I was enjoying a casual dinner the other night, when all of a sudden my heart started racing. I broke out in a cold sweat and I was shaking, dizzy and short of breath. It was really scary - I thought I was having a heart attack!

The term, ovarian cancer, is used to refer to a malignancy of the outer lining or epithelium of the ovary. The most common subtype is called papillary serous carcinoma because of the frond-like appearance microscopically. The second most common subtype is endometrioid. Mucinous and clear cell carcinoma are less common subtypes and tend to have a poorer prognosis.

The causes of ovarian cancer remain poorly understood. One hypothesis is that an increased number of ovulations increase the risk of ovarian cancer. A second theory is that high chronic levels of pituitary hormones that stimulate the ovary (pituitary gonadotropins) can somehow lead to cancer.

Generally, the most common symptoms of adenocarcinoma of the pancreas include loss-of-appetite, weight loss, abdominal discomfort and nausea. As these are all fairly non-specific symptoms, there is often delay in getting to the final diagnosis. The most common physical sign of pancreatic cancer is jaundice, with or without associated itching. Preceding to a medical evaluation often requires a high index of suspicion by the patient or by medical personnel.

During a regular physical exam, your doctor can check your breasts to look for lumps or changes. Depending on your age and risk factors, the doctor may recommend that you have a mammogram, which is an X-ray of the breast. A mammogram can often find a lump that is too small to be felt. Sometimes a woman finds a lump during a breast self-exam. If you or your doctor finds a lump or other change, the doctor will want to take a sample of the cells in your breast. This is called a biopsy.

The most common way to check for prostate cancer is to have a digital rectal exam, in which the doctor puts a gloved, lubricated finger in your rectum to feel your prostate, and a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test. A higher level of PSA may mean that you have prostate cancer, but it could also mean that you have an enlargement or infection of the prostate. If your PSA is high, or if your doctor finds anything in the rectal exam, he or she may do a biopsy to figure out the cause.

Ovarian cancer is cancer in the ovaries, the female reproductive organs located in the pelvis. The ovaries make female hormones and store eggs that, if fertilized by sperm, can develop into a baby. Women have two ovaries, one on each side of the uterus. Tumors found in the ovaries may be noncancerous tissue growths (cysts) or cancerous growths that may spread to other parts of the body.

There is no reliable study to support the claim that infertility treatment causes ovarian cancer. One highly publicized study suggested a link between ovarian cancer in women who had received ovulation induction drugs. These women were also infertile and infertile women are at greater risk for ovarian cancer whether or not they receive ovulation induction drugs. It was not possible to determine if the increased risk was due to the women's infertility or drug treatment.

Most commonly, ovarian cancer spreads through direct contact with other tissues in the pelvis or by spreading through the fluid in the abdominal cavity. Also, it can invade lymph channels to spread through lymph nodes. Travel through the blood vessels is much less common but does occur and can manifest itself as liver metastases or malignant cells in a pleural effusion which is fluid around the lungs.

Stage refers to the extent of the cancer at the time of diagnosis. Different stages have different prognoses. Stage I refers to cancer limited to the ovaries but also includes the presence of cancer cells in fluid in the abdominal cavity. Stage II indicates cancer that has spread to other areas of the pelvis. Stage III refers to cancer that has spread to lymph nodes or to surface tissues in the upper abdomen.

Most commonly, surgery is the first step in treatment. When ovarian cancer is suspected because of the presence of an ovarian mass, tests including a CA-125 blood test and a CT scan or MRI of the abdomen and pelvis are done. Most cases of ovarian cancer require removal of both ovaries, both fallopian tubes, the uterus, and the omentum (a fatty apron overlying the intestines), with additional biopsies of various abdominal lining surfaces including the diaphragm and biopsies of lymph nodes.

First, it is not a very common cancer. With 27,000 new cases in the United States yearly, one would have to screen 2,500 women to find one case. Only 50% of early-stage ovarian cancers will have an elevated CA-125. Also, many non-cancer conditions can cause an elevated CA-125 (false positive). This group may then undergo multiple other tests, including exploratory surgery which can have serious risks and side effects. A second issue is that of frequency of screening.

Research shows that there are some immediate health benefits of quitting smoking, including enhanced circulation and lowered blood pressure. Quitting smoking after a diagnosis of lung cancer can help your body better cope with the treatment you are about to undergo.

Every attempt is made to help women with cancer find resources to obtain the care they need. Legal residents of Kansas who have no insurance and are diagnosed with cancer through Early Detection Works screenings qualify for the Kansas Treatment Act, which provides dollars to pay for treatment of breast or cervical cancer. For more information, contact the regional nurse. Early Detection Works maintains all personal and medical information in a confidential manner.

In Pennsylvania, women of low or moderate income who are diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer or a pre-cancerous condition can get quality care and treatment, regardless of their lack of insurance, through the Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Program (BCCPT). return to top

Medical procedures, such as an intravenous pyelogram (IVP), an ultrasound, a CT scan, or a cystoscopy to determine whether an abnormal mass is present in or around the bladder. A cystoscopy is the best test for confirming bladder cancer.