FW: Fw: A MUST READ!!!!
Frances Morey
austin-ghetto-list@pairlist.net
Wed Feb 25 12:02:35 2004
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Since I lost my own very dear mother to this form of cancer it really got my attention. I got the post from Beverly Veltman who is quite in the know on health issues.
Frances
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From: "Beverly Veltman" <bveltman@hotmail.com>
To: aqueralt@austin.rr.com
Subject: FW: Fw: A MUST READ!!!!(Mary Ann)
Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2004 12:56:32 +0000
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<DIV></DIV> >
<DIV></DIV>> > Sent: Monday, February 23, 2004 12:23 PM
<DIV></DIV>> > Subject: Fw: Fw: A MUST READ!!!!(Mary Ann)
<DIV></DIV>> >
<DIV></DIV>> >
<DIV></DIV>> > >
<DIV></DIV>> > > > THIS IS A MUST TO READ TO THE END P L E A S E!
<DIV></DIV>> > > >
<DIV></DIV>> > > > An Eye Opener on Ovarian Cancer
<DIV></DIV>> > > >
<DIV></DIV>> > > > I hope you all take the time to read this and pass it on to all
<DIV></DIV>> > > > you
<DIV></DIV>> > can.
<DIV></DIV>> > > Send this to the women in your life that you care about.
<DIV></DIV>> > > >
<DIV></DIV>> > > > Years ago, Gilda Radner died of ovarian cancer. Her symptoms were
<DIV></DIV>> > > inconclusive, and she was treated for everything under the sun until
<DIV></DIV>> > it
<DIV></DIV>> > was
<DIV></DIV>> > > too late. This blood test finally identified her illness but alas,
<DIV></DIV>> > too
<DIV></DIV>> > > late. She wrote a book to heighten awareness. Gene Wilder is her
<DIV></DIV>> > widower.
<DIV></DIV>> > > >
<DIV></DIV>> > > > KATHY'S STORY: this is the story of Kathy West
<DIV></DIV>> > > >
<DIV></DIV>> > > > As all of you know, I have Primary Peritoneal Cancer. This cancer
<DIV></DIV>> > has
<DIV></DIV>> > > only recently been identified as its OWN type of cancer, but it is
<DIV></DIV>> > > essentially Ovarian Cancer.
<DIV></DIV>> > > > Both types of cancer are diagnosed in the same way, with the
<DIV></DIV>> > > > "tumor
<DIV></DIV>> > > marker" CA-125 BLOOD TEST, and they are treated in the same way
<DIV></DIV>> > surgery
<DIV></DIV>> > to
<DIV></DIV>> > > remove the primary tumor and then chemotherapy with Taxol and
<DIV></DIV>> > Carboplatin.
<DIV></DIV>> > > Having gone through this ordeal, I want to save others from the same
<DIV></DIV>> > fate.
<DIV></DIV>> > > > That is why I am sending this message to you and hope you will
<DIV></DIV>> > > > print
<DIV></DIV>> > it
<DIV></DIV>> > > and give it or send it via E-mail to everybody you know. One thing I
<DIV></DIV>> > have
<DIV></DIV>> > > learned is that each of us must take TOTAL responsibility for our
<DIV></DIV>> > > own
<DIV></DIV>> > health
<DIV></DIV>> > > care. I thought I had done that because I always had an annual
<DIV></DIV>> > physical
<DIV></DIV>> > and
<DIV></DIV>> > > PAP smear, did a monthly Self-Breast Exam, went to the dentist at
<DIV></DIV>> > least
<DIV></DIV>> > > twice a year, etc. I even insisted on a sigmoidoscopy and a bone
<DIV></DIV>> > density
<DIV></DIV>> > > test last year. When I had a total hysterectomy in 1993, I thought
<DIV></DIV>> > that I
<DIV></DIV>> > > did not have to worry about getting any of the female reproductive
<DIV></DIV>> > organ
<DIV></DIV>> > > cancers. LITTLE DID I KNOW. I don't have ovaries (and they were
<DIV></DIV>> > HEALTHY
<DIV></DIV>> > when
<DIV></DIV>> > > they were removed), but I have what is essentially ovarian cancer.
<DIV></DIV>> > Strange,
<DIV></DIV>> > > isn't it?
<DIV></DIV>> > > >
<DIV></DIV>> > > > These are just SOME of the things our Doctors never tell us: ONE
<DIV></DIV>> > > > out
<DIV></DIV>> > of
<DIV></DIV>> > > every 55 women will get OVARIAN or PRIMARY PERITONEAL CANCER.
<DIV></DIV>> > > >
<DIV></DIV>> > > > The "CLASSIC" symptoms are an ABDOMEN that rather SUDDENLY
<DIV></DIV>> > > > ENLARGES
<DIV></DIV>> > and
<DIV></DIV>> > > CONSTIPATION and/or DIARRHEA.
<DIV></DIV>> > > >
<DIV></DIV>> > > > I had these classic symptoms and went to the doctor. Because these
<DIV></DIV>> > > symptoms seemed to be "abdominal", I went to a gastroenterologist.
<DIV></DIV>> > > He
<DIV></DIV>> > ran
<DIV></DIV>> > > tests that were designed to determine whether there was a bacteria
<DIV></DIV>> > > infection; these tests were negative, and I was diagnosed with
<DIV></DIV>> > "Irritable
<DIV></DIV>> > > Bowel Syndrome". I guess I would have accepted this diagnosis had
<DIV></DIV>> > > it
<DIV></DIV>> > not
<DIV></DIV>> > > been for my enlarged abdomen. I swear to you, it looked like I was
<DIV></DIV>> > > 4-5 months pregnant! I therefore insisted on more tests.
<DIV></DIV>> > > >
<DIV></DIV>> > > > They took an X-ray of my abdomen; it was negative. I was again
<DIV></DIV>> > assured
<DIV></DIV>> > > that I had Irritable Bowel Syndrome and was encouraged to go on my
<DIV></DIV>> > scheduled
<DIV></DIV>> > > month-long trip to Europe. I couldn't wear any of my slacks or
<DIV></DIV>> > > shorts because I couldn't get them buttoned, and I KNEW something
<DIV></DIV>> > > was
<DIV></DIV>> > radically
<DIV></DIV>> > > wrong. I INSISTED on more tests, and they reluctantly) scheduled me
<DIV></DIV>> > for a
<DIV></DIV>> > > CT-Scan (just to shut me up, I think). This is what I mean by
<DIV></DIV>> > > "taking
<DIV></DIV>> > charge
<DIV></DIV>> > > of our own health care."
<DIV></DIV>> > > >
<DIV></DIV>> > > > The CT-Scan showed a lot of fluid in my abdomen (NOT normal).
<DIV></DIV>> > Needless
<DIV></DIV>> > to
<DIV></DIV>> > > say, I had to cancel my trip. Tests revealed cancer cells in the
<DIV></DIV>> > fluid.
<DIV></DIV>> > > Finally, finally, finally, the doctor ran a CA-125 blood test, and I
<DIV></DIV>> > was
<DIV></DIV>> > > properly diagnosed.
<DIV></DIV>> > > >
<DIV></DIV>> > > > I HAD THE CLASSIC SYMPTOMS FOR OVARIAN CANCER, AND YET THIS SIMPLE
<DIV></DIV>> > CA-125
<DIV></DIV>> > > BLOOD TEST HAD NEVER BEEN RUN ON ME, not as part of my annual
<DIV></DIV>> > > physical
<DIV></DIV>> > exam
<DIV></DIV>> > > and not when I was symptomatic. This Is an inexpensive and simple
<DIV></DIV>> > blood
<DIV></DIV>> > > test!
<DIV></DIV>> > > >
<DIV></DIV>> > > > PLEASE, PLEASE TELL ALL YOUR FEMALE FRIENDS AND RELATIVES TO
<DIV></DIV>> > > > INSIST
<DIV></DIV>> > ON A
<DIV></DIV>> > > CA-125 BLOOD TEST EVERY YEAR AS PART OF THEIR ANNUAL PHYSICAL EXAMS.
<DIV></DIV>> > > >
<DIV></DIV>> > > > Be forewarned that their doctors might try to talk them out of it,
<DIV></DIV>> > saying,
<DIV></DIV>> > > IT ISN'T NECESSARY." Believe me, had I known then what I know now,
<DIV></DIV>> > > we
<DIV></DIV>> > would
<DIV></DIV>> > > have caught my cancer much earlier (before it was a stage 3 cancer).
<DIV></DIV>> > > Insist on the CA-125 BLOOD TEST; DO NOT take "NO" for an answer!
<DIV></DIV>> > > >
<DIV></DIV>> > > > The normal range for a CA-125 BLOOD TEST is between zero and 35.
<DIV></DIV>> > MINE
<DIV></DIV>> > WAS
<DIV></DIV>> > > 754. (That's right, 754!). If the number is slightly above 35, you
<DIV></DIV>> > can
<DIV></DIV>> > > have another done in three or six months and keep a close eye on it,
<DIV></DIV>> > just
<DIV></DIV>> > as
<DIV></DIV>> > > women do when they have fibroid tumors or when men have a slightly
<DIV></DIV>> > elevated
<DIV></DIV>> > > PSA test (Prostatic Specific Antigens) that helps diagnose prostate
<DIV></DIV>> > cancer.
<DIV></DIV>> > > >
<DIV></DIV>> > > > Having the CA-125 test done annually can alert you early, and
<DIV></DIV>> > > > that's
<DIV></DIV>> > the
<DIV></DIV>> > > goal in diagnosing any type of cancer - catching it early.
<DIV></DIV>> > > >
<DIV></DIV>> > > > Do you know 55 women? If so, at least one! of them will have this
<DIV></DIV>> > VERY
<DIV></DIV>> > > AGGRESIVE cancer. Please, go to your doctor and insist on a CA-125
<DIV></DIV>> > test
<DIV></DIV>> > and
<DIV></DIV>> > > have one EVERY YEAR for the rest of your life.
<DIV></DIV>> > > >
<DIV></DIV>> > > > And forward this message to every woman you know, and tell all of
<DIV></DIV>> > your
<DIV></DIV>> > > female family members and friends. Though the median age for this
<DIV></DIV>> > cancer
<DIV></DIV>> > is
<DIV></DIV>> > > 56, (and, guess what, I'm exactly 56), women as young as 22 have it.
<DIV></DIV>> > Age
<DIV></DIV>> > is
<DIV></DIV>> > > no factor.
<DIV></DIV>> > > >
<DIV></DIV>> > > > A NOTE FROM THE RN:
<DIV></DIV>> > > > Well, after reading this, I made some calls. I found that the
<DIV></DIV>> > > > CA-125
<DIV></DIV>> > test
<DIV></DIV>> > > is an ovarian screening test equiva! lent to a man's PSA test
<DIV></DIV>> > > prostate screen (which my husband's doctor automatically gives him
<DIV></DIV>> > > in his
<DIV></DIV>> > physical
<DIV></DIV>> > > each year and insurance pays for it). I called the general
<DIV></DIV>> > practitioner's
<DIV></DIV>> > > office about having the test done.
<DIV></DIV>> > > >
<DIV></DIV>> > > > The nurse had never heard of it. She told me that she doubted that
<DIV></DIV>> > > insurance would pay for it. So I called Prudential Insurance Co.,
<DIV></DIV>> > > and
<DIV></DIV>> > got
<DIV></DIV>> > > the same response. Never heard of it - it won't be covered. I
<DIV></DIV>> > explained
<DIV></DIV>> > > that it was the same as the PSA test they had paid for my husband
<DIV></DIV>> > > for
<DIV></DIV>> > years.
<DIV></DIV>> > > After conferring with whomever they confer with, she tol! d me that
<DIV></DIV>> > the
<DIV></DIV>> > > CA-125 would be covered.
<DIV></DIV>> > > >
<DIV></DIV>> > > > It is $75 in a GP's office and $125 at the GYN's. This is a
<DIV></DIV>> > screening
<DIV></DIV>> > > test that should be required just like a PAP smear (a PAP smear
<DIV></DIV>> > > cannot detect problems with your ovaries). And you must insist that
<DIV></DIV>> > > your
<DIV></DIV>> > insurance
<DIV></DIV>> > > company pay for it.
<DIV></DIV>> > > >
<DIV></DIV>> > > > Gene Wilder and Pierce Brosnan (his wife had it, too) are lobbying
<DIV></DIV>> > for
<DIV></DIV>> > > women's health issues, saying that this test should be required in
<DIV></DIV>> > > our physicals, just like the PAP and the mammogram.
<DIV></DIV>> > > >
<DIV></DIV>> > > > PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO SEND THIS OUT TO ALL THOSE YOU CAN. BE IT
<DIV></DIV>> > MALE
<DIV></DIV>> > OR
<DIV></DIV>> > > FEMALE, IT SHOULD NOT MATTER, AS THEY CAN FORWARD IT ALSO TO THOSE
<DIV></DIV>> > LOVED
<DIV></DIV>> > > ONES THEY KNOW.
<DIV></DIV>> > >
<DIV></DIV>> > >
<DIV></DIV>> >
<DIV></DIV>>
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