| As a survivor of both breast and colon cancers, I | | | | * Abdominal pain |
| want to always bring cancer awareness to the | | | | * Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly |
| general public. While I have not had ovarian cancer | | | | * Changes in urinary or bowel functions |
| nor known anyone close to me who has, I was | | | | Unfortunately, these symptoms are very |
| struck to realize how easily the symptoms of this | | | | common to many women and can certainly be |
| horrible disease can be mistaken for minor health | | | | signs of other problems. However, if you or |
| problems. Don't take chances with your life, if you | | | | someone you love shows any of these |
| or someone you love shows any of the | | | | symptoms and they persist over a few weeks, |
| symptoms listed below, please go to your | | | | over-the-counter meds aren't working, etc, |
| gynecologist and explain your symptoms. | | | | contact your doctor immediately. Dr. Messing says |
| Ovarian cancer is often known as the silent | | | | women too often try over-the-counter |
| disease because so many women don't realize | | | | medications for too long, have bloating but |
| they have it until it's too late. As a cancer | | | | assume they are just gaining weight, etc. It is |
| survivor, I always want to take advantage of | | | | better to be checked out by your physician than |
| getting any cancer information out to the public. | | | | to try to doctor yourself or ignore the |
| According to Mark Messing, M.D., a gynecological | | | | symptoms. Many times ovarian cancer will not be |
| oncologist with the Baylor Health Care System in | | | | the problem. But in the cases where it is present, |
| Texas, some of the earliest signs of ovarian | | | | early detection is vitally important, as it is with all |
| cancer are: | | | | cancers! Don't take chances with your life; you |
| * Bloating | | | | only get one! |
| * Pelvic pain | | | | |