By Linda Winkler Garvin
Clearity’s Perspective: Linda Winkler Garvin has a Masters degree in nursing, adult nurse practitioner training, and over 30 years of healthcare experience. Her story is an example of how even those with a medical background may have difficulty recognizing ovarian cancer symptoms. As an ovarian cancer survivor and Clearity Ambassador, she is committed to sharing her experience and educating others in the hope that more awareness will result in earlier diagnoses. She tells her story about cancer in two parts – this first part is about the symptoms.
Part 1: Ovarian Cancer – What Are The Signs?
I’ve been a medical professional for over 30 years and consider myself to be quite knowledgeable about diseases, symptoms, and risk factors, especially for the population with whom I have worked the most — middle aged and older adults. Before I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, I knew some information about it. Mostly, I was aware that ovarian cancer often impacts people over 50 and it is difficult to treat effectively. Despite knowing the facts, it never occurred to me that I would ever be one of those people. Prior to my diagnosis, I would characterize my health as excellent. I had been a physically active woman for the last 50 years, eating a healthy diet and weighing in at the same weight I was in high school. Like so many others diagnosed with ovarian cancer, I was completely shocked to receive this news.
I quickly found out how much I didn’t know. Recent statistics from The American Cancer Society reveal that ovarian cancer ranks as the 15the most common cancer and the sixth leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women. Furthermore, a woman’s lifetime risk of developing ovarian cancer is reported to be 1 in 87.
I asked myself how I could have a cancer and not know it. I discovered ovarian cancer is often diagnosed at an advanced stage because early symptoms can be subtle or absent, making early detection difficult. Vaginal bleeding was my only symptom. This led me to call my gynecologist, who quickly ordered a vaginal ultrasound which found a large ovarian tumor. Based on my oncologist’s recommendations, I decided to undergo a total hysterectomy. My pathology report indicated that I had a highly aggressive tumor and chemotherapy was ordered.
I was fortunate enough to get an early diagnosis and am cancer free at this time.
Here are some common symptoms that may be associated with ovarian cancer:
- Pelvic or abdominal pain: Persistent pain or discomfort in the pelvic or abdominal region
- Bloating: Feeling consistently bloated, especially if it persists for more than a few weeks
- Trouble eating or feeling full quickly: A sudden change in appetite, difficulty eating, or feeling full despite eating very little
- Frequent urination: Increased urgency to urinate and more frequent bathroom trips.
- Unexplained Vaginal bleeding: Report this to your gynecologist immediately.
- Changes in bowel habits: Any significant changes in bowel habits, including constipation or diarrhea
- Unexplained weight gain or loss: Sudden and unexplained changes in weight can be a symptom of various health issues, including ovarian cancer.
- Fatigue: Feeling unusually tired or having low energy levels consistently.
- Back pain: Pain in the lower back
It is also crucial to note that these symptoms can be indicative of various conditions, and experiencing them does not necessarily mean someone has ovarian cancer. However, if these symptoms are persistent and unexplained for several weeks, it is important to consult with a healthcare professional, particularly a gynecologist.
Sources
Linda’s Information:
Linda Winkler Garvin, MSN
Health Advocacy & Consulting
President & Founder, Patient Advocate Bay Area, Inc.
Ambassador & Advocate for The Clearity Foundation
E-mail: lindawgarvin@gmail.com
Phone: (510) 520-0186