Day 3 - A Month of Teal - There ARE Symptoms!

Yesterday, I wrote that there is no screening test for ovarian cancer. Since that is the case every woman and her loved ones should be aware that there are symptoms of the disease.

Bloating

Feeling Full Quickly

Pelvic Abdominal Pain

Frequent Urination

Less common symptoms include:

Fatigue
Back pain
Menstrual irregularities
Constipation
Pain with intercourse

If these symptoms last for more than two weeks please see your gynecologist.

Source: http://www.foundationforwomenscancer.org/types-of-gynecologic-cancers/ovarian/symptoms/

Dee
Every Day is a Blessing! 

A Month of Teal- Is there a Screening Test for Ovarian Cancer ?

NO !
There is no screening test for ovarian cancer.

You may have heard about the CA-125 blood test. This test is not specific enough to be used on the general population to detect ovarian cancer.

You can learn more about CA-125 by reading this newly updated brochure, CA-125 Levels: Your Guide  by the Foundation for Women's Cancer.

The PAP test does not screen for ovarian cancer - it screens for cervical cancer.

Dee
Every Day is a Blessing!

A Great Way to Learn

If you have never been to an Ovarian Cancer Survivors Course given by the Foundation for Women's Cancer then you have missed out on a great opportunity to learn the latest about ovarian cancer - what we know about the disease, the lastest and best treatments and how to take care of yourself through all stages of the disease. I have been to three of these courses in the past 10 years, most recently on Sept 16th in Morristown, NJ. 

About 75 people attended the  course which was held at the Carol G Simon Cancer Center at Morristown Medical Center. There were survivors, caregivers, family, social workers and a number of ovarian cancer organizations in the audience. I was happy to see friends and fellow survivors manning the information tables of the Kaleidoscope of Hope Foundation , the NJ chapter of the NOCC, SHARE and Cancer Support Community.

After a welcome by Dr Daniel Tobias, Director of the Woman's Cancer Center, and listening to his patient, Theresa,  discussed how she dealt with her diagnosis, the Course began.

Dr Ilana Cass - Ovarian Cancer:Is Progress Being Made

Dr Allison Wagreich -Genetic Risk and Prevention of Ovarian Cancer 

Nana Tchabo -Clinical Trials and New Treatments

Dr Mark Einstein- The Importance of Being Treated by a Gynecologic Oncologists (l) , Dr Micheal Pearl - Supportive Care the Women with Cancer (center) and Dr Daniel Tobias during the question and answer period. 

Just a few of the important points shared during the Course :

• Surgery by gynecologic oncologists  who do large numbers of patients can improve survival.
• Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is not inferior to primary debulking surgery.
• The Cancer Genome Atlas  has provided information on genes responsible for OC.
• Exercise can improve quality of life which improves survival.
• Familial cancer syndromes include BRCA1,2 and Lynch Syndrome.
• 3-7% of the women with the BRCA mutations undergoing Risk Reducing Surgery were found to have cancer in their tissue.
• Clinical trials are NOT the last resort. 
• Making progress against cancer is dependent on clinical trials
• "Palliative Care is appropriate at any time during management of a serious illness." 
• Palliative Care is beneficial, improves survival and reduces cost.  

Check for future courses here.

Dee
Every Day is a Blessing! Blessed that the Foundation for Women's Cancer mission is to educate survivors and caregivers.

What You Need to Know About The CA-125 Test

Women who have ovarian cancer or are suspected of having ovarian cancer will usually have their blood tested for CA-125. CA-125 ( cancer antigen 125) is a protein that is produced on the surface of cells and can be measured in teh blood. You may also hear CA-125 be called a tumor biomarker for ovarian cancer.

The protein is elevated in 80% of the women with advanced disease and 50% of those with early stage cancer ( Source : OCRF) . I wrote about how the test method in this blog post.

The best source I have found explaining the CA-125 test is

Understanding CA-125 Levels: A Guide for Ovarian Cancer Patients

produced by the Foundation for Women's Cancer.

Since my CA-125 was still in the normal range when I recurred my gyn-onc and I look at the trend up in results not necessary the actual number.

Dee
Every Day is a Blessing!

Today Begins Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month

This month, Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month and Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, I am taking the #GynCan Challenge sponsored by the Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Network .  In addition to information on ovarian cancer and my thoughts about being an ovarian cancer survivor I will also share some information about the other “Below the Belt” women’s cancers - cervical, uterine(endometrial),vulvar, vaginal, fallopian tube and primary peritoneal.

Every woman is at risk for ovarian cancer! 

 Let's start with this informational video by the Foundation for Women's Cancer. 

 

I invite you to check by each day to learn some important facts about gynecologic cancers.

Dee

Every Day is a Blessing ! 

Globe-athon 2013

What is a Globe-thon you ask? Is it like a Walk-athon? Is it a Marathon? 

A few years ago Foundation for Women's Cancer held a 72 hour race around the Mall in Washington DC for physicians and  gynecologic cancer survivors and advocates.  The race was a huge success. Then someone brought up the idea of  holding a walk on the same day in countries across the globe.  

Today, Globe-athon is a  coalition of participants in  60+ countries who will walk  to raise awareness, education and research of women's gynecologic cancer's. This grass-roots international relay for gynecologic cancers will take place this year on the weekend of September 29th. People will march in solidarity with each other, women diagnosed with the disease, their caregivers and health care providers.  

Here is the reason why holding Globe-thon is so important.
"Global cancer statistics indicate that gynecologic cancers accounted for 19% of the 5.1 million estimated new cancer cases, 2.9 million cancer deaths and 13 million 5-year prevalent cancer cases among women in the world.  Each year, over 230,000 women are diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer worldwide. The majority of these women will die from the disease: Ovarian Cancer is responsible for an estimated 140,000 deaths per year, worldwide. Cervical Cancer is alarmingly on the rise in South and East Asia, Latin America and Africa with the incidence and death rate higher than it has been in 30 years.  These silent and deadly diseases are a major global priority. "(Source:globethon.com)

In NJ you can join the Globe-thon by walking in the North Jersey NOCC walk in West Orange , NJ. 
Click here to register. 

For more information on Globe-thon and to help "shine a light on these under the radar, below the belt cancers" See the Globe-athon website  and follow them on twitter at @Globeathon. 

Dee
Every Day is a Blessing!

Ovarian Cancer Survivor Course - 9/21/13 NJ Location

I am happy to provide the information about the Foundation for Women's Cancer Ovarian Cancer Survivors Course which will be held a Morristown Medical Center on Saturday September 21, 2013. It is a free course and is open to survivors, family members, caregivers and others interested in learning about ovarian cancer. Topics to be presented include Screening and Early Detection, Clinical Trials, Recurrent Ovarian Cancer , Nutrition, sexuality and cancer and patients perceptions on survival.

Click on the image below to view the complete list of speakers and topics and to print out the course brochure.

To register online click here.

Having attended survivor courses in the past and always came away learning something new.  I would be attending if not for a previous engagement that day. Go RU beat Arkansas!


Dee
Every Day is a blessing!

NY - Survivor's Course

I thought many of my readers would be interested in this Ovarian Cancer Survivor's course presented by the Foundation for Women's Cancers. Here is the info I received in an e-mail. I have attended two courses in the past and learned information I found helpful as a survivor.

The Foundation for Women's Cancer is pleased to announce its upcoming Ovarian Cancer Survivors Course!  This course will be held Saturday, June 8, 2013, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm in New York at NYU Langone Medical Center, 550 First Avenue at 31st Street, New York, NY. The Foundation is pleased to offer this FREE course for all cancer survivors, friends, family members and others who are interested in hearing from the leading U.S. experts in ovarian cancer research.  These experts will share new information about ovarian cancer, and time for questions and answers, as well as networking with other survivors, will be provided.

Registration is required.

Please visit the Foundation Web Site to register today!

Dee
Every Day is a Blessing!

For Jo - Not Just Ovaries

Yesterday, Jo, passed away from cervical cancer. Jo was one of my long distance British friends.

I started reading Jo's blog , Life in Windermere ( http://lifeinwindermere.blogspot.com/) a few years ago. I was lucky to get to know Jo, her husband, son, soccer and The Royal Marsden Cancer Center even better through a group on Facebook. She was the cervical cancer survivor of the group and had been in remission for a few years until it recurred in 2010. (Thank you Sandhy for inviting Jo to be part of our little group.) I will miss how Jo, even in the midst of treatment or traveling to London, would always know just what to say to calm down one of her online teal sisters.

It doesn't matter if you live in the US or in the UK, countless women and their families are impacted by gynecologic cancers every day. And it is not just about ovarian cancer. Do you know the other gynecologic cancers?

Cervical Cancer

Endometrial Cancer

Primary Peritoneal

Fallopian Tube Cancer

Uterine Cancer

Vaginal Cancer

Vulvar Cancer

The Women's Cancer Network website is a wealth of information about ovarian and these other gynecologic cancers. For 20 years the The Foundation for Women's Cancer ( Formerly the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation) has increased awareness, offered education and funded research of gynecologic cancers. They also provide women with the opportunity to learn more about ovarian and endometrial cancers through their Survivor's Courses. On November 6,2011 in Washington DC the Foundation will be hosting The National Race to End Women's Cancer an 8K and 1 mile run to raise awareness and funds for research. On November 5th the foundation also will host ovarian, uterine and HPV/ cervical courses.

Dee

Every Day is a Blessing! Thank you Jo for being one of those blessings!