SYMPTOMS
Ovarian cancer may cause several signs and symptoms. Women are more likely to have symptoms if the disease has spread beyond the ovaries, but even early-stage ovarian cancer can cause them. The most common symptoms include:
- Bloating
- Pelvic or abdominal pain
- Trouble eating or feeling full quickly
- Urinary symptoms such as urgency (always feeling like you have to go) or frequency (having to go often)
Source: American Cancer Society
To read about more symptoms and information about ovarian cancer, go to www.cancer.org.
Shannon Miller was a member of the “magnificent seven” gymnastics team that won historic gold in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.
As Miller, 39, celebrates the 20th anniversary of the games, she is hitting another major milestone: five years of being an ovarian cancer survivor.
Today, Miller, a seven-time Olympic medalist, is focused on helping other women fight ovarian cancer. The mother of two is raising awareness about the potential symptoms of ovarian cancer. She is also spreading the word about a new blood test called OVA1, which can help determine if a pelvic mass is likely to be cancerous. (Miller is a paid spokeswoman for OVA1, which wasn't available yet at the time of her diagnosis.)
About 22,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year, according to the American Cancer Society. About 14,000 women die from the disease annually.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution recently interviewed Miller, who lives in Jacksonville, Fla., by phone about her Olympic memories, her cancer diagnosis and how fighting cancer has changed the way she thinks about her health. The interview was edited for length.
Q: Do you have a favorite memory from the Olympics?
A: Oftentimes, we think of that gold medal moment on the stand, seeing the flag being raised. But there's also those behind-the-scenes moments and other moments. For me, it was the first time we walked into the Georgia Dome, and this was for practice, not even for the competition. And every seat was filled. And it was the chant of USA, and it was so overwhelming.
Q: What are your thoughts on the current U.S. Women’s Gymnastics Olympic Team?
A: This may be one of the best teams we've ever had, led by Simone Biles. And I am really excited about Laurie Hernandez and to see how she does. She just turned 16 and she was kind of the dark horse on the team, and she gets better and better with each competition. I think they are going to do great. They will win gold for sure.
Q: Are you going to the Olympics in Rio and, if so, what will your role be at the Olympics?
A: Yes. I am doing a lot of different things. I continue to do analysis for different outlets and I will also serve as a (brand) ambassador for Hershey. (The Hershey company is an official sponsor of USA Gymnastics.)
Q: Talk about your diagnosis and about why you've decided to be so vocal about your cancer journey.
A: I was diagnosed in early 2011. One of the reasons I have been very public about my diagnosis is not because I want to talk about my ovaries in front of the world, but I felt like it took me by such surprise. I didn't realize what the symptoms were for ovarian cancer. (See box for more information about symptoms.) It's important for women to think about the small issues they have, not overexamine but certainly not underexamine either. How many times do we hear women say, "I don't have time to go to the doctor, I feel fine"?
Q: How has your diagnosis changed the way you view your health?
A: I pay much closer attention (to my health) and I do not skip doctors' appointments. If I have to reschedule for some reason, it is for no more than a week from when it was originally scheduled. That is a deal I have with myself.
I think the other thing that has changed significantly for me personally is growing up and going to gymnastics, for me it was always about that achievement. It was not necessarily about gold medals. It was about learning the next skill. I won five medals in Barcelona and came home and I was in the gym three days later looking for new skills to learn. And it was always the next step and what else can I learn. I carried that over into my life. It was always about the next project at work and the next thing going on with the kids (and at the time, it was just my son). (She now has two kids.) I think the cancer diagnosis really caused me to really stop and smell the roses and really appreciate all of the details of life.
Q: What is your fitness routine these days?
A: On a daily basis, I do a lot of walking. It sounds very simple, but getting in the steps each day makes a huge difference. It's low impact on the body. I also like getting in the pool. I am the lady who does the pool aerobics while my kids are swimming. I am a big advocate of squeezing that workout into your daily life, so I do the 10-minute fitness workouts and things like that.
Q: Talk about working with OVA1.
A: OVA1, this is a blood test (manufactured by Vermillion). It was not available when I was diagnosed, but it is extremely important and a huge step in the diagnostic process. It is not a test for ovarian cancer. Unfortunately, there is no test for ovarian cancer.
One in five women will have a pelvic mass. Most of these are not going to be cancer. This is a tool the physician can use and very quickly and it can tell you whether you are at higher or lower risk for it being cancer. It indicates what kind of surgeon needs to provide that first surgery. … For me, I was very lucky. My gynecologist consulted almost immediately with a gynecological oncologist, who performed the surgery. Having a gynecological oncologist operating in the first surgery can improve survival up to 40 percent.
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