Exhustive info women need 2 know re Gynecological cancers~

LorettaMarshall
LorettaMarshall Member Posts: 662 Member
edited January 2018 in Ovarian Cancer #1

 Hello to all my friends here on the OC link:Kiss

So many of our friends come here with heavy hearts and worries wishing they could find a helpful source of information.  We’ve every right to be concerned when all of a sudden we experience abrupt changes in our physical bodies that can’t be explained by the normal “aging” process.  Soon I’ll be 79, and ladies, some things fall in the category of “what was once up—now is falling down!”  Surprised(Yes that covers "skin & boobs")--But younger women won’t understand that till they're old enough to begin to experience the “ravages of time.”  Wink But it behooves us to distinguish between what is likely a gradual deterioration of what was once our young, vibrant healthy bodies and one with some added poundage and more than a few wrinkles to say nothing of a thinning head of hair or no hair at all.  So here are two helpful sources that I’m keeping in my research file.  As is so true, “the squeaky wheel gets the grease”—the informed woman can demand more testing and more answers if she is “armed with basic facts.”  So that’s the reason for this separate topic.  It’s a “keeper!”

The Lord has blessed me with a lifespan twice as long as I expected when I was diagnosed back in November of 2012 with Peritoneal Carcinomatosis first and then as a result of a SECOND opinion, Ovarian cancer as well.  So my diagnosis was terminal from the start.  However, competent sources of information like the two below have provided me with enough information that I can carry on intelligent conversations with all my nurses and doctors.  They respect me for that and my oncologist always takes the time to listen to ALL my complaints, and seeks to help in any way he can.  He’s never failed to order scans, x-rays, provide good medication, etc. for me.  He actually draws diagrams for me, prints out any part of my past medical record that I might wish to review, takes seriously ALL my pains, etc.  He says, "I don't just go by your CA-125 readings, I go by what you tell me about how you feel!"  I would wish that each of you would be able to have the same type of compassionate oncologist.  And seeking the services of a gynecologic/oncologist will assure you that your doctor is highly trained and will be able to find the cause of your concerns.

            So here are two good sources of information that cover a wide range of gynecological cancers.

 Loretta – age 79 as of 2-12-18 – DX Peritoneal Carcinomatosis & Stage IV Ovarian Cancer November 2012, but still surviving by the grace of God

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1.      https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/knowledge/pdf/cdc_gyn_comprehensive_brochure.pdf

“ABOUT THIS BOOKLET -  This booklet was developed in support of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Inside Knowledge: Get the Facts About Gynecologic Cancer campaign.

The campaign helps women get the facts about gynecologic cancer by providing important “inside knowledge” about their bodies and health.   As you read this booklet, you will learn about the different types of gynecologic cancer. These are cancers that affect the female reproductive organs.

They include cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal, and vulvar cancers.

You will find information on:

2.      Signs, symptoms, and risk factors related to each gynecologic cancer.

3.      What you can do to help prevent gynecologic cancer.

4.      What to do if you have symptoms.

5.      What to do if you think you may be at increased risk for developing a gynecologic cancer.

6.      Questions to ask your doctor.

Each year, about 89,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with a gynecologic cancer. While all women are at risk for developing gynecologic cancers, few will ever develop one. Still, it is important to know the signs because there is no way to know for sure who will get a gynecologic cancer.

The information included in this booklet will help you recognize warning signs so you can ask your health care provider about them. These signs and symptoms often are related to something other than gynecologic cancer. But it is important for your overall health to know what is causing them. Important words to know appear in italics and are defined in the glossary at the back of the booklet…

TABLE OF CONTENTS

3 Gynecologic cancer overview

5 Gynecologic cancer symptoms

6 Questions to ask your doctor

7 Cervical cancer

10 Ovarian cancer

14 Uterine cancer

16 Vaginal cancer

18 Vulvar cancer

19 Gynecologic cancer diagnosis

20 Glossary

 21 Resources…”

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2.  https://medlineplus.gov/ovariancancer.html

 [My note:  Just decided to copy the page because it seems every topic is covered.  Place your cursor on any topic and that link will come up and provide more info.  The “basics” are a good place to begin.  Loretta]

 “Ovarian Cancer -    

 On this page - Basics

 §  Summary

 §  Start Here

 §  Symptoms

 §  Diagnosis and Tests

 §  Prevention and Risk Factors

 §  Treatments and Therapies

 Learn More

 §  Living With

 §  Related Issues

 §  Specifics

 §  Genetics

 See, Play and Learn

 §  Images

 §  Videos and Tutorials

 Research

 §  Statistics and Research

 §  Clinical Trials

 §  Journal Articles

 Resources

 §  Reference Desk

 §  Find an Expert

 For You

 §  Patient Handouts

 Summary

 The ovaries are part of the female reproductive system. They produce a woman's eggs and female hormones. Each ovary is about the size and shape of an almond.

 Cancer of the ovary is not common, but it causes more deaths than other female reproductive cancers. The sooner ovarian cancer is found and treated, the better your chance for recovery. But ovarian cancer is hard to detect early. Women with ovarian cancer may have no symptoms or just mild symptoms until the disease is in an advanced stage. Then it is hard to treat. Symptoms may include

 

  • A heavy feeling in the pelvis
  • Pain in the lower abdomen
  • Bleeding from the vagina
  • Weight gain or loss
  • Abnormal periods
  • Unexplained back pain that gets worse
  • Gas, nausea, vomiting, or loss of appetite

 To diagnose ovarian cancer, doctors do one or more tests. They include a physical exam, a pelvic exam, lab tests, ultrasound, or a biopsy. Treatment is usually surgery followed by chemotherapy.

 NIH: National Cancer Institute

 Start Here

 General Information About Ovarian, Fallopian Tube, and Primary Peritoneal Cancer (National Cancer Institute)

 Symptoms

 Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

 Diagnosis and Tests

 

 Prevention and Risk Factors

 

 

Treatments and Therapies

 

 Living With

 

 Related Issues

 

 Specifics

 

 

Genetics

 

 

Images

 

 

Videos and Tutorials

 Scarless Hysterectomy  (BroadcastMed) - Baptist Hospital, Miami, FL, 10/17/2013

 

Statistics and Research

 

 Clinical Trials

 

 

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

 

 Reference Desk

 

 Find an Expert

 

 Patient Handouts

 

 

_____________________________End of references______________________

 

 

 

 

 

 

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