I am a survivor of Stage 4 Epithelial Ovarian Cancer since January of 2001… and feeling very optimistic.

• wearing only elastic-type pants (bloated).
• eating a very small amount before feeling a back-up in my throat.
• being very constipated.
• losing my breath sitting back in a chair.

Because of the symptom of shortness of breath I was sent to Urgent Care. I received a diagnosis of reflux with a recommendation to take antacids.

It was Christmas time and our travel plans were set. So my husband and I set off on our two-week vacation to the East Coast.

My sister in Connecticut saw my discomfort (perhaps with fresh eyes). She set up an appointment immediately with her doctor. He examined me and took some blood tests. The next evening he called recommending that I have a CAT scan when I got back to Minneapolis.

We finished our holidays and returned for an exam with my primary physician. She discretely asked again how old I was (which was age 57). I actually looked like I was several months pregnant lying on the table. She ordered a CAT scan. Two days later we had a somber appointment.

She said that a mass had been seen and that it may be ovarian cancer.

My husband and I knew NOTHING about ovarian cancer. The doctor checked me into the hospital that evening because it was a Friday and tests could be done there over the weekend.

There I had a vaginal ultrasound and a CA125 blood test which showed a reading of 7,000. A normal reading for a CA125 test is less than 35.

A wonderful OB/GYN doctor on call that night in the hospital sat and talked with my husband and me between delivering babies. She gave us a crash course on ovarian cancer. With her help, we had a second opinion quickly scheduled and within four days had a complete debulking surgery by a gynecologic oncologist. The operation took about 6 hours and was thorough.

I had a port put in before leaving the hospital to help with the chemo. I had 6 treatments of Carboplatin and Taxol during the next 6 months, followed by a second-look surgery. When a very small (2 mm) tumor was found in pathology, we decided that I would continue with Doxil for 6 more treatments.

I had my last Doxil chemo in December of 2001. I continued with checks with my oncologist every three months, then extended the time between visits. My CA125 was always around 5, way down from the 7,000 before surgery and chemo. In 2005 we noticed that my CA 125 had been hedging up … 13, 33. 40. I had a CAT scan which revealed 3 small masses. I was immediately scheduled for a laparoscopy and if everything looked good, the doctor would continue with a laparotomy to confirm and remove everything he could see. The surgery was successful with removal of the three small tumors (two of which were cancerous) and no complications whatsoever. I started chemo again in December of 2005 with carboplatin and taxol, which had worked very well for me before.

Have you seen a recent TV commercial with women’s bellies protruding out below their short tops with signs of “bloating, gas, constipation, ….”? This is an ad for

irritable bowel syndrome and yet the symptoms are the same for ovarian cancer.

Women don’t know about ovarian cancer. I thought when I had my PAP smear, I was going to find out anything I would need to know for any gynecological concerns..

Ovarian cancer is hard to detect because of the vague symptoms. I had been going to a regular oncologist for the prior 2 years on a regular basis because of breast cancer. My symptoms were not picked up even there. And I was a classic candidate for ovarian cancer with my older age, not having been pregnant and my history of breast cancer!

Keep the symptoms in the back of your mind…abdominal bloating, constipation, digestive problems (like reflux), loss of appetite, increased waist line. If there is a possibility of ovarian cancer, please consult with a gynecologic oncologist. The debulking and staging is crucial.

I have a strong support group …my husband, family, friends, doctors, and MOCA (Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance).

I am living a wonderful life. Good health to you in the future.

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