health & wellness 'Gifts' Of The Experience Ovarian cancer survivor advocates for greater awareness, better treatments for disease. Lessons For Life Elizabeth A. Katz Special to the Jewish News M arcie Paul's ovarian cancer diag- nosis, as with many incidences of the elusive disease, occurred in a round-about manner. When she found a mass in her abdomen in 2009, she first consulted a gastrointestinal doctor. "The mass would be there one day and then gone after a few days, but it was always in the mid-abdominal area, so I immediately thought it was a GI issue said the 55-year-old West Bloomfield resi- dent. "It never occurred to me that I would be diagnosed with ovarian cancer." Following a few bouts of intense abdom- inal pain that were later identified as tor- sion, Paul's internist ordered a CAT scan that revealed the tumor. Her symptoms, however, remained difficult to identify and when her OB/GYN examined her, her doc- tor still couldn't clearly feel the mass even after the CT confirmed its existence. It wasn't until five months after first feeling the mass that Paul, 51 at the time, finally learned that she had Stage IIIC ovarian cancer in June 2009. The American Cancer Society (ACS) describes Stage IIIC ovarian cancer as cancer of one or both ovaries that has spread to the lymph nodes or tumors measuring larger than 2 cm in the abdomen. It's estimated that 22,240 new ovarian cancer cases will be diagnosed in 2013, according to the ACS. For all types of ovarian cancer, the five- year relative survival rate is 44 percent. If ovarian cancer is found and treated before the cancer has spread outside the ovary, the five-year relative survival rate is 92 percent. However, only 15 percent of all ovarian cancers are found at this early stage, the ACS states. Paul began treatment at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Center in Detroit, Marcie Paul with her daughter, Shera Shevin which included debulking surgery, chemo- therapy and then a year of maintenance chemotherapy with Taxol. As a Jewish woman, she also received genetic testing and counseling at Karmanos to determine if there was a genetic link to her cancer, specifically a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation. BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations, which are passed down in families, are linked to Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome and are more prevalent in those of Ashkenazi Jewish descent, a population concentrated in Central and Eastern Europe. The syndrome puts women at up to an 87 percent chance of developing breast cancer and up to a 44 percent chance of developing ovarian cancer at some point in their lifetime as compared to the general population risk of breast and ovarian cancer, which is 12 percent and 1 percent, respectively. Paul learned that she didn't have a gene mutation but that did not alleviate her concerns for her young daughter, Shera. "One of my first thoughts after being diagnosed was about my daughter;' she said. "I was primarily concerned with how my cancer would affect her." Shera was nearly 13 at the time and had her bat mitzvah two months after Paul's diagnosis. Although terrified her daughter might grow up without a mother, Paul also realized that her cancer diagnosis could provide valuable lessons for them both. Paul is married to Stewart Shevin. "Pretty early on, I realized I can't con- trol if I have cancer, but I can control how I have cancer:' Paul said, "and I wanted my daughter to learn something posi- tive from the experience and how to face adversity. "I also found that it was important to find a balance between marching ahead with my life and not letting cancer define me or stop me from doing something, while still remaining open to the life- altering 'gifts' of the experience." Some examples of those 'gifts' she cited include appreciating the people in her life and having the need to spend time "pur- posefully." That sense of purpose led Paul to the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance, which at that time didn't have a Michigan affiliate. In addition to becoming a grant reviewer in the U.S. Department of Defense's Ovarian Cancer Research Program, she was instrumental in establishing the statewide advocacy nonprofit, Michigan Ovarian Cancer Alliance (MIOCA) in 2011. The group's mission is to promote saving lives through early detection and improved treatment outcomes. Not only does MIOCA serve survivors and their loved ones, its volunteers take an active approach to teaching medical September Is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month S eptember is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. The disease is the fifth-leading cause of cancer deaths in women, and those who are between the ages 35-74 are the most likely age group to develop ovarian cancer. Any woman can develop ovarian cancer, although these factors can increase your risk: • Starting menstruation before age 12 • Starting menopause after age 50 • Never having children or having 104 August 29 • 2013 your first child after the age of 30 • Having a history of ovarian, breast or colorectal cancer • Having a family history (espe- cially mother, daughter or sister) of ovarian, breast or colorectal cancer. "Symptoms of ovarian cancer can be very vague and may include abdominal swelling or discomfort; pelvic pressure or pain that doesn't go away; changes in appetite or get- ting full easily; or feeling tired all the time," said Robert Morris, M.D., leader of the Gynecology Oncology Multidisciplinary Team at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Center in Detroit. "There are no accurate screening tests for ovarian cancer, though Karmanos researchers right now are working diligently to create a test for early detection of ovarian cancer as well as innovative treat- ment strategies. "Until a test is in place, women should be aware of their bodies and be in touch with their health care providers if they suspect anything that isn't normal health-wise for them." For information, call 1-800- KARMANOS (1-800-527-6266) or visit karmanos.org . For more about the Michigan Ovarian Cancer Alliance, call (734) 645-5473 or (248) 212-4447 or visit www.mioca. org . ❑