Demand docs check for cancer

Woman, 25, with ovarian cancer recalls symptoms that doctors dismissed: 'You’re fine'

I hate that horse rather than zebra idea. By the time docs rule out common causes you're dead from a rare one.

My sis had ovarian cancer which had spread. She lived. It was a miracle.

I still advocate female gynecologists. I think they are more understanding and cautious.

I am so grateful that your sister lived! You are right, what a miracle! Ovarian cancer is a tough cancer to fight.

I think each person is unique and so is each symptom.

My sis asked a doc to check for cancer recently and he threw a patient gown at her. Shame on him!

Oh, that’s horrible. I had had foot surgery and the surgeon put a steel rod in my foot. A few days later the pain was awful,so I went to the emergency room. They did an X-ray and said the rod was working its way out. They sent the X-ray to the surgeon and he told me nothing was wrong, it was in my head. So I went to a different hospital ER and the doctor there told me the same thing. He then started to shout at me for using resources when he found out I’d already gone to one ER. I calmly explained that the surgeon wouldn’t do anything and I was getting a second opinion. Then he got on the phone demanding to talk to the Dr who operated and yelled at him. I had remedial surgery the next day. Not the same as cancer but yeah you have to demand respect and treatment sometimes.

Sorry to hear that. How was it detected?

Agree but, I will do you one better...

get your own tests. You can get a CA-125 test at quest and you don't need your doctor's ok. Just buy it yourself. You can also test for many blood cancers at quest... I would recommend doing a Serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP) which can tell you if you have some blood cancers early. Multiple Meyloma. I purchase my own blood tests at Quest / Ulta Labs. They are pretty reasonable priced.

Also, I am considering getting this test.. https://www.galleri.com - tests for a whole bunch of them via liquid biopsy. It is 1K for you to pay but honestly seems like that might be worth it.

What is CA125? Is that ovarian cancer? If so, that would be wonderful!

My sis's abdominal pain got so bad she could hardly straighten up, Then she went to the doctor. I'm not sure what happened at that point. I'll ask her. She was having bloating and spotting, but she thought it was the ending of her periods.

Yes CA -125 does test for ovarian cancer. It has been around a while. However, it is not particularly accurate. But like 70%. Though it is considered more accurate to prove a negative.

That being said, it is accurate enough to give you a warning. My mom thought she had ovarian cancer. The doctor did the CA 125 test and it came back negative. Mom went on to have an ovarian cyst removed -- and that was biopsied for ovca. Negative.

If I was having any bloating symptoms i would get the CA 125 immediately and if it was positive present it to doctors.

Great idea! Thanks so much for telling us.

In my travels I came across this... GASTROClear for HC Professionals - Gastroclear

It is a blood test for gastric cancer. My mom passed of that and generally it is excessively difficult to find until you are end stage. There usually aren't symptoms until that time. This test is new so it might not be available here yet, but, in Asia (which has more gastric cancer than the west) the tests sold out. It is considered pretty accurate. It found 60% of early gastric cancers. Think how many people that could save.