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[RC] Fwd: Fw: Signs of Ovarian Cancer) CA-125 blood test, A must to read. - Amanda K

I was not going to send this but then i read it...I wouldn't want any of my friends to get cancer and it could have been prevented...

Jackie Paddock <paddock@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
From: "Jackie Paddock" <paddock@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <Undisclosed-Recipient:;>
Subject: Fw: Signs of Ovarian Cancer) CA-125 blood test, A must to read.
Date: Sun, 12 Mar 2006 00:57:17 -0500



>
>
>
> >> Subject: Signs of Ovarian Cancer) CA-125 blood test, A must to 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, too 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
>> > of fluid drawn off at the
>> > hospital (not a pleasant experience 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 p
>> > roblems 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.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
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