Worth Passin On

[CHRISK]

>This is VERY important, please read!
>
>
>An Eye Opener on Ovarian Cancer --
>
>
>
>I hope you all take the time to read this and pass it on to all you can.
>Send this to the women in your life that you care about.
>
>
>
>Years ago, Gilda Radner died of ovarian cancer. Her symptoms were
>inconclusive, and she was treated for everything under the sun until it
>was
>too late. This blood test finally identified her illness but alas, to
>late.
>She wrote a book to heighten awareness. Gene Wilder is her widower.
>
>
>
>KATHY'S STORY: this is the story of Kathy West
>
>
>
>As all of you know, I have Primary Peritoneal Cancer. This cancer has
>only
>recently been identified as its OWN type of cancer, but it is
>essentially
>Ovarian Cancer.
>
>
>
>Both types of cancer are diagnosed in the same way, with the "tumor
>marker"
>! CA-125 BLOOD TEST, and they are treated in the same way - surgery to
>remove the primary tumor and then chemotherapy with Taxol and
>Carboplatin.
>
>
>
>Having gone through this ordeal, I want to save others from the same
>fate.
>That is why I am sending this message to you and hope you will print it
>and
>give it or send it via E-mail to everybody you know.
>
>
>
>One thing I have learned is that each of us must take TOTAL
>responsibility
>for our own health care. I thought I had done that because I always had
>an
>annual physical and PAP smear, did a monthly Self-Breast Exam, went to
>the
>dentist at least twice a year, etc. I even insisted on a sigmoidoscopy
>and a
>bone density test last year. When I had a total hysterectomy in 1993, I
>thought that I did not have to worry about getting any of the female
>reproductive organ cancers.
>
>
>
>LITTLE DID I KNOW. I don't have ovaries (and they were HEALTHY when they
>were removed), but I have what is essentially ovarian cancer. Strange,
>isn't
>it? These are just SOME of the things our Doctors never tell us: ONE out
>of
>every
>55 women will get OVARIAN or PRIMARY PERITONEAL CANCER. The "CLASSIC"
>symptoms are an ABDOMEN that rather SUDDENLY ENLARGES and CONSTIPATION
>and/or DIARRHEA.
>
>
>
>I had these classic symptoms and went to the doctor. Because these
>symptoms
>seemed to be "abdominal", I went to a gastroenterologist. He ran tests
>that
>were designed to determine whether there was a bacteria infection; these
>tests were negative, and I was diagnosed with "Irritable Bowel
>Syndrome". I
>guess I would have accepted this diagnosis had it not been for my
>enlarged
>abdomen. I swear to you, it looked like I was 4-5 months pregnant! I
>therefore insisted on more tests. They took an X-ray of my abdomen;
>it
>was negative. I was again assured that I had Irritable Bowel Syndrome
>and
>was encouraged to go on my scheduled month-long trip to Europe. I
>couldn't
>wear any of my slacks or shorts because I couldn't get them buttoned,
>and I
>KNEW something was radically wrong. I INSISTED on more tests, and they
>reluctantly) scheduled me for a CT-Scan
>(just to shut me up, I think). This is what I mean by "taking charge of
>our
>own health care." The CT-Scan showed a lot of fluid in my abdomen (NOT
>normal). Needless to say, I had to cancel my trip and have FIVE POUNDS
>REMOVED I assure you), but NOTHING compared to what was ahead of me).
>Tests revealed cancer cells in the fluid. Finally, finally, finally, the
>doctor ran a CA-125 blood test, and I was properly diagnosed.
>
>
>
>I HAD THE CLASSIC SYMPTOMS FOR OVARIAN CANCER, AND YET THIS SIMPLE
>CA-125
>BLOOD TEST HAD NEVER BEEN RUN ON ME, not as part of my annual physical
>exam
>and not when I was symptomatic. This Is an inexpensive and simple blood
>test!
>
>
>
>PLEASE, PLEASE TELL ALL YOUR FEMALE FRIENDS AND RELATIVES TO INSIST ON A
>CA-125 BLOOD TEST EVERY YEAR AS PART OF THEIR ANNUAL PHYSICAL EXAMS.
>
>
>
>Be forewarned that their doctors might try to talk them out of it,
>saying,
>IT ISN'T NECESSARY." Believe me, had I known then what I know now, we
>would
>have caught my cancer much earlier (before it was a stage 3 cancer).
>Insist
>on the CA-125 BLOOD TEST; DO NOT take "NO" for an answer! The
>normal
>range for a CA-125 BLOOD TEST is between zero and 35. MINE WAS 754.
>(That's
>right,
>754!). If the number is slightly above 35, you can have another done in
>three or six months and keep a close eye on it, just as women do when
>they
>have fibroid tumors or when men have a slightly elevated PSA test
>(Prostatic
>Specific Antigens) that helps diagnose prostate cancer.
>
>
>
>Having the CA-125 test done annually can alert you early, and that's the
>goal in diagnosing any type of cancer - catching it early.
>
>
>
>Do you know 55 women? If so, at least one of them will have this VERY
>AGGRESSIVE cancer. Please, go to your doctor and insist on a CA-125 test
>and
>have one EVERY YEAR for the rest of your life. And forward this
>message
>to every woman you know, and tell all of your female family members and
>friends. Though the median age for this cancer is 56, (and, guess what,
>I'm
>exactly 56), women as young as 22 have it. Age is no factor.
>
>
>
>A NOTE FROM THE RN:
>
>
>
>Well, after reading this, I made some calls. I found that the CA-125
>test is
>an ovarian screening test equivalent to a man's PSA test prostate screen
>(which my husband's doctor automatically gives him in his physical each
>year
>and insurance pays for it). I called the general practitioner's office
>about
>having the test done. The nurse had never heard of it. She told me that
>she
>doubted that insurance would pay for it. So I called Prudential
>Insurance
>Co., and got the same response. Never heard of it - it won't be covered.
>
>
>
>I explained that it was the same as the PSA test they had paid for my
>husband for years. After conferring with whomever they confer with, she
>told
>me that the CA-125 would be covered.
>
>
>
>It is $75 in a GP's office and $125 at the GYN's. This is a screening
>test
>that should be required just like a PAP smear (a PAP smear cannot detect
>problems with your ovaries). And you must insist that your insurance
>company
>pay for it.
>
>
>
>Gene Wilder and Pierce Brosnan (his wife had it, too) are lobbying for
>women's health issues, saying that this test should be required in our
>physicals, just like the PAP and the mammogram.
>
>
>
>PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO SEND THIS OUT TO ALL THOSE YOU CAN. BE IT MALE
>OR
>FEMALE, IT SHOULD NOT MATTER, AS THEY CAN FORWARD IT ALSO TO THOSE LOVED
>ONES THEY KNOW.
>
>
>
>IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH FORWARDING SOMETHING AS IMPORTANT AS THIS,
>HERE'S
>A LITTLE HINT THAT MAY ASSIST YOU WITH YOUR DECISION ~ JUST PRETEND THAT
>THIS IS A JOKE, WHICH IT CERTAINLY IS NOT, AND SEND IT OUT TO ALL THE
>FOLKS
>YOU WOULD IF IT WAS. THANKS.