Ovarian cancer is a stealthy threat silently affecting thousands of women all over the country. This disease doesn’t scream its existence but may be damaging if diagnosed late. A woman’s most common sort of cancer in India, it becomes pertinent to understand just what this ailment is all about, how it affects these ladies, and just what they might do to fight it all.
What Is Ovarian Cancer?
A female reproductive system consists of two small organs known as the ovaries. These organs produce eggs and some essential hormones. After cancer has begun growing in these ovaries spreads rapidly and disorganizedly by forming abnormal cells, which might spread to other body parts.
In simple words, it is a bunch of troublemaker cells that multiply in an uncontrolled way to create tumors that might pose a threat to the entire body. These cells are not under the rules of average cell growth and can quickly become dangerous if they are not checked in time.
How Serious is Ovarian Cancer in India?
The numbers are frightening. Recent medical research reveals that ovarian cancer is the second most common cancer among women in India. About 36,000 new cases are diagnosed every year. Almost 24,000 women die of this disease. This means for two women diagnosed, one does not survive.
What makes these numbers more heart-wrenching is the fact that most of the cases are diagnosed at such a late stage when treatments are already complex. In India, for example, it has been observed that about 70 percent of ovarian cancer cases are discovered at an advanced stage, hence significantly reducing the chances for effective treatment.
Who is at the most significant risk?
Any woman can potentially develop ovarian cancer. However, certain factors increase the risk:
- Women over 50 years old
- Family history of ovarian or breast cancer
- Women who have never been pregnant
- Those with specific genetic mutations
- Postmenopausal women especially those who have ever used hormone replacement therapy for more than five years
- Patients with endometriosis
- Women who have never used oral contraceptives
These risk factors do not mean that you will acquire cancer. They only state that the chances are increased; therefore, knowing and taking steps to prevent them is very important.
What Are the Warning Signs?
Ovarian cancer can be referred to as the “silent” killer because the early sign is very hard to diagnose, and can easily be mistaken for other diseases. Women may experience:
- Persistent bloating
- Feeling full quickly when eating
- Increased need to urinate
- Pelvic or abdominal pain
- Unexplained weight loss
- Changes in bowel habits
Many women ignore these signs and consider them as normal menstrual changes. But there are cases where ovarian cancer is diagnosed late, and it is in advanced stage.
How does ovarian cancer begin or develop?
What a long and complex way cancer comes into existence! In ovarian cancer, some cells occurring naturally in the ovaries get into some form of mutation, leading to uncontrolled growth. And there are so many causes for these changes, not necessarily genetic mutations or bad luck.
It generally is stepwise. At first, just a few cells start behaving differently. They multiply into numerous numbers and form a small tumor. If diagnosed later, these cancerous cells can break away and cause metastasis to other body parts.
What Are The Treatment Options In India?
There are several ways through which modern medicine treats ovarian cancer: Surgery: The removal of the tumor and possibly the involved reproductive organs.
- Chemotherapy: Powerful drugs to destroy the cancer cells
- Radiation therapy: Use of high-energy rays that kill the cancer cells
- Targeted therapy: Chemotherapy which target the cancer cells
- Immunotherapy: To enhance body’s immunity
It will depend on the stage that cancer has reached or the type of cancer depending on the age or generation and overall health of the person as well as the extent to which the disease has ravage one’s body or system.
What Problems Do Indian Women Face?
Indian women have specific problems in dealing with ovarian cancer. Cultural taboos about discussing reproductive health often prevent early detection. In many rural areas, women do not have access to advanced medical facilities. Financial constraints also limit the treatment options.
Also, unawareness about medical check-ups, potential symptoms, etc., often takes time. Several women keep giving priority to their family rather than to their health, which creates a delay in getting that critical diagnosis in an early stage.
How Do Women Take Care?
Prevention and Early Diagnosis. Knowing your family’s medical background and your own body helps a lot with regular check-ups and leading a healthy lifestyle.
- A diet consisting of fruits and vegetables, healthy weight, exercise, and not smoking altogether reduce the risk factors for cancer.
- Regular gynecological check-ups and communicating any family history of cancer are also important.
- Ovarian cancer prevention tips that women can get through food and lifestyle.
- Ovarian cancer is the second most serious disease in women, meaning that with proper lifestyle and dietary habits, the risk can be reduced.
- Women can try these methods to stay inside the norms of each day since these are easy activities and can help them guard against ovarian cancer.
Nutritional Recommendations
Boost Fruits and Veggies: Another medical advantage of taking fruits and vegetables as the source of our meals is that they are rich in antioxidants, which would have a role of eradicating the bad effects of the carcinogens. Scientists concluded that the approach, as healthy as it is, will ensure that you ingest foods of all colors to have the right nutrients.
Whole Grains: Brown rice, quinoa, whole wheat bread, and many others can be eaten to maintain good health. These diets incorporate many foods that have fiber since this improves the intestines.
Healthy Fats: You should consume natural oils like olive oil, improved nuts like avocados, improved fish like salmon, and other products rich in omega-3 fatty acids. These substances have an anti-inflammatory effect and may be involved in cancer prevention.
Have Lesser Processed Foods and Sugars: Involve smaller decadent products and differentiate your meals to lessen the incidents of overweight that might lead to ovarian cancers. Eating foods with high sugar content, saturated fats, and trans-fatty acids can eventually cause overweight and obesity, which might result in some types of cancer, including ovarian cancer.
Lifestyle Changes
Physical Exercise: Active sports, physical activities, or aerobics participation can contribute to obesity problems. These problems can be redirected towards healthy weight maintenance, which in turn can lower the possibility of ovarian cancer. Get a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity per week to stay on the safe side.
Sustain Body Mass: Human obesity is the prime reason for the development of cancer. A balanced diet and frequent workouts can help prevent tumorigenesis.
Limit Smoking & Alcohol Intake: Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption are the cause of several cancers. So, inhibiting smoking and decreasing alcohol usage can drastically eliminate the risk of cancer.
Routine Check-up: Routine gynecologic screening and family disease profile with healthcare providers are a means of detecting cancer early and taking preventive actions.
These lifestyle changes can be a good course of action that women can take to bring about the proper results that prevent ovarian cancer and other positive health issues in their lives in general.
What Research and Hope Exist?
The good news is that medical research is improving fast. Scientists are finding more sophisticated screening methods, understanding genetic factors, and creating targeted treatments. In India, several research institutions and hospitals are devoting considerable resources to understand and fight ovarian cancer.
With this advancement, women can be diagnosed who are at higher risk so preventive measures can be undertaken. When cancers have advanced to their late stages, they are supposed to be treated by sophisticated techniques in immunotherapy. These advances may yet make a way for ovarian cancer to be treated as an ailment in the future.
Final Thoughts: Breaking the Silence
Ovarian cancer is considered one of the most dangerous cancers, but that is no death sentence. The power resides in the knowledge. With complete information about the disease and recognition of symptoms at its early stages, the women can take proactive steps and thus have more significant opportunities for successful treatment.
Every woman has a different story. Some will face severe challenges, while others will emerge as survivors. The most important things are creating awareness, supporting each other, and never losing hope.
Remember, health is the most valuable asset. Listen to your body, seek help when needed, and stay informed.
REFERENCES:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6167407/
https://forumias.com/blog/ovarian-cancer-known-as-a-silent-killer/