Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

[lind9650]

Everyone either knows someone or has gone through the same ordeal. It is important to be aware and help reduce the instances of this deadly cancer.

https://ovariancancer.net.au/awareness/ovarian-cancer-awareness-month/

Erica  

[purple_haize]

My mum died of ovarian cancer, she was 73yrs.

One of my maternal grandmothers sister also died of this dreadful disease.

Needless to say, my doctor sends me for regular ultrasounds and also does the blood test twice a yr.

My mum was diagnosed with ovarian cancer 6 weeks before she passed away.

[lind9650]

Purple, I am sorry to hear about your mother. This is such a sneaky cancer that is easy overlooked or ignored until it is to late. Because abdominal pains can have many causes, even GPs will at first try to remedy stomach upsets.

That's why it is so important to educate every woman, no matter what age, to have proper tests done early at the onset of pains.

One does not see as many teal ribbons being worn as pink ones, but ovarian cancer is much more deadly than breast cancer. Every eight hours one woman is diagnosd with Ovarian cancer, and Doctors think that there are many more not knowing or not willing to see a Doctor for a simple abdominal pain.

Thanhfully I am a survivor, Erica

[purple_haize]

Erica, I am so glad that you are a survivor.

The beginning of the year that my mum died, she mentioned tome she had pain low down in her pelvic region and I told her on numerous occasions to go to the dr. Unfortunatlely my mother was very stubborn and didnt go.

When she evenually went to my dr. it was too late.

I spoke with my dr. after mum died and asked, if mum had gone to the dr. when she first had the pains, could she have survived and the dr. said no, she would have had the cancer for ages and having the pains was just the cancer progressing.

mum's cancer was secondary in the liver.

It is defnitely a silent cancer and it pays all women to have pelvic ultra sounds  whether or not the cancer is in the family or not.

[ten*teeny*tiny*toes]

I am confused about how it is diagnosed. There doesn't seem to be a definitive test?

I have had a ca125 blood test a few years back.....but lately have had twinges like ovulation pain.

How fast/slow does Ovarian Cancer progress?

[purple_haize]

The thing is, ovarian cancer is silent, there are no symtoms until it is too late. That is why if it is in the family one should have ultrasounds of the pelvis done on a regular basis and also have the blood test.

Because my mum and a distant auntie died of it, my dr. sends me for regular ultrasounds and I have the blood test done twice a year.

TTTT......I guess everyone is different when it comes to the progression of the cancer and no, there are no specific tests for ovarian cancer, but if you have the ultra sound and blood tests done, to my knowledge that is the only way to detect that something is wrong.

I would discuss your symptoms with your GP, and maybe the dr. will send you for tests, if the pain has anything to do with the ovaries.

[lind9650]

My youngest son was born 1963 in the old Queen Victoria Hospital in Melbourne. Delivered by Prof. Wood.

After I returned home I received numerous letters from the Hospital to come and see the Doctor, but they never tole me why. At that stage I was a single mum with five children, living in the country, about an hours drive away with public transport. I just did not have the time or someone to look after my children to go to Melbourne and I felt fine healthwise. No pains, no complaints. The occasional twinge in the tummy, I regarded as efects of lifting heavy wash baskets or other similar things. I even ignored a hand-written letter from Prof. Wood asking me to come and see him.

Only after I married again and all of a sudden had very heavy periods I started to get worried that something is wrong. When I started bleeding and it would not stop for several days, I went to my Doctor, who sent me straight to the Melbourne Hospital. There I was told I had Ovarian cancer and that had spread to my womb and had a radical hysterectomy. Spent 14 days in Hospital and was given the option to have Radium or Cobalt treatment. ( No Chemo in those days.) I refused either treatment because it would have been to much strain to travel to Melbourne every couple of days, asking the Dr. how much time I had left without the treatment. Dr. told me that if I survived five years I'd be cancer free.

Five years was enough for my eldest daughter to be 21 years of age and take responsibility for her siblings. I talked to her about it and she agreed to take care of her siblings if there was a need. Five years of anxiety and worry, but I was still alive. Tests showed that I was cancer free, and until today I thank my lucky stars that I have made it so far, but the fear of having to leave my children without a mother still haunts me some nights.

Erica

[ten*teeny*tiny*toes]

My mum was 18 when I was born in 1962. Out of wedlock/single whatever people want to call it.

She too had a cancer diagnosis. Fairly sure it was cervical cancer though.

It has never been an issue since thankfully.

[punch*drunk]

A friend of mine was diagnosed with ovarian cancer just this week, she has surgery next Thursday 😞