Facts of Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian cancer was a silent women’s disease, but recently it has been noticed with recurring symptoms, you got to watch out for it. This type of cancer is silent but with recurring symptoms it can be noticed soon.
What is Ovarian cancer?
The ovaries are the part of the female reproductive system, which produces the eggs monthly, this is during a woman’s reproductive years. Found on either side of the lower abdomen, when the cells grow and divide uncontrollably, a tumor is formed on the ovary calling it Ovarian cancer. These can break up and spread to other parts of the body, but in most cases it stays in the area of the abdomen, and affects the intestines, liver and the stomach. There are several types of ovarian cancer, most are from the ovary of the outer lining cells.
How common is Ovarian cancer?
The eighth most common cancer in women excluding skin cancer, the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths in women, and one in sixty seven are at risk.
What are the symptoms of Ovarian cancer?
What makes it hard to detect Ovarian cancer is the symptoms of gastrointestinal problems, similar kind of illness, the reason for a late diagnose, and in most cases it is found out too late.
Common symptoms of Ovarian cancer:
General abdominal discomfort, or pain, pressure, bloating, gas, cramps, and indigestion.
You may experience pelvic pain, a difficulty in eating, feeling full quickly, and urination is more frequently or urgently.
Don’t most women have some bloating a few days a month? Who hasn’t experienced abdominal pain?
It is true that most women have had these effects, but if it has been happening more frequently you got to have it seen to.
Gaining or losing weight for no reason
If you had these signs for twenty years then it won’t be ovarian cancer, but if one of the symptoms is a new one and occurs almost daily, and it lasts longer than two to three weeks, you must seek medical help. Don’t think that it has something to do with your age, it could be serious.
Breast cancer and Ovarian cancer can be linked, those who had breast cancer before the age of forty or if you have family members with the same problem, then test for both cancers.
By removing the ovaries it doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t have Ovarian cancer again, you have a five percent chance of getting cancer of the fallopian tube or peritoneum, and the lining of the abdomen.
The reason for this happening, the ovarian cancer cells develop from the same type of cell which lines the surface of the ovaries, but those cancers are rare.
Other than genetics, what raises your Ovarian cancer risk?
Women who never had children, those who get their menstrual cycles at an early age and go into menopause much later than usual are at a higher risk.
Every time a woman ovulates an egg is released from the surface of the ovary, which then repairs itself, the more this happens the more the repairing process becomes impaired, and the problem starts on the surface of the ovary.
Is the birth control pill thought to prevent ovarian cancer?
The pill does reduce your risk by fifty percent, a huge benefit, as the pill stops ovulation and you are not releasing eggs this slows the repairing process.
Is the pill safe after age 35?
It is safe, but also discuss with your doctor for further details. If you don’t have a history blood clots or not smoking it should be fine.
What are some risk factors for Ovarian cancer?
The exact factors are not yet known but the following should help you know better.
Family history, if your mother daughter or sister, had it, this is especially if two or more have had the disease, if one has a family history of breast, and colon cancer, there is a risk of Ovarian cancer.
Age, most women get Ovarian cancer at fifty years and older, and a higher risk in those older than sixty.
Fertility drugs, drugs that are used to ovulate can increase your risks
Talc, if you have used talc in the genital areas for years you are at a greater risk
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), a slight risk after menopause
How is ovarian cancer diagnosed?
You can have no symptoms or mild ones, and this you will only know when the disease is in the advanced stages, so the following tests will be useful.
Pelvic exam, an examination that includes, the feeling of the vagina, ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder and rectum, this is to find any kind of abnormality, in shape or size.
Ultrasound, high frequency sound waves, which are aimed at the ovaries, and produce a pattern of echoes to create a sonogram, a picture, healthy tissues, fluid-filled cysts and tumors look different on this picture.
CA-125 assay, a blood test used to measure the level CA-125, this is found in higher than normal amounts in the blood of women with Ovarian cancer as well as other cancers.
Lower Gastrointestinal series or barium enema, colon X-rays, and of the rectum, after the patient has had enema with a white chalky solution containing barium, which outlines the colon and rectum making the tumors or other abnormal areas that are easier to notice.
Computerized Axial Tomography (CAT) scan, detailed pictures of the organs inside the body, which is created by the computer linked to a X-ray machine.
Biopsy, the removal of tissue that is taken for examination under a microscope, this shows a definite diagnosis of Ovarian cancer. The surgery has two purposes, to remove any cancer that is in existence, including the ovaries and the uterus, and the other is to, sample the tissues, surrounding the lymph nodes, this determines if the tumor has spread and of the stage of the cancer.
No Comments