What are the Limits of the New Apple Watch?
- This week, it was announced that the new Apple Watch will allow women to track their ovulation.
- Reproductive cancers like ovarian cancer and cervical cancer should be screened for by a doctor, NOT a watch say every expert we consulted.
- People fighting cancers that affect the reproductive system – i.e., testicular cancer, ovarian cancer, cervical cancer – may consider freezing their sperm or their eggs if they wish to have a family, as some cancer treatments damage fertility.
ABC reports that “among the Apple Watch Series 8’s advanced features is a temperature sensor that offers an estimate for the last time a woman wearing the watch has ovulated.”
Read MoreUnderstanding Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian cancer has been called “the cancer that whispers,” due to its hard-to-detect symptoms. Dr. Beth Karlan, a gynecologic oncologist at UCLA Medical Center, explains in an earlier interview, “What we’ve found from multiple studies, it’s this constellation of symptoms,” she said. “If that’s really happening and you’re experiencing it every day, and they seem to be crescendo-ing, getting worse, even if that goes on for only two weeks, you should call your doctor.”Ovarian cancer symptoms may include:
- Feeling full earlier/decrease in appetite
- Feeling bloated
- Changes in bowel habits
- Pain in the pelvis
- Urinary symptoms, such as an urgent need to go
- Extreme fatigue
- Abdominal swelling
- Pain during sex
Ovarian Cancer: The Cancer That Whispers
Understanding Cervical Cancer
Cervical cancer is detected via a pap smear test, which looks for early signs of cervical cancer.
Nurse Practitioner Barbara Dehn explains to SurvivorNet in a previous interview, “Many women think that a Pap smear checks for ovarian cancer, but it doesn’t. Pap smears detect only cervical cancer, not all gynecologic cancers. In fact, there is no test that detects ovarian cancer in its earliest stages, which is why two-thirds to three-quarters of women are diagnosed at a later stage, when the disease has spread to nearby tissues and organs.”
Every year in the U.S., approximately 14,480 women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer. And nearly a third of women diagnosed will pass away from this disease. Getting pap smears to detect for cervical cancer is critically important because an earlier diagnosis may mean a better prognosis and broader treatment options. Cervical cancer treatments may include surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.
Cervical Cancer Survivor, Hannah Park, Was Shocked After Her TikTok Video Went Viral. “I Never Expected Anything Like That to Happen at All.”
Fertility & Cancer
Many people fighting cancers that affect reproductive parts (i.e. cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, testicular cancer), chose to freeze their eggs or their sperm as a way to preserve their fertility prior to cancer treatment. Some cancer treatments can damage fertility, so it’s a preventative measure for people who may want to have children.
In a previous interview, Dr. Jaime Knopman, a reproductive endocrinologist at CCRM NY, tells SurvivorNet that time is of the essence when it comes to fertility conversations with your doctor. She says, “The sooner we start, the sooner that patient can then go on and do their treatment. A lot of the success comes down to how old you are at the time you froze and the quality of the lab in which your eggs or embryos are frozen in.”
“Oftentimes, we just do what we call a ‘fast start,’” says Dr. Knopman. “We start them no matter where they are in their menstrual cycle. Because of that, it can sometimes take a bit longer than it would for traditional IVF stimulation. But all in, you’re never really talking about more than two weeks.”
Fertility Preservation After a Cancer Diagnosis
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