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Just Lose Some Weight: Doctors Dismissed Concerns of Tired, Bloated Woman It Turned Out She Had Ovarian Cancer – SurvivorNet

Jan 28th, 2022

Understanding the Signs of Ovarian Cancer

Having your concerns repeatedly dismissed by your doctor is not a good feeling. And when it comes to ovarian cancer, ignoring possible causes of subtle symptoms can have dire consequences. So, take it from Hannah Catton as someone whos currently fighting for her life 10,500 miles away from her family that voicing your concerns is always the way to go.

Catton, 24, moved from England to Australia to work at a veterinary practice in 2019. But health problems began to arise once she was far from home. She asked a doctor about the fatigue, stomach bloating, repeated urinary infections and irregular periods shed been experiencing, but she says they chalked her issues to stress and recommended she lose weight.

For more than a year, Id been going to different doctors trying to find a GP who would listen when I was telling them my periods are irregular and something is wrong, she said.The response from them all was youre stressed, youre fine, give it time, lose weight.

I was living with period pain, chronic fatigue, UTI-like symptoms and being bloated. I knew something was wrong but no doctors seemed concerned.

After having her concerns repeatedly brushed off, Cattons condition eventually hit a boiling point. She collapsed in severe pain while horseback riding in October 2021 only to later discover she had a melon-sized tumor that had ruptured on her ovaries. After surgeons removed the tumor, she was officially diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

I was so angry, because for well over two years, I had been suffering from recurrent urinary tract infections and having so many antibiotics thrown at me to fix it, she said.

Shes now undergoing chemotherapy treatments, and, thankfully, her prognosis is good. Still, its been particularly tough for Catton since her family cant come and support her during treatment because of COVID-19 travel restrictions.

The last time I saw my parents and brother was when I said goodbye to them at the airport to travel to Australia almost three years ago, so its been incredibly hard for all of us, she said. Its incredibly tough for them because all they want to do is jump on a plane to be with me but theyre not allowed.

And as soon as I am well enough, Ill be flying home for what will no doubt be a very emotional reunion.

Even without her family physically present, Catton has still felt such strong support from friends and family. Her friends have even raised money for her on GoFundMe to help with travel and general living costs while she cant work.

Everyone has been amazing in their support for me for which I am so grateful, she said. I have had fantastic support from my friends here in Australia, including my boyfriend Kyall, as well as my many friends back home who have all been incredible.

Ovarian cancer is when the ovaries which produce the sex hormone, estrogen, as well as eggs become cancerous. Women have two ovaries, one on either side of the uterus.

The fallopian tube, which brings the egg from the ovary to the uterus for fertilization, is actually where many ovarian cancers begin. First, a few cancerous cells develop on the fallopian tubes, then these cells stick to the ovaries as the fallopian tubes brush over the ovary. From there, the cancerous cells grow to form a tumor.

Your risk for ovarian cancer may be increased if you have gone through menopause, have a gene mutation like BRCA1 or BRCA2, are obese or overweight, had your first pregnancy after age 35 or never carried a pregnancy to full-term, have a family history of cancer or used hormone replacement therapy. You should talk with your doctor about your potential risk for the disease.

Ovarian cancer is known as the cancer that whispers because symptoms are vague and sometimes similar to regular menstrual cycle fluctuations.Dr. Beth Karlan, a gynecologic oncologist with UCLA Health, says that ovarian cancer can be difficult to recognize with its subtle symptoms.

Ovarian Cancer: The Cancer That Whispers

Ovarian cancer does not have any specific symptoms, Karlan said in an earlier interview with SurvivorNet. Its often referred to as the cancer that whispers in that it has symptoms that are really very vague and nothing that may bring your attention directly to the ovaries.

But Dr. Karlan still wants women to keep an eye out for a variety of possible symptoms.

The symptoms include things like feeling full earlier than you usually would when your appetite is strong Feeling bloated, she added. Some changes in your bowel habits. Some pain in the pelvis. These are symptoms women may have every month. These are not very specific. But what weve found from multiple studies, its this constellation of symptoms.

RELATED: Annual Ovarian Cancer Screenings Do Not Save Lives, Study Suggests; Women Should Listen for Signs of the Cancer that Whispers

Dr. Stephanie Wethington, director of the gynecologic oncology survivorship program at Johns Hopkins Medicine, previously told SurvivorNet that prevention for ovarian cancer is an important area of focus.

We must remember that prevention is key and advocate for all women to discuss their family history and individual risk factors with their doctors and ask whether there are risk-reducing options available to them, Dr. Wethington wrote.

Our advice to readers: See your doctor if you feel like something is off. Given that ovarian cancer can have no symptoms or a myriad of symptoms that you might easily brush off as nothing, its important to always seek medical attention when your gut is telling you something might be wrong. That doesnt mean we should assume the worst every time we feel bloated or have a change in appetite, but it does mean that we should always try to listen to the signs our body is giving us.

Whether you are currently battling cancer or worried that you might have it, its always important to advocate for your health. Cancer is an incredibly serious disease, and you have every right to insist that your doctors investigate any possible signs of cancer.

Be Pushy, Be Your Own Advocate Dont Settle

Every appointment you leave as a patient, there should be a plan for what the doc is going to do for you, and if that doesnt work, what the next plan is,Dr. Zuri Murrell,director of the Cedars-Sinai Colorectal Cancer Center, told SurvivorNet in a previous interview. And I think that thats totally fair. And me as a health professional thats what I do for all of my patients.

In a previous interview with SurvivorNet, April Knowles explained how she became a breast cancer advocate after her doctor dismissed the lump in her breast as a side effect of her menstrual period. Unfortunately, that dismissal was a mistake. Knowles was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer at age 39. She said the experience taught her the importance of listening to her body and speaking up when something doesnt feel right.

I Wanted My Doctor To Like Me, Then He Missed My Breast Cancer

I wanted my doctor to like me, she said. I think women, especially young women, are really used to being dismissed by their doctors.

Figuring out whether or not you actually have cancer based on possible symptoms is critical because early detection may help with treatment and outcomes. Seeking multiple opinions is one way to ensure youre getting the care and attention you need.

Another thing to remember is that not all doctors are in agreement. Recommendations for further testing or treatment options can vary, and sometimes its essential to talk with multiple medical professionals.

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

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Just Lose Some Weight: Doctors Dismissed Concerns of Tired, Bloated Woman It Turned Out She Had Ovarian Cancer - SurvivorNet

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