Staying Strong During Cancer
- Kardashian makeup artist Hrush Achemyan, 33, posted a bikini pic during her battle with stage 1 ovarian cancer. She captioned the post “Rock the boat like Aaliyah,” a reference to the late singer’s song.
- Doctors found Achemyan’s cancer after a routine pap smear, which is an annual screening recommended for all women starting at the age of 21, according to leading experts.
- Gynecologic oncologist Dr. Karen Zempolich tells SurvivorNet that there are subtle signs to look for with ovarian cancer, even though it is often referred to as a “silent” disease. Symptoms like persistent bloating, nausea and a change in bowel habits are worth a trip to the doctor, as these changes can signify cancer or another medical issue.
The dark-haired beauty, 33, posted a bikini pic to her Instagram with the caption “Rock the boat like Aaliyah,” which is a reference to the late singer’s song.
Read MoreIn the comments section of the post, a follower posted “this is the ovarian cancer?” to which Acheyman simply shot back, “lowlife.” Her fans backed her up with responses such as, “under no circumstances is it okay to be that inconsiderate. Mind your business boo” and ” people who go through tough life experiences can still post photos and try to be happy.”
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Sharing A Diagnosis to Help Other Women
Achemyan shared her devastating cancer news in January.
“Putting all the Rumors to Rest. Watch my journey as I battle cancer,” she said. “It was extremely hard for me to share this journey with everyone after 2 months of contemplating, I mustered up to courage to post the video.” She posted a video link in her bio with a YouTube video detailing more of her diagnosis. Doctors found a mass on her left ovary after a routine pap smear, and she was diagnosed with stage 1 ovarian cancer after five biopsies.
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Achemyan titled the video, “My Silent Battle,” noting that “it’s absolutely insane” how her cervix has caused her stomach to expand. “Some of you guys, I don’t know, think I’m pregnant or something, when I’m not,” she said. ” I have something going on. I should have thought about that earlier, because my stomach swelling is abnormal.” Achemyan stressed the importance of getting annual gynecological exams.
Signs of Ovarian Cancer
Although signs and symptoms may not be obvious for ovarian cancer, and easy to overlook, as Achemyan shows, one sign to look for is bloating. Women can have bloating due to their monthly cycle and constipation, but anything that seems out of the ordinary or seems to last longer than usual is worth getting checked. Bloating can also be a signal of other types of cancers or medical issues. Experts also say that although ovarian cancer is often dubbed a “silent” disease, “subtle” is a better word to describe it.
Related: Ovarian Cancer: Symptoms, Diagnosis & Making a Treatment Plan
“Really, most women have some symptoms. It’s just that they overlap with so many other things,” gynecologic oncologist Dr. Karen Zempolich from St. Mark’s Hospital tells SurvivorNet. “Most of the symptoms are focused around the abdomen. So there’s some discomfort early on that leads to more severe pain. There’s some sort of upset stomach feeling or getting full earlier, rather than eating a full meal without feeling that sensation of the full stomach.”
There may also be some bowel changes, so it’s best to take note of what’s happening in the bathroom if you notice something different. Dr. Zempolich says the best thing to do is go for a pelvic exam, which women do annually regardless of symptoms.
Related: 3 Common Myths About Ovarian Cancer Screening
Dr. Zempolich says there is not a “true screening” for ovarian cancer, but doing a pelvic exam is a start, which should sometimes include a doctor feeling for masses through the anus and not just through the vagina.
“We use pelvic ultrasounds to look at the ovaries,” she says. “We use blood tests that are called tumor markers, looking for proteins in the blood that can be elevated if there’s an ovarian cancer.” There is a test called CA 125 but it’s not “specific enough,” and the markers “can be elevated from things that are not ovarian cancer.”
Ovarian Cancer Warning Signs Can be Subtle
Acheyam is fortunate to catch her disease at stage 1, but there is hope for advanced stage ovarian cancer as more advancements have been made in recent years.
Body Positivity and Sex During Ovarian Cancer
Changes to the body can be tough to deal with during an ovarian cancer battle, or any cancer battle. Although it’s healthy to focus on more than how we look physically, it is still important to many women to look and feel good, which can affect a woman’s confidence sexually.
“For the majority of our patients, there are many, many things happening to their body that can make them feel as if they don’t wish to be intimate anymore,” Dr. Kimberly Resnick, gynecologic oncologist at MetroHealth in Cleveland, tells SurvivorNet. Women may not feel attractive to their partner. Going through chemotherapy can be tiring and many women suffer from hair loss.
“But I feel as a physician it’s part of my job to have this discussion with my patients and to talk to them about their ability to be intimate with their partner,” she says. “What it means to be intimate while you have a cancer diagnosis, the fact that intimacy doesn’t always mean sexual intercourse.”
Shared intimacy, whether it’s sex or just being close with someone, can help people feel less alone.
Ovarian Cancer How to Reclaim Your Sex Life
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