Have a Happy & Healthy New Year! - the Parklander

WHISPERS OF WARNING MEDICINE & HEALTH
Cont’d from page 42
but the CT scan came back with what the ER doctor called a cyst. When
asked why an ultra-sound wasn’t being performed he responded that it wasn’t
necessary because they did a CT scan. However, upon reading the report
from the radiologist she discovered it said, “Follow Up By An Ultra-sound”.
The next day she faxed her gynecologist the CT results. A pelvic ultrasound
and a CA-125 blood test, which sometimes indicates cancer, was
scheduled. The ultra-sound showed a potentially suspicious mass and the
CA-125 came back very high. She was told that a reading of 20 was normal
for this test. However, her test came back reading 128! As a fury of fear
swept over her, an appointment was immediately set with an oncologist.
During the months prior to this, rationalization for all the symptoms was
common place for this woman. Always thinking these were all just little
things. But they were little things all linked together speaking to her with
the voice of a whisper. Now, with the appointment set to visit the
oncologist, fear struck. Many thoughts ran through her head. What could
this “suspicious” mass be? The CA-125 came back 128 instead of the
normal 20. It really could be cancer. But this test has also been known to
give false positive results. The rationalizing as a mechanism for hopefulness
continued. It became a perfect combination for an emotional roller coaster
ride.The fear of the unknown can be truly agonizing.
The visit to the oncologist confirmed that she needed surgery to
determine the type of mass she had and she was
admitted to the hospital. The surgery was
scheduled and, upon awakening from the
anesthesia, she heard what just a few months ago
she would never have imagined.
The woman I just described has cancer – Stage
III Ovarian Cancer.This woman’s name is Shirley
Nicodem. She lives in Boca Raton, Florida. But she could be any woman,
living anywhere. She never ever predicted this would happen to her!
The ever quiet whispers of the disease were speaking so softly and so
deceptively. Shirley never knew that all the subtle whispers were trying to
warn her of something so serious. Now we know that ovarian cancer is the
cancer that whispers. It speaks to you in the subtle tones of whispers until
you can no longer deny its beckoning for your attention. This is the way it
entered Shirley’s life and it seems the lives of so many other women.
Shirley’s road thus far has been a difficult one. She underwent a total
hysterectomy and the removal of lymph nodes followed by chemotherapy.
She has been through the whole gamut of emotions and still at times revisits
them. She was not just afraid when confronted with this disease, she
was petrified. Who wouldn’t be? She cries. She wonders why this happened.
She feels depressed.These are all perfectly normal reactions.The easy thing
to do is to let those negative emotions and thoughts take up residence in
your body along with the cancer. Oh how happy the disease would be to
have misery as its company. Although there are those moments of
negativity, she finds the strength to push those thoughts aside and focus on
how to help others recognize the power in taking seriously the warning of
those whispers. Shirley is one woman who is determined to turn the
whisper into a shout. She has devoted herself to volunteering for the
National Ovarian Cancer Coalition in Boca Raton. She hands out
pamphlets to every woman she can. She even uses her work as an
opportunity to spread the word. She tries to extend her reach beyond the
borders of her own town. She sells items on eBay and packs a pamphlet into
every order, so the message can be spread throughout the country. She
designs and creates beautiful bracelets which she sells to benefit the cause.
Her mission is to take every opportunity to pass the word along. From the
very start Shirley has been a survivor and, determined to remain one, she
behaves like one. She didn’t wait for an all clear from her doctor to do what
she could to get the message out. She knows firsthand the urgent need for
the quietness of this cancer to be heard.
The statistics as reported by the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance are
alarming. They state that “Ovarian cancer occurs in 1 out of 68 women.
About 15,000 out of the 20,000 women diagnosed with the disease die each
The whispers of a woman…
even a whisper can hurt you!
120 JANUARY 2007
year. Ovarian cancer, the deadliest of the gynecologic cancers, is the fifth
leading cause of cancer death among U.S. women.”
Shirley has been fortunate to have the love and support of loved ones and
friends who have helped her along this unexpected turn in her life. Support,
love and hope for those dealing with cancer are gifts of immeasurable value
for survivors. At this time, Shirley has completed her chemotherapy. After
her treatment was done, she had another CA-125 blood test done and her
reading went down to 55 and currently it is down to 35. But she must
continue to have it checked every month. A new CT scan and PET scan
were done and 2 cystic lesions have been found on both the left and right
pelvic walls. It was decided that next month another CT scan would be
done to keep a close eye on the cysts and continue with the scan every 3
months thereafter. The surgeon explained to Shirley that the cancer could
likely come back. During her many weeks having chemotherapy, she did
meet other women with Stage III cancer there because their cancer
returned. Some had to have additional surgery as well. Still, Shirley is
ecstatic that for right now her tests show encouraging results from her
treatment. Each day she remembers that she has today. Each day is a new
day to cherish and use in the best way possible. According to her, she
believes that “with a positive attitude, prayer, meditation, love and anything
that makes her feel calm and centered with this journey in her life” she will
beat this. Each day offers new opportunities for her to not only live her life,
but help others become aware of the dangers of ignoring their “whispers”.
The similarities between the responses of
women who have received the news that they have
ovarian cancer are striking. For the most part they
are in complete shock when hearing their
diagnosis. They fear not knowing what to expect
tomorrow, next week, next month or next year.
They fear for themselves and the loved ones they
may be forced to leave behind. They think of things they never dreamed
they would have to face. Prior to discovering that they have the disease,
many are a picture of health who faithfully get all their yearly gynecological
exams. They thought those exams protected them from this too. This is a
disease that strikes without warning – an intruder who sneaks up
from behind.
There is a great need for more education and awareness so women will
learn to listen to their bodies and know what to listen for. Women need to
trust what their bodies may be trying ever so gently to whisper to them.
If you feel like your body may be trying to tell you something, tell your
doctor. Don’t wait for your doctor to tell you. Currently there is no definitive
test to detect ovarian cancer. Many women are under the misconception
that a Pap smear will alert them to this kind of cancer. This is not so. Along
with a yearly Pap smear, a transvaginal sonography should also be included
and a CA-125 blood test done if needed. Doctors do not routinely do a
transvaginal sonography unless you have a specific complaint which they
feel may warrant it and will meet the insurance company’s criteria. But
remember ovarian cancer is the cancer that whispers and often there is
nothing to complain to your doctor about until it is too late. Early detection
offers the best chance for survival. There is no denying that our physicians
are of great value to us but remember Webster’s definition of a whisper – “to
speak softly so as only to be heard by one near at hand”. The whispers are
speaking to YOU. You are the one “near at hand”. Learn to pay attention so
you will hear your whispers. It is vital that women be an active part of their
own healthcare.
Shirley Nicodem is turning her whispers into shouts. She hopes that
more people will volunteer to spread the word so that together the volume
of the shouts will be so loud it will not be ignored. She hopes that more
funds can be raised to benefit this cause. And somehow she hopes that
insurance companies can be made to partner this crusade for early detection
by paying for transvaginal sonography along with a yearly pap smear.
Maybe then many more lives can be saved from this deadly disease.
Although Shirley never expected to be in her current health situation, she
hopes that her experience can open the eyes and ears of many women since
any woman has the potential to be in her shoes.