 Ovarian Cancer Related Forums
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Welcome to the Ovarian Cancer Forum! This forum is for questions and support regarding ovarian cancer issues, such as: Biopsy, Chemotherapy, Clinical Trials, Genetics, Hysterectomy,Immunotherapy, Ovarian Cancer Types, Radiation Therapy, Risk Factors, Screening, Staging, Surgery
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| tatterhood 2/16/2003 | . | If early diagnosis for ovarian cancer is best, then how does one get it? What is the best course of action to pursue, especially when one has been to several doctors who are all content to throw up their hands and say (essentially), "It's all in your head"? I am 38. For years I have had hemmoraging with my periods but this past year have had very light and often missing periods, with much unusual mid-cycle spotting and pain. For the past month I have had severe gas and bloating and have lost 25 pounds over the past three months. Also, piercing left shoulder pain comes and goes, along with deep pain in my hip bones that extends down the middle of my my thighs, making it difficult to walk at times, like a major nerve is being irritated. I had an EKG but my heart was normal. Had a blood test which showed no ulcer or infection. Had an abdominal ultrasound but my gall bladder and liver were normal. Had a colonoscopy last year and three polyps were removed, non-cancerous. An endoscopy last year showed a normal stomach, too (though the recent gas, bloating and shoulder pain have developed since then). Can't help but self-diagnose since the doctors shake heads in wonder and say, "We don't know". Now I'm wondering about ovarian cancer, but there seems to be a catch-22. On the one hand I read that early diagnosis is the best (only?) chance for survival. Yet it's looking like it cannot be diagnosed until it is in the later stages. My question: What does someone like me do? Go home like the doctors suggest and hope to get better? Or demand tests they don't feel are warranted? |
| CCF-RN,MSN-JS 2/17/2003 | tatterhood | Dear tatterhood, Currently we do not have a good test available that we can recommend for early detection of ovarian cancer. The best known marker for ovarian cancer is the CA125 blood test however this test is not specific or sensitive enough to use as a general early detection tool. Pelvic and transvaginal ultrasound are tests used to check the ovaries for enlargement or mass, if there is a concern. Women at high risk for ovarian cancer may be followed closely by their gynecologist, and tests such as the ultrasound checked as needed. In your situation with the various symptoms that can be due to a number of conditions it is best to work with your primary doctor to help sort through each symptom and the interactions between them. It may be a process of "ruling out" problems, which it sounds like you've been going through. Many conditions have a strong mind/body interaction and increasing stress may only aggravate symptoms, an example is irritable bowel syndrome. This is not to say it is "all in your head" but sometimes it is difficult to pinpoint what causes a symptom or variety of symptoms, thus being able to "fix" the problem easily. That in turn increases anxiety and may contribute to aggravating the symptom, and it can become a vicious cycle. If your chief concern is ovarian cancer, it may be worth the pelvic ultrasound with an option to proceed with transvaginal if abnormality is identified. Hopefully, this will alleviate your concern about this diagnosis. If this diagnosis is eliminated, you may want to see if some stress reduction techniques help any of your symptoms. | [Thread closed to new comments] |
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