An Eye Opener for all women on Ovarian Cancer
from Gilda Radner and Gene Wilder with an after word from Ni Zain

I hope you all take the time to read this and pass it on to all you can. Send this to the women in your life that you care about. Years ago, Gilda Radner died of ovarian cancer. Her symptoms were inconclusive, and she was treated for everything under the sun until it was too late. A blood test finally identified her illness but alas, too late. She wrote a book to heighten awareness. Gene Wilder is her widower.

This is the story of Kathy West

As all 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 and PAP smear, did a 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 bacteria 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 experience 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 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; DO NOT 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 above 35, you can have another done in three or six months and keep a close eye on it, just as women do when they have fibroid tumors or when men have a slightly elevated PSA test (Prostatic 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 - catching it early.

Do you know 55 women? If so, at least one of them will have this VERY AGGRESSIVE cancer. Please, go to your doctor 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. 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 no factor.

Bali for Kids.com Reader who sent us the article:

Well, after reading this, I made some calls. I found that the CA-125 test is an ovarian screening test equivalent to a man's PSA test prostate screen (which my husband's doctor automatically gives him in his physical each year and insurance pays for it). I called the general practitioner's office about having the test done. The nurse had never heard of it. She told me that she doubted that insurance would pay for it. So I called Prudential Insurance Co, and got the same response. Never heard of it - it won't be covered. I explained that it was the same as the PSA test they had paid for my husband for years. After conferring with whomever they confer with, she told me that the CA-125 would be covered. It is $75 in a GP's office and $125 at the GYN's. This is a screening test that should be required just like a PAP smear (a PAP smear cannot detect problems with your ovaries). And you must insist that your insurance company pays for it.

Gene Wilder and Pierce Brosnan (his wife had it, too) are lobbying for women's health issues, saying that this test should be required in our physicals, just like the PAP and the mammogram. PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO SEND THIS OUT TO ALL THOSE YOU CAN. BE IT MALE OR FEMALE, IT SHOULD NOT MATTER, AS THEY CAN FORWARD IT ALSO TO THOSE LOVED ONES THEY KNOW.

Ni Zain:

The story of Kathy shows so many facts. First of all women today MUST be more aware of what they doing to their bodies. That the rate of Ovarian Cancer is so high is a part of our life style today. Taking hormones from young age on is opening the door wide for putting a woman's body out of health. Kathy is 56. When the Pill came on the market she was around 20 years. She probably used it for more than 20 years! We MUST find other ways to run our life than taking the fast food solution of "The Pill". Woman need to run their life in a women way. Second, women today MUST learn to be able to listen to their bodies. A health diet is so basic for a health, fit, funny, happy and long life. We cannot hope that everything will be all right! We need to do something for it. Third, Kathy was connected to her body in a way she knew something was wrong, but not enough. The doctors did not look at the whole women. Irritable Bowel Syndrome? Isn't it the diagnose when doctors do not have a clue at all? In Holistic Healing we might have been able to diagnose her earlier, looking at ALL her body signs, history, etc... In Holistic Healing we would have given her right away remedies and solutions to boost her immune system, so the cancer would have not spread more. In Holistic Healing we always look to improve the immune system first. In Holistic Healing to remove Ovarian is the last and very sad solution. In Holistic Healing we would have worked on the woman until her body could have taken over the healing without cutting her. On the other hand, making a CA - 125 Blood Test is good. You than can work with Holistic Healing if your number is higher than 35. This is why orthodox and Holistic Healing should work much closer together. Getting a 100% diagnose and than treating it Holistic. - In a way luckily Kathy stepped up and made the doctors go further. They probably thought of her as "hysteric and hypochondriacally". As long as a doctor has not the proof of a sickness on a piece of paper in front of him he always would diagnose someone like this. Specially a concerned women. But we can be happy that... we have the possibility to get medical tests done. That in situations were nothing eels is helping we can have an operation. But not as a standard set up for an easy out solution, next one please. I wonder how some doctors feel after taking out the fifth Ovarian a day??? Fourth and very important: Thousands of women just in the USA get their reproductive organs cut out each year. More than half of them are healthy, means a operation is not necessary. 60% of these woman have dark skin color... Why??? And do you know what this means to the woman? Do you know she is loosing her sexuality, her drive, her fun? Do you know that many of these woman are still young. Never be able to have children. Fifth, women develop Ovarian Cancer also because they feel rejected in their women hood, in their sex, in their sexuality. Ovarian Cancer very often is the answer to our patriarchal system..

Resume: As a mother, and father too, you need to teach your little girl, teenager girl how important it is to take care of her health. To make sure she always get the nutrition her body needs, to keep away of medical and non medical drugs, to drink a lot of water, to get her health checked. But also to be a confident woman, who is able to deal with her sexuality, body and mind. Teach her to be a woman. Teach her how wonderful it is to be a woman. This is why this article is on Bali for Kids.com!!! Got it?

Note: I also made a call here in Bali. Prodia Laboratory in Denpasar, Jl. Diponogoro 192, Phone 0361-261001, they doing the test for 302.000Rp. Takes 4 days and they can also tell you if your result is something to worry about.

With lots of love and health and healing to all women in the world no mater what age! - Ni Zain - The Bule Balian

Want to read more about health? Click here and go to Health Corner

Or visit Ni Zain's web site: