Thursday, November 20, 2008
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What Every Woman Should Know About Ovarian Cancer

David Crotzer, MD, followed his internship and residency in obstetrics/gynecology at the Ohio State University Medical Center with a fellowship in gynecologic oncology at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. One of three full-time gynecologic oncologists at Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center, Dr. Crotzer answers questions about ovarian cancer:

How common is ovarian cancer?
This year, approximately 20,000 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer. More than 15,000 women will die from the disease, making it the fifth leading cause of cancer death for women.

Why is ovarian cancer so deadly?
 Because there is not yet a reliable screening test for early stage ovarian cancer, the disease is typically diagnosed at a more advanced stage, when intervention is less likely to result in a cure. Early detection remains our best weapon. Women should learn to recognize the symptoms of ovarian cancer and seek prompt medical attention if these symptoms occur.

What are some of the symptoms of ovarian cancer?

  • Abdominal bloating, gas, constipation, indigestion
  • Early feeling of fullness after meals
  • Discomfort or pressure in the lower abdomen or pelvic area
  • Increased size or swelling of the stomach or abdomen.

How is ovarian cancer diagnosed?
 When a gastrointestinal cause for these symptoms cannot be identified, especially when the symptoms persist in peri- or post-menopausal women, physicians should suspect ovarian cancer. Diagnostic tools include pelvic ultrasound, blood tests for CA-125 (a protein that may be elevated in women with ovarian cancer) and computed tomography (CT scans).

What can be done?
 Women who may have ovarian cancer should be referred to a gynecologic oncologist, an ob-gyn physician with specialty training in the care of women with cancers of the female genital tract, including surgical management and administration of chemotherapy. Prompt referral to a gynecologic oncologist allows for appropriate treatment planning and has been shown to result in improved outcomes for women with ovarian cancer.

For more information, call the Midwest GYN Oncology team at Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center at (402) 354-5250 or visit www.bestcare.org.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center is pleased to welcome Jane Theobald, MD, one of fewer than 100 psycho-oncologists in the U.S., to its multidisciplinary care team. As a psycho-oncologist, Dr. Theobald dedicates her outpatient psychiatric practice to the treatment of cancer patients and chronic pain. Psycho-oncology is the recognized subspecialty of psychiatry that addresses the physical symptoms and emotional distress that can accompany cancer.

“If cancer strikes you or someone you love, you quickly realize that the disease affects much more than blood, bone and tissue,”
Dr. Theobald explains. “Cancer affects the whole person, body and mind, as does cancer treatment.”

Working collaboratively with the other medical and behavioral health specialists at Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center, Dr. Theobald provides psychiatric services and psychosocial support throughout the continuum of cancer care. This includes medication options, carefully coordinated with other ongoing cancer therapies, for the treatment of anxiety, depression, pain and fatigue.

For more information, call the Behavioral Health team at (402) 354-5890.