Ovarian Cancer-What every women should know

In the United States ovarian cancer is the 7^th most common cancer in women. There is well over 20,000 women diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year. And in 2010 more than 21,000 women was diagnosed with the disease.  We here at Prestige Magazine want you to know the signs and symptoms to watch for, and also know what increases a women’s  chance  of getting ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths in women and the majority of the time it does not result in any symptoms until the cancer has spread extensively.  If we as women learn to pay close attention to our bodies and also be able to know what is normal and/or abnormal, it increases the chances of detecting it before it spread outside the ovaries.   Some of the symptoms of ovarian cancer that you need to pay close attention to is:

• Changes in your bathroom habits such as constipation, diarrhea, having to pass urine very often or very badly
• Loss of appetite
• Increased indigestion or gas
• Feeling full quickly after eating
• Bloating (which is when the area below you stomach swells or feels full)
• Pelvic  or abdominal discomfort or pain
• Having back pain and/or leg pain
• Vaginal discharge or bleeding that is not normal for you

What we must realize is that there is no conclusive screening test for diagnosing early ovarian cancer. But having regular pelvic exams, sometimes in addition to an ultrasound exam and/or blood test for cancer related markers, have routinely been used for ovarian cancer screening.

Most ovarian growths in women under the age of 30 are benign, fluid-filled cysts.  The exact causes of ovarian cancer is unknown, but having a family history of cancer, being over the age of 55, and never being pregnant increases the chances of you developing ovarian cancer

The survival rate, prognosis, and treatment for ovarian cancer greatly depends on the stage of the disease and also the age and health of the women.  The stages of ovarian cancer  are:

Stage I:. The cancer cells may be found on the surface of the ovaries or in fluid collected from the abdomen. Cancer cells are found in one or both ovaries.

Stage II: The cancer cells are found on the fallopian tubes, the uterus, or other tissues in the pelvis. Cancer cells may be found in fluid collected from the abdomen. Cancer cells have spread from one or both ovaries to other tissues in the pelvis.

Stage III: The cancer cells may be found on the outside of the liver. Cancer cells have spread to tissues outside the pelvis or to the regional lymph nodes.

Stage IV: The cancer cells may be found inside the liver, in the lungs, or in other organs. Cancer cells have spread to tissues outside the abdomen and pelvis.

Doctors all over the country are studying new and better ways to detect, prevent and treat ovarian cancer. Current treatment of ovarian cancer involves a combination of chemotherapy and surgery.  There is no sure way of preventing ovarian cancer, but there are ways you may be able to lower your risk of ovarian cancer by:

• Consider taking birth control pills. Ask your doctor whether birth control pills may be right for you. Women who use oral contraceptives may have a reduced risk of ovarian cancer. But oral contraceptives do have risks, so discuss whether the benefits outweigh those risks based on your situation.
• Discuss your risk factors with your doctor. If you have a family history of breast and ovarian cancers, bring this up with your doctor. Your doctor can determine what this may mean for your own risk of cancer. In some cases, your doctor may refer you to a genetic counselor who can help you decide whether genetic testing may be right for you. If you’re found to have a gene mutation that increases your risk of ovarian cancer, you may consider surgery to remove your ovaries to prevent cancer.