Janetnews.com Blog

Kudos to the Dallas Morning News who reported on the symptoms of ovarian cancer on the front page:

 Researchers identify possible ovarian cancer symptoms

Cancer experts have identified a set of health problems that may be symptoms of ovarian cancer, and they are urging women who have the symptoms for more than a few weeks to see their doctors.

The new advice is the first official recognition that the disease, long believed to give no warning until it was far advanced, does cause symptoms at earlier stages in many women.

The symptoms to watch out for are bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly and feeling a frequent or urgent need to urinate. A woman who has any of those problems nearly every day for more than two or three weeks is advised to see a gynecologist, especially if the symptoms are new and quite different from her usual state of health.

Doctors say they hope that the recommendations will make patients and doctors aware of early symptoms, lead to earlier diagnosis and, perhaps, save lives, or at least prolong survival.

Unfortunately, Ovarian Cancer does not have the financial backing that Breast Cancer has.  Breast cancer’s 5-year survival rate is much higher than ovarian cancer’s patients.  What do we need to do, women, especially, need to become more in-tune with their bodies and not stop at one doctor who says it’s in “her imagination”.  That is why second opinions are very important.  If a woman believes her symptoms are real, go see another doctor to ease one’s mind.  Also, if you do become diagnosed with ovarian cancer, or really any cancer, seek out another second opinion.  In my opinion, find the number one hospital or healthcare facility in the nation that specializes in cancer.  That hospital would be M.D. Anderson in Houston.  It’s an amazing place.  And always remember this, doctors are not God, and if you don’t like the treatment you’re receiving, by all means, change doctors.  There are so many new developments in cancer treatment that one should be able to receive the best possible care–ALWAYS!  These symptoms described above, are not new, they have always been a part of ovarian cancer.  Why, in 2007, are we now “justifying” that these are REAL symptoms typical of ovarian cancer.  You would think after thousands of women complaining of such symptoms over decades, the medical field would have put out this story long ago.  Ovarian cancer is the 4th leading cause of death among women–it’s about time that this disease deserves the immediate attention along side heart problems and breast cancer.  Men jumped on curing prostate cancer… now lets prolong the lives of women by creating more effective treatments and screenings for ovarian cancer!  Let’s give voice to the silent killer.