  on the NCI website.

If your results show the possibility of ovarian cancer please ask for a referral to see a gynecologic oncologist. Studies have shown that women treated by gynecologic oncologists have better outcomes. See The Relevance of Gynecologic Oncologists to Provide High-Quality of Care to Women with Gynecological Cancer for more information - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4712269/ .

Dee
Every day is a Blessing!

A Quick Overview of Cervical Cancer

What is it? What causes it?
There are two types of cervical cancer: squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. 
Squamous cell carcinoma begins in the thin, flat cells that line the cervix. 
Adenocarcinoma begins in cervical cells that make mucus and other fluids. The cervix is the end of the uterus and leads from the uterus to the vagina.  

There are certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV) that cause almost all cases of cervical cancer. Two HPV types, 16 and 18, are responsible for about 70 percent of all cases

How many women will be diagnosed?
There will be an estimated 12,900 women diagnosed with cervical cancer in the US in 2015. Cervical cancer will take the lives of an estimated 4,100 women in 2015.  The five year survival rate for cervical cancer is 67.8%. In 2012 there were an estimated 249,512 womenin the US living with cervical cancer.

What are the symptoms of cervical cancer?

Vaginal bleeding (including bleeding after sexual intercourse)

Unusual vaginal discharge. 

Pelvic pain

Pain during sexual intercourse.

Is there a screening test for cervical cancer ? 
 Regular screening of women between the ages of 21 and 65 years is done using the Pap Test. (http://www.cancer.gov/Common/PopUps/popDefinition.aspx?id=45978&version=Patient&language=English)

If the Pap test is positive and HPV test may be recommended. 

What are the risk factors? 
Though not all women who have the HPV infection will develop cervical cancer , HPV is the major cause of cervical cancer. Other risks include: 

• Giving birth to many children.
• Having many sexual partners.
• Having first sexual intercourse at a young age.
• Smoking cigarettes.
• Using oral contraceptives ("the Pill").

Is there a way to prevent cervical cancers?
Yes vaccines developed to prevent HPV infections can prevent cervical cancer. "The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved three vaccines to prevent HPV infection: Gardasil®, Gardasil® 9, and Cervarix®. These vaccines provide strong protection against new HPV infections, but they are not effective at treating established HPV infections. "(NCI)

What treatments are given to women diagnosed with cervical cancer? 
Women may be treated with :
Surgery
Radiation
Chemotherapy

For more information please visit:
Foundation for Women's Cancer brochure Understanding Cervical Cancer (http://www.foundationforwomenscancer.org/wp-content/uploads/Understanding-Cervical-Cancer-2013.pdf)

Are you a cervical cancer survivor? Visit the Cervivor website http://cervivor.org/

Dee
Every day is a Blessing!


Sources:
http://www.cancer.gov/types/cervical
http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/cervix.html

I Have Symptoms - Now What?

If you have any of the  symptoms that I mentioned in my post of September  3^rd , you should make an appointment to see a physician, preferably your gynecologist. There is NO screening test for ovarian cancer for the general public. But there are a few tests that your doctor may run if he/she suspects you have ovarian cancer.

At your appointment with the gynecologist you may have a pelvic exam. If you are due for a PAP test your gynecologist may do it at this time too. Remember a PAP test is a screening test for cervical cancer.

In addition to the medical tests she may do, you doctor will ask questions about your personal medical history as well as that of your family.  Be sure to mention to your doctor if anyone in your immediate family (aunts /uncles too) has had breast or ovarian cancer or has Lynch syndrome. About 10 % of ovarian cancers are hereditary. (Tomorrow's post will discuss risk factors.)

If your doctor has concerns during the exam she may do for a trans-vaginal ultrasound.  You can find more info about the transvaginal ultrasound here.  She may also ask you to have blood drawn to test the level of  the ovarian cancer tumor antigen, CA-125. ( I'll provide additional information on the CA-125 test in a future post.)

For more information and diagrams of screening methods please visit : http://www.cancer.gov/types/ovarian/patient/ovarian-screening-pdq#section/_12

My Story / Advice:  I recommend going to the doctor with a small notebook and writing down information your doctor has given you. That way you won't forget  important information and appointments. I used a small pocket-size notebook to keep track of information and to write down any questions I had so that I could remember to ask my doctor when I saw her. 

Dee

Every Day is a Blessing!