Posy's Cancer Report
May 14, 2000 

Hi!

I apologize to those of you who may have already recieved this-but it seemed like a good thing to pass on.

I hope everyone is well and happy.

Nell

Health warning!

Written by JANE MARGOLIS

As many of you know, I have Primary Peritoneal Cancer. This cancer has only
recently been identified as its OWN type of cancer; but it is, essentially,
Ovarian Cancer. Both types of cancer are diagnosed in the same way (with the
"tumor marker" CA-125 blood test), and they are treated in the same way
(surgery to remove the primary tumor and then chemotherapy with Taxol and
Carboplatin).

Having gone through this ordeal, I want to save others from the same fate.
That is why I am sending this message to you and hope you will print it and
give it or send it via e-mail to everybody you know.

One thing I have learned is that each of us must take TOTAL responsibility
for our own health care. I thought I had done that because I always had an
annual physical, had my annual mammogram and PAP smear, did monthly Self
Breast Exam, went to the dentist at least twice a year, etc. I even insisted
on a sigmoidoscopy and a bone density test last year.
When I had a total hysterectomy in 1993, I thought that I did not have to
worry about getting any of the female reproductive organ cancers. LITTLE DID
I KNOW! I don't have ovaries (and they were HEALTHY when they were
removed!), but I have what is essentially ovarian cancer. Strange, isn't it?

These are just SOME of the things our doctors never tell us: ONE OUT OF
EVERY 55 WOMEN WILL GET OVARIAN OR PRIMARY PERITONEAL CANCER. THE "CLASSIC"
SYMPTOMS ARE AN ABDOMEN THAT RATHER SUDDENLY ENLARGES AND CONSTIPATION
AND/OR DIARRHEA. I had these classic symptoms and went to the Doctor.

Because these symptoms seemed to be "abdominal," I went to a
gastroenterologist. He ran tests that were designed to determine whether
there was a bacterial infection; these tests were negative, and I was
diagnosed with "Irritable Bowel Syndrome." I guess I would have accepted
this diagnosis had it not been for my enlarged abdomen. I swear to you, it
looked like I was 4-5 months pregnant! I, therefore, insisted on more tests.
They took an X-Ray of my abdomen; it was negative. I was, again, assured
that I had Irritable Bowel Syndrome and was encouraged to go on my scheduled
month-long trip to Europe. I couldn't wear any of my slacks or shorts
because I couldn't get them buttoned, and I KNEW something was radically
wrong. I INSISTED on more tests and they (reluctantly) scheduled me for a
CT-Scan (just to shut me up, I think). This is what I mean by taking charge
of our own health care.

The CT-Scan showed a lot of fluid in my abdomen (NOT normal!). Needless to
say, I had to cancel my trip and have FIVE POUNDS of fluid drawn off at the
hospital (not a pleasant procedure, I assure you, but NOTHING compared to
what was ahead of me). Tests revealed cancer cells in the fluid.

Finally, finally, finally, the Doctor ran a CA-125 blood test and I was
properly diagnosed. I HAD THE CLASSIC SYMPTOMS FOR OVARIAN CANCER AND, YET,
THIS SIMPLE CA-125 BLOOD TEST HAD NEVER BEEN RUN ON ME - not as part of my
annual physical exam and not when I was symptomatic. This is an inexpensive
and simple blood test!!!

Please, PLEASE, P-L-E-A-S-E tell all your female friends and relatives to
insist on a CA-125 blood test every year as part of their annual physical
exams. Be forewarned that their doctors might try to talk them out of it,
saying "it isn't necessary." Believe me, had I known then what I know now,
we would have caught my cancer much earlier (before it was a stage 3
cancer)!!!

INSIST on the CA-125 blood test: DON'T TAKE "NO" FOR AN ANSWER. The normal
range for a CA-125 blood test is between zero and 35. (Mine was 754 --
that's right, 754!) If the number is slightly elevated, you can have another
one done in three or six months and keep a close eye on it just like women
do when they have fibroid tumors or when men have a slightly elevated PSA
test (Prostate Specific Antigens) that helps diagnose Prostate Cancer.

Having the CA-125 test done annually can alert you early and
that's the goal in diagnosing any type of cancer-CATCH IT EARLY.

I hope I haven't bored you with all of this. But I hope I HAVE scared you
enough to motivate you to action. Do YOU know 55 women? If so, at least one
of them will have this VERY AGGRESSIVE cancer - and maybe, just maybe, it
will be YOU. I hope not. Please, go to your Doctor THIS WEEK and insist on a
CA-125 test and have one EVERY YEAR for the rest of your life.

And forward this message to every woman you know and tell all of your female
family members and friends. As the Nike ads say, "JUST DO IT!" Please don't
think youth will protect you, either. Though the median age for this cancer
is 56 (and, guess what, I'm exactly 56), women as young as 22 have it. Age
is not a factor.

Thank you for your time. My best wishes for your continued good health.

Jane L. Margolis