Have you been putting off your well-woman exams? Did you know that Ovarian cancer is most commonly diagnosed in women over the age of 45?
I was feeling bloated so my doctor recommended that I have a pelvic, abdominal, and trans-vaginal ultrasound to make sure there wasn’t anything in there that wasn’t supposed to be. Also, my”muffin top” made it hard for her to feel my ovaries doing a manual exam. Ah, the joys of being a woman over 50!
A transvaginal ultrasound is one of the best ways to detect ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer is difficult to diagnose and it’s a horrible disease. I first heard about transvaginal ultrasounds from a woman in one of my networking groups. Sadly, her daughter was diagnosed when she was 17 and passed away at 20.
Ever since her daughter’s death, she’s been raising money for an organization she founded in her memory called The Ovarian Cancer Circle. She constantly encourages women to ask to have a transvaginal ultrasound because doctors rarely mention them during routine exams. I was impressed that my gynecologist suggested it.
All of my tests turned out to be normal and were easy to do. (with the exception of having to drink a gallon of water without peeing before my abdominal ultrasound) I’m so glad I had them done because now I know the only thing inside of me is belly fat. That’s something I can deal with and get rid of. But, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Symptoms of ovarian cancer
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms below, make an appointment with your gynecologist ASAP. The important symptoms that women of all ages should be aware of.
- Bloating
- Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly
- Nausea, indigestion, or gas
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Unexplained weight loss or gain
- Pelvic or abdominal pain
- Urinary symptoms (urgency or frequency)
- Unusual and lasting fatigue
- Abnormal vaginal bleeding
Stay up to date with your well-woman exams, mammograms, blood tests, colon tests, and immunizations.
To donate to the Ovarian Cancer Circle click HERE.
hey Rebecca – good advice, which I mostly agree with. I don’t know much about Ovarian cancer, pretty sure I’m totally safe on the uterine now though 😉 (hysterectomy in January). I’ve never heard of a trans vaginal ultrasound. I had two large fibroids (hence the surgery) and I’ve had quite a few ultrasounds to track those and see how big they were, etc. They did do internal as well (vaginally) is that the same thing do you think?
I’ve not heard of anyone just going for one just as part of normal check up though, is this a new thing?
I also do NOT believe in mammograms. I’ve just heard too much conflicting information on them, and a friends own personal account (5 of her friends got breast cancer less than 6 months after having one) that I steer clear.
Hi Darlene, I don’t know how I missed your comment before. How weird. Trans vaginal ultrasounds are non invasive and can detect problems that can’t be seen with regular pap smears. It’s fairly new and many doctors neglect to recommend them. You would only have one if you have some of the symptoms of ovarian cancer and not as part of a regular checkup. The problem is many doctors don’t mention them and so it’s important to ask about them. They are expensive and not always covered by insurance, however in Canada that may be different. It sounds like you probably had one before your surgery.
I’m not a big fan of mammograms either. Especially every year for the same reason as you. The radiation does more harm than good. There are some other less dangerous tests and more effective tests, but again, they aren’t covered by insurance.
I think it’s important to be in touch with your body. If you feel like something is out of whack make sure to get it checked out.
I’m guilty of waving off trips to the doctor as well. “I feel fine”. Thanks for the reminder!
I dig your site.
Elaine, I think a lot of us put those things off especially when we’re feeling good. I’m glad you like the site. Thanks for stopping by.