Ovarian Cancer: The Whispering Disease

 

 

 

 ANGELINA JOLIE,

    CHARLOTTE EMILY(PIERCE BROSNAN’S DAUGHTER),

         EMILY KNERR (9 YEARS OLD),

               CAROL CHANNING,

                      KATHY BATES,

                             CORETTA SCOTT KING,

 

       AND 250,000 WOMEN WORLDWIDE THIS YEAR

WILL BE DIAGNOSED WITH OVARIAN CANCER.

 

This cancer does not discriminate as to age, fame or fortune, education, general health, or race. It is a world problem that will claim the lives of 140,000 women this year.

 

Early detection is key to survival. 

PLEASE, if any one of these symptoms occur daily for 2 weeks, see your gynecologist. Keep track of them on a chart similar to this one, or download Dr. Oz’s chart at:

http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/ovarian-cancer-one-sheet

 

PELVIC OR ABDOMINAL PAIN 

     Rate your pain from mild to severe:  

1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8    9    10

 

DIFFICULTY EATING OR FEELING FULL QUICKLY

      How much do you eat before feeling full:  

           100%     75%     50%     25%

 

FREQUENCY TO URINATE

      How often do you urinate:

             (1-3)    (4-6)    (7-9)    (10 or more)

 

BLOATING OF ABDOMEN

      Measure your abdomen to determine any increase in girth:

             (1-2″)     (2-4″)    (3-4″)    (5 or more inches)

 

CIRCLE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:

                       

       Painful intercourse    Unexplained weight gain   Change in bowels

                        

       Increased fatigue        Persistent indigestion, nausea or gas

 

CIRCLE IF HAVE A FAMILY OR PERSONAL HISTORY WITH THE FOLLOWING:

                       

                        Breast Cancer    

                                                  Colon Cancer   

                                                                        Ovarian Cancer

 

A pelvic and rectal examination, a transvaginal ultrasound, and a CA125 blood test are the recommended procedures to determine if ovarian cancer might be present. PLEASE see a gynecologic oncologist if this cancer is suspected due to your symptoms, family history, and test results. BE YOUR OWN ADVOCATE.

 

                      SHARE THIS BLOG WITH EVERY WOMAN YOU KNOW…

                                             LET’S GET THE WORD OUT…

                        SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL OVARIAN CANCER GROUPS

 

 

Karen Ingalls is a retired registered nurse with a master’s degree in human development and psychology. She is the author of two books and numerous magazine and journal articles. 

All proceeds for her award winning book, “Outshine: An Ovarian Cancer Memoir,” go to gynecologic cancer research. http://www.outshineovariancancer.com

 

Her weekly blog is about health/wellness, relationships, spirituality and cancer. http://www.outshineovariancancer.blogspot.com