Understanding Ovarian Cancer
- Scottish stand-up comedian Janey Godley is coping with three ovarian cancer treatment, and although she admits it’s scary at times, she continues to remain hopeful and keep pushing forward with optimism.
- Ovarian cancer has been called the “cancer that whispers,” because women often don’t experience symptoms until their cancer has already reached its late stages.
- SurvivorNet offers a comprehensive guide to ovarian cancer features advice from some of the nation’s top gynecologic oncologists, to guide you through every stage of the diagnosis and treatment process. Check out SN Local, featuring 20 cities across the U.S., to explore expertise and community near you.
- Overcoming adversity can seem daunting but having a plan can make it feel achievable. It’s important to remember know that setting goals and breaking them into smaller steps is key. When going through a difficult time try setting a goal, making a plan, relying on others, and using positive self talk
Godley exuded hope and strength in her most recent social media post, featuring a photo of her smiling face, wearing her black-rimmed glasses, taken while sitting on what appears to be a comfy chair with a neck pillow for support.
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Godley concluded with some empowering words, “Fear never ends. But I keep going.”
Her bravery were praised by fans, with one writing amongst the comments, “As a kid, I always struggled why people said that ‘you’re so brave’ when receiving treatment.
“Then, as I grew up and began to understand reality, I realize where the bravery exists. You’re brave and you’re also inspirational.”
Another commented, “You’re so brave & inspiring – But, you’re human & not afraid to say how you’re feeling – I appreciate that so much- You’re real – Bless you always.”
“I can’t imagine what this is like for you ,but know we are all thinking of you and we are sending our love your way. Deep breaths Jane, you’ve got this,” wrote a third.
It’s wonderful to see Godley pushing through as she noted last month that she was “getting better with dealing from the symptoms” of chemotherapy.
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She told her Instagram followers in a video posted on July 26, Godley noted that she’s been undergoing treatment since 2022 and she’s “coping.”
Godley was initially diagnosed with ovarian cancer in November 2021 and given the “all clear” in the summer of 2022 after undergoing a full hysterectomy. Later that year, the Godley learned she had cancer recurrence, which was found in her abdomen. She then started up on more chemotherapy.
“I’m coping is all I can say. I’m a big stronger. I’m not as tired. I’m getting up more,” Godley explained in her recent video, telling her fans that the chemo process messes with her brain as the medicine may make her tired but her brain tells her, “I need to move.”
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She continued, “So I’m going that. I’m moving a little bit. I’m getting ready to go … I’m going to be doing a podcast …and then a show … and [ultimately] my big Scottish tour.
“I’m going to obviously try as hard as I can. I know that the cancer will keep chasing me and the chemo will keep chasing the cancer and I’ll keep chasing the chemo and that’s mundane basically. I wish I could make it much more scientific than that but I can’t.”
“Some days are harder, mentally than others. I’m not going to pretend that it’s joyful,” she added, insisting, “But that’s life. And that’s what I’m just going to keep doing. And all the love and support I keep getting from you guys, honestly, if love and support could cure, I’d have been cured ages ago.”
Janey Godly’s Ovarian Cancer Battle
For Janey Godley’s ovarian cancer treatment, she also had to undergo a hysterectomy, a surgical procedure that removes the uterus. In addition to the physical loss of the womb, the emotional repercussions can sometimes also be extensive.
Godley’s cancer was stage 3, so she needed to start treatment right away, but eventually had to have that mandatory surgery as well. What matters, however, is that she found her cancer in time, as ovarian cancer is often difficult to diagnose.
Initially, Janey was suffering from a bloated stomach, back and stomach pain, frequent urination, and lack of appetite.
“A patient can feel relatively normal and suddenly wake up with abdominal distension and symptoms that are related to ovarian cancer,” Dr. Jeanne M. Schilder, a gynecologic oncologist at Indiana University Medical Center, tells SurvivorNet.
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A good rule of thumb is to go get checked out for any lingering symptoms that don’t get better over the course of a couple of weeks.
Women know their own bodies better than anyone. So if you feel like something just isn’t right it’s a good idea to see your primary care physician, at least to start. Your doctor should get your medical history and the symptoms you’re concerned about, and do a physical exam.”
As with any type of cancer, the earlier that you can get a diagnosis, the better off you will be.
Godley got the “all clear” in the summer of 2022, which led her to grow her locks into a short, white ‘do. However, the cancer was recently found in her abdomen in the winter of 2022 and she’s now undergoing more treatment.
Learning About Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian cancer has been called the “cancer that whispers,” because women often don’t experience symptoms until their cancer has already reached its late stages.
The symptoms that do appear at first are hard to identify as cancer. This subtlety of symptoms makes it essential for women to know the warning signs, and report them to their doctor.
The term ovarian cancer refers to a number of different tumors that grow in the ovary. The ovaries produce the sex hormone, estrogen, as well as eggs. Every woman has two ovaries, one on either side of her uterus. The fallopian tube picks up the egg from the ovary and carries it to the uterus for fertilization.
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Many ovarian cancers actually begin in the fallopian tubes. A few cancerous cells first grow on the fallopian tubes and then, as the fallopian tubes brush over the ovary, these cells stick to the ovaries and eventually grow to form a tumor.
There isn’t just one ovarian cancer; there are many different types that occur at different stages of life. In fact, researchers have identified over 30 types, but these three are the most common:
- Epithelial. About 90% of ovarian cancers are epithelial, which means the cancer cells are located on the outer layer of the ovary. Most epithelial tumors are not cancerous, but when they are cancerous, they can spread before they’re detected.
- Stromal. This rare type of tumor forms in the connective tissue that holds the ovary together and produces estrogen and progesterone.
- Germ cell. These tumors, which develop in the cells that produce the eggs, are more likely to affect a single ovary, rather than both ovaries. When a teen or young woman is diagnosed with ovarian cancer, it’s usually the germ cell type. The good news is that most women with these types of ovarian cancers can be cured.
According to SurvivorNet team of medical experts, the symptoms of ovarian cancer can include:
- A feeling of bloating or fullness
- Pain in the pelvis or abdomen
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Changes in bowel habits
- Bleeding from the vagina (especially after menopause)
- Unusual discharge from the vagina
- Pain or pressure in the pelvis
- Belly or back pain
- Feeling full too quickly, or having difficulty eating
- A change in urinary or bowel habits, such as a more frequent or urgent need to urinate and/or constipation
- Extreme fatigue
- Pain during sex
“We don’t have a good screening method, but if you have symptoms, it’s very important that you go to your physician because there might be an opportunity that we can detect it when it’s still early stage,” Dr. Jose Alejandro Rauh-Hain, a gynecologic oncologist at MD Anderson Cancer Center, previously told SurvivorNet.
“It’s very important that patients are not afraid to ask questions to their physicians. Because the sooner we can diagnose the cancer, the better that prognosis.”
How Is Ovarian Cancer Graded and Staged?
As Godley continues to battle late-stage ovarian cancer, it’s important to understand that the disease is officially staged and graded through surgery to determine its extent. and can be divided into three grades of aggressiveness. The grade is not determined by the size or stage of the tumor, but rather by the behavior of the cells in the tumor.
- Grade 1 cells are the least aggressive cancer because they look most like normal ovarian tissue and are well-differentiated. Grade one ovarian cancer is less likely to spread.
- Grade 2 cells are mildly aggressive.
- Grade 3 cells are the most aggressive form of ovarian cancer and are poorly differentiated. They have a large nucleus or cell center. They divide very quickly and no longer look like normal, healthy cells. This type of cancer is most likely to spread.
Ovarian cancer can also be classified into four different stages, regardless of grade:
- Stage 1: The cancer is found only in one or both ovaries.
- Stage 2: The cancer has spread to other areas of the pelvis.
- Stage 3: The cancer has spread to the abdomen and other body parts in the abdominal region.
- Stage 4: The cancer spreads to regions beyond the abdomen.
Treating Ovarian Cancer
With ovarian cancer, the standard of care (whether after surgery or before) is a “very, very effective” chemotherapy, says Dr. Dana Chase, a gynecologic oncologist at Arizona Oncology.
When ovarian cancer patients are diagnosed, according to Dr. Chase, they are usually given chemotherapy, which puts about 80% of patients into remission, at least for some time.
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“The current treatment that we’re going to give you, the standard treatment, is in existence because thousands of women have participated in studies,” Dr. Chase notes to SurvivorNet.
After initial treatment which often involves surgery and chemotherapy, your doctor may recommend a form of maintenance therapy.
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“We use some maintenance therapies with chemo and then continue them after chemo, such as Avastin while others we use after chemo, such as Olaparib,” Dr. Chase explains.
A growing number of women diagnosed with epithelial ovarian cancer are eligible for treatment with a class of drugs called PARP inhibitors. PARP inhibitors are options for women as maintenance therapy after the first chemotherapy or platinum-sensitive recurrence or as a treatment for recurrence.
Resilience Through Adversity
SurvivorNet specializes in covering the lives of people who overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Often, seeing the positive helps them maintain their resilience.
Dr. Zuri Murrell, an oncologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, spoke to SurvivorNet about the role of a positive outlook on survival rates: “I’m pretty good at telling what kind of patient are going to still have this attitude and probably going to live the longest, even with bad, bad disease. And those are patients who, they have gratitude in life.”
Resilience: Staying Positive Despite Adversity
Meanwhile, resilience is an important trait, but not the easiest to build. When building resilience, the ultimate goal is not to avoid tough times, but to be able to bounce back from them. And yet, when they are faced with an overwhelming, life-changing situation, how do people shift their view? How do they learn to see the problem as temporary, rather than permanent, and figure out a solution?
It’s complicated, because building resilience is more about your mental and emotional fortitude than anything else. According to the American Psychological Association, “the resources and skills associated with more positive adaptation (i.e., greater resilience) can be cultivated and practiced.” In other words, resilience is not something you’re born with, which should be encouraging. Instead, after every challenge in your life, you build more and more resilience to those hard times.
Building resilience is down in the same way you build muscle, through patience and steady exercise of the skill.
Some lessons learned from other cancer warriors SurvivorNet has covered include being willing to learn, spending time with people who inspire you, allowing yourself to grieve, being flexible, and leaning in to your community for support.
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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