Denton County Living Well Magazine September/October 2016 | Page 37

ful husband and she says she couldn’t
have asked for a better caregiver.
Jackie’s friends and family have been
incredibly supportive throughout her
journey.

of 60. As women age, their doctors
may suggest that an annual Pap test
is no longer necessary. Patients often
interpret this to mean that they don’t

Over 22,000 women in the United
States will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer this year and over 14,000
women will die of the disease. It’s so
lethal, because it’s often diagnosed in
an advanced stage. Jackie was stunned
at her diagnosis, since she had none
of the common symptoms of ovarian
cancer, which include bloating, feeling the need to urinate frequently or
urgently, pelvic pain, and decreased
appetite/feeling full quickly. These
common, vague symptoms are often
attributed to other conditions.

Even after all of her
struggles, Jackie says
that she has many

need to visit their gynecologist annually. However, there is more to a gynecology appointment than a Pap test,
and women should still have an annual pelvic exam.

The majority of women diagnosed
with ovarian cancer are over the age

It’s important to note that the Pap test
does not detect ovarian cancer; it’s a

blessings

screening test for cervical cancer only.
There’s no consistently reliable screening test to detect ovarian cancer. This
is why it’s imperative for women to be
familiar with the symptoms of ovarian
cancer. If a woman experiences one
or more symptoms for two weeks or
longer, she should see her doctor.
The National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC) is a fantastic resource for ovarian cancer information and support. Since its inception
in 1991, the NOCC has been committed to raising awareness, promoting education, and funding research
in support of women, families, and
communities touched by ovarian
cancer. NOCC remains steadfast in
its mission to save lives by fighting
tirelessly to prevent and cure ovarian cancer, and to improve the quality of life for survivors.

For more information,
please visit www.ovarian.org.

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