What is the need to talk about Ovarian and Gynecologic Cancers?
September is a unique month because it heralds a change in the atmosphere, the beginning of the winter season, or paving the road for winter. No, no. This month is especially reserved for something very important: it is ovarian and gynecologic cancer awareness month.
Well, this is the time when we learn about the cancers that target the woman’s reproductive organs, Ovarian being one among the others like cervical, uterine, vagina and vulva cancer. Now, you would be thinking, why does it require the entire month? The reason is relatively straightforward. These are cancers that pose a danger to women’s health, yet not so many people know about these diseases. It is easier to deal with such issues as even intervention is possible for nearly all women to prevent cancers such as these.
Ovarian Cancer: The Silent Troublemaker
Let us discuss ovarian carcinoma in more detail. This type of cancer is sometimes refer to as a “quiet” type of cancer, since often the cancer remains undetectable when it is in its preliminary stage of development. The ovaries are small sexual glands located in the female body and are responsible for formation of eggs and their hormones. It is challenging to identify ovarian cancer when it first appears and starts spreading within the ovaries.
Ovarian cancer is not only the primary form of cancer among women of a certain age. Ongoing trends in India indicate an increase in ovarian cancer cases with time. Every decade, there are new cases of ovarian cancer among all women in India, around 5 women in every 100,000 per year. This figure may not be considerable. However, thousands of women suffering from these cancers exist in the country. To make matters worse, not only are these women diagnosed with cancer, but they are already in a state of metastasis, with complications in the treatment process.
The Warning Signs: What to Watch For?
So, what are the warning signs that women should be aware of? Here are some of the signs of ovarian cancer most commonly seen:
- Getting full very quickly when partaking in a meal
- Increased frequency of urinating
- Discomfort or distension of the abdomen for prolonged periods
- Alterations in defecation pattern, for instance, the occurrence of constipation
These symptoms may be symptoms of different disorders, but if they last for two weeks, one should seek medical attention. I assure you it is always better to go and check up on what you perceive to be a trivial issue than to keep quiet about it.
Other Gynecologic Cancers: A Short Overview
Let us be clear that cancer of the ovary is not the only type of cancer that falls under the category of gynecological for women. Let us, in a moment, bypass other types –
In India, Cervical cancer is more frequent than ovarian cancer. In the year,59778 Indian women are diagnosed with Cervical cancer, which stands at approximately 18 in every 100,000 women. The silver lining is that it is a tide that can be turned, thanks to checks regularly.
Uterine cancer: This develops within the womb where the developing fetus resides. Inaders of the cervical region are not uncommon. However, their incidence is much lower compared to that of uterine cancer.
Vaginal and vulvar cancers: These are also uncommon. However, these also can occur. They involve the vagina and the external reproductive organs of a female.
Why These Cancers Are a Big Deal in India?
In India, there are many reasons why gynecologic cancers pose as a challenge.
Many women do not have information on these cancers and their signs. This implies that they may not seek help early when the cancer is treatable.
Some women are shy and do not want to discuss issues. This can discourage them from going for checkups or informing a doctor when something is wrong.
In some regions of India, primarily in the countryside, accessing a good doctor or hospital can be a problem. This may result in putting off diagnosis and treatment.
What Can We Do? Simple Steps for Better Health
Now, we need to focus on the measures we can take to prevent anyone from being affected by these cancer diseases and, if they do, to help us detect them very early.
- Firstly, be aware of your body. If you sense that something has changed or that there is something wrong, do not keep it to yourself, as you may be, for lack of a better word, just ‘panicky.’ It is not unreasonable, especially when it comes to one’s health, to go for a diagnosis.
- Secondly, schedule routine appointments with your doctor. Even in the absence of any complaints, it is necessary to have a physician visit periodically to detect any health issue before it surfaces. As far as cervical cancer is concerned, there is also one sort of test called a Pap smear, where women are checked for any abnormal changes that could result in cancer.
- Thirdly, live a healthy life. Food products containing nutrients, physical activities, and no smoking can help reduce several cancers, most of which are gynecological cancers.
Fourth, discuss it. The more we discuss these cancers, the less frightening and gory they become. Teach your sisters, mothers, daughters, and friends whatever you can. It is said that knowledge is power!
Hope on the Horizon: Better Care and New Treatments
Even though gynecologic cancers are very severe, there is still a ray of hope. Doctors and Scientists are doing their best to know better prevention and early diagnosis and better treatments for these cancers.
Today the number of large and small hospitals getting equipped with better machines for early detection and treatment of cancer in India is increasing. More and more doctors are undergoing training courses to care for women suffering from these cancers. Health awareness campaigns also teach women the significance of health checkups.
Novel interventions are also in the pipeline. Some of these interventions are less general and more focused on the diseased area, meaning that they are likely to be more effective and safer.
Saga of Resilience: The Women Who Refused To Be A Victim
What lies beneath all these statistics and medical jargon are actual people – mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends. Many women who have experienced gynecological cancers are selflessly attempting to aid others by telling their stories.
For instance, we have come across a patient from Mumbai. According to the article she was only thirty of age when she got to know that she has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She was the first shocked by it and scared she thought it could not be me to be ill. However, she underwent integrative cancer treatment and obtained assistance from her family, and she overcame the hardships. Now, five years later, she is helping other women in the same position because she has been cleared of cancer.
Also, there is one more ovarian cancer patient who hails from one of the villages in Tamil Nadu. She was diagnosed with cervical cancer before being made aware of its existence. She would not have been diagnosed if not for a mobile health camp that came to her village. Today, she goes from house to house in her town, educating the women about the need for a health checkup.
Such tales remind us that humanity may have to face cancer, and yet women are the strongest.
What This September Means to Each One of Us?
So, what does all this imply for us this September? There is an opportunity for learning, sharing, and doing.
Study these types of cancer. The more information you possess, the more helpful you’ll be in attending to yourself and the women around you.
Impart your knowledge to others. Discuss gynecologic cancers with your family and friends. It is a matter of time; the more we speak about it, the less sting there will be.
Put your knowledge into action. If it’s time for your appointment, don’t skip it. If something feels off, please investigate further. And make sure the women around you do this as well.
Please take into account that gynecological cancers may affect women, but it doesn’t mean these are the only things that define such remarkable beings. But if we have knowledge and act, there are better chances that more women will have healthy and longer lives.
This September, let’s unite for the sake of women’s health. Let us create a stir and speak up about the cancers that prefer to suffer in silence. Every woman has a right to be healthy, joyful, and heard.