Comments on: Ovarian Cancer – Why is it A Hard to Diagnose Deadly Threat to Women?

By: Christine

Christine — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:50:28 +0000

Zella,
Yes, you can get ovarian cancer without having ovaries. It is called primary peritoneal cancer, and it is a cancer of the stroma of the peritoneum. Do your research via the Internet – there is a lot of information in relation to this cancer, and if your doctor isn’t aware of it, you may have to educate him as well. Don’t wait too long to get some answers!

By: Ann

Ann — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 12:01:15 +0000

I had uterine cancer ten years ago. I knew something had changed but I had heard all my life about “the change” of menopause and thought this was it. It wasn’t. Women need to act when something changes in their monthly routine. You and you alone know what has happened to you since the age of 11 or 12 so by the time you reach your 50s or 60s you will know the differences. Act on them. I was fortunate to be referred to another doctor on the floor of my doctor. He took a test, then listened to me, then had me take another more intrusive test which was positive. Act on your feelings.

By: Carol Wolf

Carol Wolf — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 16:04:14 +0000

Ovarian cancer can start in the tissue that surrounded the ovaries and although the odds are less, there is still a slight chance that you can get once the ovaries are removed.

By: Vickie

Vickie — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 15:59:01 +0000

In Oct. 2008 I had pain in my abdomen along with bloating…finally after 3 weeks I went to the doctor. at this point it was not so bad and when he did an exam he said I had a small cyst on my right ovarie and we would keep an eye on it. (I had a hysterectomy in 1996 for fybroid tumors but my ovaries were left in because they were healthy and the doctor didn’t want me to go into early menapause)
On June 21, 2009 I went to bed and as soon as I laid down i had severe abdomen pain and my stomache bloated as though i was about 6 months pregnant. thinking it was gas I took peptmo and tried to sleep. The only relief I could get was to lay on my left side and even then it was bad. Finally at 4 am I decided I needed to go to the ER. They did a CT on me and it showed a mass on my left ovarie 8cm x 11 cm, and sent me to a og/gyn that did blood test and told me I had ovarian cancer and colon cancer and referred me to a specialist who told me I had a 90% chance it was ovarian cancer and possibly panreatic cancer (not colon) and scheduled surgery to days later. my surgery was July 9, 2009 and when he opened me up the mass was attached to both ovaries and all the way down to the vaginal area. He removed it and waited for the patholgy report. They said it was not cancer it was benign tumors and endrometrosis. My surgeon is still shaking his head at this one. He rechecked my blood at 8 weeks after surgery to make sure the cancer markers had gone down and last Thursday Sept. 3rd I was told everything was back to normal. So after going into surgery excepting to come out and be told how long I gad to live, I was instead given a new lease on life. I had several symptoms that indicated ovarian cancer including unexplained heartburn and nausea (I take nexium and still had it) for several months prior to June…

here is a list of common symptons (I marked the ones I had)

Abdominal pressure, fullness, swelling or bloating (YES)
Urinary urgency (YES)
Pelvic discomfort or pain (YES)
Additional signs and symptoms that women with ovarian cancer may experience include:

Persistent indigestion, gas or nausea (YES)
Unexplained changes in bowel habits, such as constipation (NO)
Changes in bladder habits, including a frequent need to urinate (YES)
Loss of appetite or quickly feeling full (NO)
Increased abdominal girth or clothes fitting tighter around your waist (YES)
Pain during intercourse (dyspareunia)(N0)
A persistent lack of energy (YES)
Low back pain (N0)
Changes in menstruation (N/A)

By: roger king

roger king — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 15:06:12 +0000

my wife was found to have ovarian cancer.it was stage3.8.she had both the belly wash and injections of chemo.via the veins.she lost her hair,was miserable but not much vomiting,tired a lot,very scared and had and still does have foot problems,like walking on pebbles,and pains in stomach.it has been 1 and a half yrs.and has had no returning cancer.she is checked every 3 months.she changed her lifestyle and became closer to god.remain strong and keep the faith.

By: helen young

helen young — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 14:32:56 +0000

Answer to Zella:
I’m not a medical expert but I’d think the answer would be ‘no’. You can’t get cancer in an organ that has been removed. There could be cancer elsewhere in that area like the uterus, so if you’re having symptoms “down there” please see a doctor. But if your ovaries are removed and you’re just worried about ovarian cancer, you can put your mind at ease.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 13:31:12 +0000

Charlanne:

I have had three friends misdiagnosed who all had ovarian cancer. Most recently, a friend was told by 3 doctors that she had a spot on her ovary but even though there was a family history of it, that it was unlikely cancer and that she should come back every six months. After a year, they suggested that she have her ovary removed but when the doctor was doing the procedure, they found it was cancer. Fortunately, it does not appear to have spread beyond the abdominal area and they have called it stage 2. She has begun chemo where they now stick the port and chemo directly into the abdomen. It is not causing her to lose her hair but does cause quite a bit of weakness and being nauseous. It also has caused her dehydration and discomfort, but overall, she is doing well. She has always eaten healthy and continues to use fresh juices and other such items in her diet. Just be there for her as I’m sure it is a frightening experience and you have been through it so she’ll know that you understand. All 3 of the women that I know who have had ovarian cancer are all still alive.

By: Sheryl Block

Sheryl Block — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 10:16:37 +0000

Okay, so it’s okay for a physician to not run any tests when family history indicates that it may be ovarian cancer? Blood tests can be run and reveal so much to the doctor. CT scans, MRIs…. other tests can’t be run?
I am a survivor of a 14cm renal cell tumor. Doctor didn’t suspect kidney cancer because it was such an incidental disease? ….and we accept this?

By: Tammy

Tammy — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 06:43:28 +0000

Charlanne-
My first thought that came whence I read your blurb, was compassion. You have that and it is a gift. Something you shall also give you friend. That is how you can help her.

By: charlanne

charlanne — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 02:58:56 +0000

cindy, my freind started complaining around janury 2009 she had a feeling of fullness in her abdomen, she couldn’t eat or drink-everything tasted like crayons and eventually she felt a mass in her abdomen . she just had surgery and found that is it is cancer,. they took everything out. now what can she expect as far as chemo, losing her hair and being able to move on with her life? i am a 3 time breast cancer survivior so how can i help her?