The researchers estimated that contraceptive use has prevented approximately 200,000 cancers and 100,000 deaths from ovarian cancer

The use of oral contraceptives protect women “a significant and long term” ovarian cancer, according to a study published by the British journal The Lancet. …read the rest of this entry»

According to a review of seven studies involving a total of over 169,000 women, of which 3516 were suffering from ovarian cancer or endometrial cancer, women who consume more soy foods have lower risk of developing these types of tumors. …read the rest of this entry»

There is much debate even today on the use of oral contraceptives (OCs) are already known several significant adverse effects, especially long term, but still use at the level of family planning is undisputed.

Recently published a study which indicates that hormone replacement therapy would protect long-term ovarian cancer to women under 75 years who used OCs. …read the rest of this entry»

Connie Hill: Coping with fear and anger
Hello. My name is Connie. I’m over 50 years old and I have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer two years ago. The strong part for me, the biggest problem is that there has been no history of cancer on my family from either side. I was not expecting a cancer diagnosis when it came through. I had gone to the hospital thinking I was having an appendicitis attack. One of the unfortunate side things of ovarian cancer is that although it gives symptoms, it’s the kind of symptoms that women our age world normally just ignore. If you have a little pain or a cramp like during your menstrual period or something, you’re used to it. The only real symptoms I had was I was tired. I work for a retail company that is very busy and this was in December, our Christmas rush. If you’re not tired at Christmas time, you’re not doing your job.
When I went into the hospital, like I said, I thought I was having an appendicitis attack. They went through, they had me sign the paperwork for the surgery. After I got out of surgery is when I found out that I had a complete hysterectomy and that was when they had discovered the ovarian cancer. Needless to say, I went through a lot of fear, I went through a lot of anger, why did this happen to me? I had been just a few months before I had been through all the proper things you need to do for a physical, I’d had the pap tests and all that stuff. I had been suspicious that I was starting into the change and had even gone to the expense of having a blood test and confirmed that was the reason I was skipping periods. So the anger was very natural for me, that I really had to work through a lot of that. I felt like I had been kind of dumped on all at once.
I had the surgery and then they decided that I, my veins are not easy to access, so for me to have a comfortable chemo, they wanted me to have a port a flush inserted. So it was like a month after I had my hysterectomy, I was back in for that, and then the next day they started my chemo. …read the rest of this entry»

When I first noticed my abdomen swelling in September 2002, I was diagnosed with Stage 2-3 ovarian cancer, with the CA125 test showing an Antigen level of 1500. A very large mass had grown, over 20 cm in size, by the time of my surgery and full hysterectomy five months later, in February 2003. Just prior to surgery, my CA125 test showed I was up to 5000. After removing over 5 pounds of mass, it was determined I was borderline Stage 4. My CA125 test after surgery was at 98. The Doctors told me to have at least 6-8 chemotherapy treatments following surgery. …read the rest of this entry»

Age at diagnosis:7
Current age:29
Occupation:Massage therapist

Jane’s advice:The main thing is to ask questions about your disease, the treatment, and side effects. There is no such thing as a silly or embarrassing question when it concerns you or your body. Laugh and cry a lot.

Jane’s Cancer Journey
My first remembrance that something was wrong was at the end of a school day. It seemed like suddenly, my stomach began to feel like it was twisting around. I really wanted to see the nurse, but my second-grade teacher wouldn’t let me because we were about to be dismissed for the day. I’d have to wait until I got home. It was only about an eight-block walk home, but at the time, it seemed to go on forever. I cried all the way home, holding my belly because it hurt so much. When I finally reached my doorstep, I can remember flinging my books on the floor and dropping and rolling around on the floor crying. …read the rest of this entry»

Welcome and Participant Introductions

Glenda Durham:
Hello and welcome to the American Cancer Society Cancer Survivors Network. I’m Glenda Durham, your host. Today I will be talking with three women who were diagnosed with cancer while they were pregnant. As a cancer survivor myself, I am pleased to be your host for today’s conversation about: being diagnosed with cancer during pregnancy; making treatment decisions; future pregnancies or adoption; fear of recurrence and shortened life expectancy; and listening to your body.

Our first guest is Angel, a 30-year-old breast cancer survivor from Texas. Angel is married and has two sons, one of whom is two years old and the other two months. Welcome to the show, Angel.

Angel:
Thank you.

Glenda:
Your doctor found a lump in your left breast during your first prenatal visit, when you were pregnant with your firstborn son. You had a needle biopsy, which confirmed that you had cancer. You underwent a mastectomy, and the cancer was found to be stage II. You underwent five rounds of chemo while you were pregnant and are currently finishing another round of 12 sessions. Thank you for joining us today, Angel.

Angel:
Thank you.

Glenda:
Also joining us is Heike, a 36-year-old ovarian cancer survivor from Idaho. Heike is married and has a two and a half-year-old son. We’re glad to have you with us today, Heike.

Heike:
Thank you.

Glenda:
Like Angel, you were pregnant with your first child when cancer was found. You were at your first prenatal visit and your doctor thought your pregnancy seemed abnormally advanced. An ultrasound showed that you had a cyst on your left ovary. The doctor predicted the cyst would shrink after three months and recommended that you have an ultrasound every two weeks to check it. The cyst continued to grow rather than shrink. You declined to have surgery, fearing this might hurt the fetus. When the pain was too much to endure you agreed to the surgery, and the cyst was found to be cancerous. Late in your pregnancy you underwent a Cesarean section and had a full hysterectomy. You’ve also had six cycles of chemo. Your baby is healthy, and you are cancer-free. And thank you for joining our group, Heike. …read the rest of this entry»

Dr. Wendy Harpham:
Hi, and welcome to the American Cancer Society Cancer Survivors Network. I’m Dr. Wendy Harpham, your host. In this program, I’ll be talking one-on-one with four survivors of ovarian cancer who are in different stages of treatment. As a cancer survivor myself, I am pleased to speak with our guests about: self-advocacy in the medical setting; the effect of illness on family relationships; advocating for ourselves and others, as well as other topics that arise in the course of our discussion.

Dr. Wendy Harpham:
I’m speaking with Sandi, a 51 year-old survivor from Ontario, Canada. Sandi is married and does not have children. Hi, Sandi.

Sandi:
Good morning. How are you?

Dr. Wendy Harpham:
Good. In 1999, you experienced abdominal bloating that didn’t go away. You went to a doctor, who referred you to a gynecologist. You then had a hysterectomy, and a large tumor was removed that was diagnosed as ovarian cancer. After undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy, all of your exams and tests and scans have shown you have had no cancer, ever since. Any other additions to your history?

Sandi:
Subsequent to that, I had the genetic testing for the ovarian and breast, and also the genetic testing for the colorectal, ovarian and uterine link.

Dr. Wendy Harpham:
Have you gotten those results yet?

Sandi:
I’ve received the results for the ovarian and breast testing, and that was negative, but I have the initial results from the colorectal ovarian, which is the hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer link, and the initial results are positive, which I suspected.

Dr. Wendy Harpham:
So, you’re a survivor of ovarian cancer, and now you know you have an increased risk of colorectal cancer.

Sandi:
82 percent risk. …read the rest of this entry»

Two genes which normally help to restrain cell growth, but which can contain certain genetic mutations associated with the development of breast and ovarian cancer. Note, however, that inherited BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations are thought to account for less than 10% of all breast and ovarian cancers. Recent evidence suggests that somatic cell genetic mutations (i.e., non-inherited genetic mutations) in these two genes may also play a role in the development of cancer.

My name is Yvette. I am 47 years old, and I am a medical social worker. I was born in New York City, but I moved to Baltimore, Maryland two years ago.
In 1982, when I was 27 years old and I was living in Los Angeles, my doctor told me that I had a rare type of ovarian cancer. I had imprecise symptoms for a few months and I visited a few doctors, but they could not find out what the problem was. Then, one day the tumor that I didn’t know that I had burst and they took me to emergency surgery.
The doctors were surprised that I had ovarian cancer, because I was so young. At that time, they didn’t have any good treatments like they have now. In any case, they gave me their best recommendations, and I received my chemotherapy in Los Angeles.
The treatment was really strong, and I had many terrible side effects. The worst was the pain, especially the overall pain. It was difficult to walk. I also lost most of my hair. My husband, our families, and most of our friends, all of them helped me a great deal. They were very scared also, but I knew that I couldn’t survive without them.
The Incredible Benefits of Support
I felt very alone; I didn’t know anyone who had cancer. I always thought that cancer was a fatal disease. One day in the chemotherapy clinic, an educator informed me about a support group for people with cancer. It took me a great deal of time to go to the meeting because I felt uncomfortable talking about my situation. …read the rest of this entry»