As you may know, I enjoy learning about better health from watching the Dr. Oz daily TV shows. Yes, there is some hyperbole and showmanship. But, there is much to learn.
Last week one of the shows startled me, and motivated me to write a memo to my wife. She should watch that show. Not only she, but ALL women. Since all women do not watch the show, I decided to write this essay on the show’s main topic: ovarian cancer.
Dr Oz. pointed out the 6 signs (in 3 categories) for detecting ovarian cancer early. He said that 80 percent of cases are detected too late to do very much. Wouldn’t it be great for women to be able to know what to look for? If detected early, ovarian cancer has a 90 percent chance of cure.
Each of these signs is fairly common but, when any one sign, or combination of signs, is persistent (every day or every other day), lasts more than a couple of weeks, and is a new symptom, a diagnosis should then be made. One of those diagnostic tools should be an ultrasound.
SET 1: A FEELING THAT YOU ARE BIG
a. bloating
b. increased abdominal size
SET 2: PAIN
a. abdominal or belly pain
b. pelvic pain
SET 3: EATING
a. difficulty eating
b. feeling really full quickly
Dr. Oz introduced a 31-year-old woman who had these signs in addition to nausea, constipation, frequent urination, and exhaustion. Doctors treated her for irritable bowel syndrome, kidney stones, urinary tract infection, and acid reflux. When, thinking it was kidney stones, her doctor gave her an ultrasound.
The results showed what looked like a cyst on her ovary. Surgery determined it was not a cyst, but ovarian cancer in an early stage. She was cured.