Women with ovaries…listen up! This is your month! Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month occurs every September. Today I had a patient who painted her nails teal to pay personal honor to the ovaries. Tealis the color designated by the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund (OCRF) to represent the fight against ovarian cancer. In fact the color is called “OCRF Teal” until someone comes up with a better name.
But why should we choose an entire month to support ovarian cancer? Because ovarian cancer is the “ leading cause of death from gynecologic cancers in the United States and the fifth leading cause of cancer death among American women” (OCRF.org). In the United States, an estimated 22,280 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer and 15,500 women will die from the disease. (American Cancer Society). The National Cancer Institute estimates that approximately 1.3 per 10,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer every year.
Most woman who comes see me annually for their wellness checks undergo gynecologic exams here in my office. I perform full body exam and labs that include pap smear screening for cervical cancer and cholesterol screening for heart disease. We order mammogram screening for breast cancer and colonoscopy screening for colon cancer. Unfortunately, there are no routine orders for ovarian cancer screening.
Unlike breast and colon cancer, ovarian cancer is very difficult to detect early. Education for our patients is key to early ovarian cancer detection. Education includes providing women with the symptoms of ovarian cancer that can alert their doctors to pursue further testing and therefore aid in early detection. In fact, when ovarian cancer is found early, the five-year survival rate is greater than 92%. Unfortunately only 20% of ovarian cancers are found at the time the cancer is limited to the ovary and not spread throughout the pelvis.
Here are some of the symptoms to look for:
- Pelvic bloating: The sensation of persistent premenstrual abdominal and pelvic swelling.
- Increased pelvic girth: Those pants fit a little too tight and it is not that over-abundant American diet.
- New onset of low back pain: Not the usual back pain for those chronic pain sufferers.
- Urinary urgency: The sensation or urge to urinate frequently.
There is no standard annual screening test for ovarian cancer and the bimanual (doctors) pelvic exam cannot generally detect very early disease. In the past 2 years, I have diagnosed ovarian cancer in 2 women. One was a new patient at her very first office visit. The other patient had come in to see me after being absent from her office visits for 3 years. They both had all the above symptoms.
Why the coincidence? What is most important about the early diagnosis of ovarian cancer is your personal discussion of physical concerns with your physician. Family history that includes breast cancer and ovarian cancer could trigger your doctor to order additional annual blood work and ultrasound tests (looking at the ovaries).
Studies suggest that annual blood work such as the CA-125 (a biomarker for ovarian cancer) and an annual ultrasound of the ovaries may decrease death rates from ovarian cancer. But the decrease in mortality rate is just a modest (approximate) 13%. However, new protein studies that are linked to genetic testing may be more relevant in the near future.
Stay tuned, the Dallas Fort Worth chapter of the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC) is planning a walk to “Break the Silence” and raise awareness about ovarian cancer. The NOCC event is being held on September 26, 2012. Go to NOCC.org for more information.
So, go paint the town TEAL! Or just wear it on your toes. But get motivated to support an excellent cause for women’s health. Most importantly, review your risk factors with your doctor and know the early signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer that could save your life.
Since 1988, Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) has been helping patients win the fight against cancer using advanced technology and a personalized approach.
Our national network of fully accredited cancer hospitals earned Full Standards Compliance from the Joint Commission, and recognition for delivering high-quality care and exceeding patient safety standards from numerous renowned healthcare organizations, such as the Association of Community Cancer Centers and the American College of Radiology.
Each hospital provides state-of-the-art cancer treatment by a dedicated team of oncologists, surgeons and other health experts. We offer a welcoming environment, where patients and their family members can find comprehensive cancer care under one roof.
Every day, we are inspired by our patients and motivated to provide innovative treatments to fight cancer, with a personalized approach. We call this the Mother Standard® of care, which means we provide each patient with the kind of attention and consideration we would want for our own loved ones.
We Pioneered Patient-Centered Care
At CTCA, our patients always come first. We are committed to bringing advanced treatment options to patients sooner, including highly accurate diagnostic tools; safer, more targeted radiation therapies; minimally invasive surgical techniques; and new targeted drug therapies.
In our Patient Empowerment Care® Clinic, our doctors come to you, the patient. They listen to your questions, review your health history and provide you and your family with clear, well-defined choices so you can make informed decisions about your treatment.
Together, you and your care team will develop an integrated treatment plan that is tailored to your unique needs and diagnosis, and designed to meet your individual goals.
Quality of Life Matters
Our focus is not just on fighting cancer, but also making sure that you are comfortable throughout your treatment. Our Cancer Treatment Statistics and Results demonstrate that our constant efforts make a difference when it comes to the quality of life for our patients.
We treat cancer, and improve your quality of life by alleviating the symptoms that can occur during cancer treatment. Throughout your treatment, we’ll provide therapies like nutrition, naturopathic medicine, pain management and rehabilitation. These therapies are fully integrated into your treatment plan to help boost your immune system and reduce side effects, so you can continue treatment with fewer delays or interruptions.
We also provide diabetes management, advanced cardiac and respiratory care, as well as reconstructive services. Our Survivorship Support program continues to support you once you return home.
Our Hospitals
With hospitals in suburban Chicago, Tulsa, Philadelphia, suburban Phoenix and our newest facility scheduled to open in suburban Atlanta in August 2012, CTCA continues to provide comprehensive, patient-centered cancer care to more patients and families across the United States.
Explore our cancer hospitals:
CTCA at Midwestern Regional Medical Center – Zion, Illinois
CTCA at Southwestern Regional Medical Center – Tulsa, Oklahoma
CTCA at Eastern Regional Medical Center – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
CTCA at Western Regional Medical Center – Goodyear, Arizona
CTCA at Southeastern Regional Medical Center – Newnan, Georgia
CTCA at Southwestern Regional Medical Center – Tulsa, Oklahoma
CTCA at Eastern Regional Medical Center – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
CTCA at Western Regional Medical Center – Goodyear, Arizona
CTCA at Southeastern Regional Medical Center – Newnan, Georgia
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WE JUST WANT TO SHED LIGHT ON THE CANCER ISSUES AND THE IMPACT IT HAS ON LIVES...THIS ISSUE WE ARE FEATURING A YOUNG MOTHER FROM SANDUSKY, OHIO BY THE NAME OF MRS. DANIELLE NIKKI BELL, SHE IS A CANCER SURVIVOR AND A GREAT WOMAN. NOT ONLY THE HIP-HOP COMMUNITY BUT, ALSO CITIES NATION WIDE NEED TO BE AWARE AND SENTIMENTAL TO THE FACTS OF CANCER. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT MRS. BELL IS A FIGHTER AND A DEFINITE SURVIVOR. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GIVE MRS. BELL SOME WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT LOOK HER UP ON
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THANK YOU
EDITORIAL BY: MR.9
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