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More Aware Of Elusive Ovarian Cancer

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IRENE MAHER, News Channel 8 Medical Editor

Published: September 20, 2007

Melissa Christiano of St. Petersburg is an accomplished artist who works in a variety of media. When the 47-year-old started having breathing problems, she initially blamed it on years of exposure to fumes from the various chemicals used in her craft.

An annual checkup, however, revealed that Christiano's situation was much more serious. In fact, her lungs had filled with fluid and collapsed.

Further testing brought the shocking news. Christiano had advanced ovarian cancer that had spread to her lungs. "I waited so long. The symptoms are very sneaky," she says.

Of the 22,430 American women diagnosed with ovarian cancer this year, most will have advanced disease. Symptoms usually develop late, after the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. When they do appear, they are easily dismissed as other benign problems.

"Looking back, my first symptom was abdominal swelling, which I thought was just age," Christiano says. Other symptoms include abdominal pressure or pain, feeling full after eating a small amount of food, nausea, diarrhea or constipation, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss or weight gain, and unusual fatigue.

The American Cancer Society advises women who experience these symptoms daily for more than a few weeks to alert their doctor. It wasn't until this year that the medical community and numerous major health organizations such as the cancer society even acknowledged that ovarian cancer has symptoms.

It's a move that Clearwater gynecologic surgical oncologist Tyler Kirby applauds. "I think it's fantastic. Women need to pay attention to them."

Kirby is part of an elite group of surgeons in the United States that specializes in ovarian cancer. He says there are only about 700 in the country, and he's one of just three in Pinellas County. He says we are fortunate to have about 25 in Florida. Having an experienced surgeon who specializes in cancer of the female reproductive organs can make all the difference.

"Studies show that going to a surgical oncologist can double your chance of survival. Yet only 40 percent of patients do. Patients don't know we exist," Kirby says.

Christiano credits her gynecologic oncologist, James LaPolla, with saving her life. Shortly after being diagnosed in 2005, he removed the tumor and offered her a new method of chemotherapy delivery that had just become FDA approved. A tube was placed in her abdomen to deliver a powerful cancer fighting drug directly to the surgery site. The treatment lasted nine months, and she lost all her hair. It was followed by a full year of more chemo with a less powerful drug.

In June, she was declared what her doctor called "clean."

"It's a miracle. I shouldn't even be here. I'm back to work full time. It's amazing," Christiano says.

More than 15,000 women will die of ovarian cancer this year. But Christiano advises patients to ignore the statistics and get on with survival. She says that means keeping a positive attitude and surrounding yourself with positive people. "And get a good doctor who will be aggressive."

Christiano recently held a solo multimedia show at the Arts Center in downtown St. Petersburg, where she is also assistant curator. It was the culmination of three years of work, which she had named long before her diagnosis, "Run For Your Life."

"Some of the pieces had medicine vials and locks of my hair. I had no idea I was sick," she says.

On Tuesday, News Channel 8 will join three Bay area ovarian cancer groups to increase awareness of this elusive disease. Volunteers will staff a phone bank from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. to send out free information packets including a teal lapel pin, the symbol of the fight against ovarian cancer. Medical experts will also be on hand to answer questions. The phone number to call on Tuesday is 1-800-528-0808.

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