“`html
Woman’s Insistence on Routine Ultrasound Detects Advanced Ovarian Cancer, Saving Her Life
A routine, yet frequently enough dismissed, medical test proved to be life-saving for a New York woman who was diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer despite experiencing no symptoms. Louise Altese-Isidori’s story underscores the critical importance of proactive health screenings and listening to one’s own intuition, even when medical professionals deem a test “unnecessary.”
Altese-Isidori, 50, recently relocated to Florida with her family and joined her wife, Joe Isidori, at the Florida branch of their renowned Italian resturant, Arthur & Sons, in Manhattan. At the time, she felt healthy and vibrant, noting that everyone commented on how well she looked. Though, unbeknownst to her, a silent threat was growing within her body. “Everyone told me I looked great. But then I was struggling with cancer,” she recounts.
The insidious nature of ovarian cancer frequently enough allows it to progress without noticeable symptoms, and in Altese-Isidori’s case, it had already reached an advanced stage. Her persistence in undergoing regular transvaginal ultrasounds – a medical imaging method providing detailed views of the uterus,ovaries,and surrounding structures – proved pivotal.Despite one doctor deeming the application unnecessary, Altese-Isidori continued to follow her initial physician’s recommendation for scans every six months, then annually. This decision initiated a chain of events that ultimately saved her life.
In October, an examination revealed a large cyst. Initial blood tests came back negative for cancer risk, but the cyst persisted. Her doctor then recommended a hysterectomy, which Altese-Isidori accepted, as she had no plans to have further children. However, a serious expression on her doctor’s face before the scheduled December 20 surgery raised her concerns. “Your test is negative,but this image doesn’t feel inside me. You should be hospitalized as soon as possible,” the doctor stated, marking a turning point in her journey.
The surgery revealed a devastating reality: cancer had spread to her colon, liver, stomach, chest, and other organs.A biopsy confirmed stage 4B ovarian cancer, the moast advanced form of the disease.
immediately, Altese-Isidori and her wife sought treatment at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, where she underwent a complex operation on January 15 performed by renowned surgeon Dr.Dennis Chi. The procedure involved the removal of her spleen, gallbladder,
The surgery revealed a devastating reality: cancer had spread to her colon, liver, stomach, chest, and other organs.A biopsy confirmed stage 4B ovarian cancer, the most advanced form of the disease.
Immediately, Altese-Isidori and her wife sought treatment at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, where she underwent a complex operation on January 15 performed by renowned surgeon Dr.Dennis Chi. The procedure involved the removal of her spleen, gallbladder, and parts of her colon and stomach. following the surgery, she began chemotherapy.
Altese-Isidori’s case highlights the importance of early detection and the need for women to be vigilant about these potential signs and prioritize regular screenings.
The Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance reports that only 31 percent of women diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer survive for five years, with a recurrence rate as high as 95 percent. despite these sobering statistics, Altese-Isidori remains optimistic.”I want to change the face of the fourth stage of cancer.Someone who wears a colostomy bag can be full of life,” she declared, continuing to take a targeted treatment pill known as a PARP inhibitor daily.
Experts recommend annual CA-125 tests and transvaginal ultrasounds for women with a family history of cancer, substantially increasing the chances of early diagnosis. However, they also emphasize that many doctors are not proactive in recommending these screenings. The American Cancer Society estimates that one in 91 women in the USA will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer, with approximately 20,890 new cases expected in 2025, and 12,730 deaths projected.
In Türkiye, the incidence of ovarian cancer mirrors global trends, with approximately 4,590 new cases identified annually, according to globocan 2020 data. Alarmingly, 70 to 75 percent of cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage due to the disease’s often asymptomatic
