To the Editor:

Do you know the signs and symptoms? Did you know most women are still being diagnosed with late stage ovarian cancer and dying within three to five years? You can make a difference. Post the signs and symptoms where you work, at your clinic and health clubs, early detection makes a huge difference.

Signs and symptoms are: bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, urinary urgency or frequency, painful intercourse, nausea, indigestion, constipation, diarrhea, fatigue and/or backaches.

Please take action if any symptoms last more than two to three weeks. Ask for a combination pelvic/rectal exam, CA125 test and a transvaginal sonogram. Being proactive in your health care makes a world of difference.

I had all of these symptoms by the time I was diagnosed on Jan. 5, 2003, and had been back and forth to doctors for a few years. I did not know the signs and symptoms or any of the tests that could have given me an earlier diagnosis. Each symptom was looked at individually and allowed the cancer to spread throughout my abdomen. I am very fortunate to still be here, writing once again to raise awareness. Unfortunately, I have attended way too many funerals for ovarian cancer sisters I have met in this journey, and have been on more types of chemo than I can list.

Right now I am in a study where I received a transplant of our son’s natural killer (NK)cells (similar to bone marrow or stem cell transplant). I am the first ovarian cancer patient to try this. We are hopeful the NK cells from my son will seek out the cancer and destroy it. So far we do not know if it has worked yet; maybe this will be a future letter to editor.

We know I am still here through God’s grace and a great oncology team. I feel fortunate to be able to write to each of you and hopefully help someone get an early diagnosis. Together we can a make a difference. If you would like more information about ovarian cancer, there is a non-profit organization in Minnesota, Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance. Its Web site is www.mnovarian.org.

Bonnie Lemke

Ogilvie