Ovarian cancer is one of those critical and dangerous diseases in women and is referred to as the “silent killer.” This name is derived from its signs, which are often rigid and difficult to distinguish from ordinary signs. Most unpleasant symptoms, including gas, pain in the stomach or back, and tiredness, can fade away, and women don’t realize they are signs of ovarian cancer. It is necessary to know the factors influencing the increased risk level of such disease, such as a family history.
The blog “Understanding Ovarian Cancer: Essential Facts Every Woman Should Know” indicates that ovarian cancer can be cured if detected in time. To be specific, such education about ovarian cancer puts women in a position to discuss with doctors any abnormal feelings once they feel them.
Ovarian Cancer: What Is It?
This type of cancer starts in the female reproductive system organs like the ovaries, the appendix, etc. There are three distinct types of ovarian cancer that every individual should be aware of:
- Epithelial Tumors: These tumors account for about 90% of the disease, start in the cortex of the ovary, and the most frequent type is serous carcinoma.
- Germ Cell Tumors: These rare tumors are often found in younger women. They constitute 5% of all ovarian cancers; most are curable.
- Stromal Tumors: It is worth noting that tumors from this tissue make up approximately 5% of the total cases. Most of them are not as invasive as epithelial malignancies. Considering such cases helps with ovarian cancer treatment and early diagnosis.
Does Ovarian Cancer Present Any Symptoms?
It is one of the most severe types of cancer that primarily manifests signs that hide the distortions. This implies that many signs could easily be mistaken for any other disease. Some common early symptoms include:
- Abdominal or pelvic pain
- Bloating or swelling
- Feeling full quickly
- Frequent urination
- Changes in bowel habits
- Unexplained weight loss
- Vaginal bleeding
Since some of these signs are nonspecific, the majority of women may not seek medical intervention until when the cancer has advanced.
Risk Factors
The following are some of the conditions that one may be exposed to develop ovarian cancer or may increase one’s chances of getting ovarian cancer. Here are some essential things to know:
- Age: Baldness is more likely to affect women of fifty years and above.
- Family History: But, if only the woman has close relatives, for instance, a mother or a sister who had been diagnosed with ovarian or breast cancer, then her risk has gone up.
- Genetic Factors: There may be high-risk factors from birth, such as the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which make a woman develop ovarian cancer.
- Reproductive History: These include the types of deliveries, the weight gain of the pregnancies, and maternal weight retention after birth. However, other parity women, those who have never been pregnant, or those who don’t seek any treatment due to their weakness may develop PPD.
- Hormone Replacement Therapy: They also confirmed how hormone replacement therapy results in ovarian cancer in the long run.
Women have to consult their doctors on these risks.
Diagnosis
Doctors have said it, at times, can be easy to diagnose ovarian cancer, mainly because the initial symptoms are not always well defined. Doctors use several methods to determine if someone has this type of cancer:
- Medical Evaluation and Medical Records: The doctor will also take time to ask about the patient’s overall health and strain his body for signs of the disease.
- Imaging Tests: Ultrasound or CT scans can inspect the ovaries and determine if anything is wrong visually.
- Blood Tests: CA 125 is a blood test used in the sense that if a woman has ovarian cancer, then she is most likely to possess higher levels of protein.
- Biopsy: If the doctor looks like he could be thinking that there could be cancer, then part of the ovary is removed and taken for a microscope check.
Such steps help the doctors to be sure that they will be in a position to diagnose ovarian cancer at the initial stage.
What Are The Treatment Options?
Prevention and treatment for ovarian cancer vary determined by an array of standards, including the patient’s general health, the type of cancer, and the cancer’s course. Here are a few typical treatments:
- Surgery: It is often the case to start with this step. Surgery is done by surgeons who attempt to surgically resect out the maximum extent of the cancer from the ovaries and other adjoining structures.
- Chemotherapy: This treatment involves administering particular medicines to eradicate cancer cells. It can also be used after surgery to remove the possible remains of the cancer or alone if the tumor is pronounced.
- Targeted Therapy: Medications with relatively recent origins target specific alterations in cancer cells to prevent their growth.
- Ayurveda: It is meant to enhance the body’s immune response and minimize adverse effects linked to conventional therapies.
The Value of Early Identification
Ovarian cancer is a dangerous disease that may concern women. In case it is diagnosed early, before it has spread to other organs, such as the fallopian tubes or the stomach, then over 90 percent of women may live for five years or more after they have been diagnosed. This is called early-stage cancer. But most of the female participants, 70%, learned about the existence of ovarian cancer when it has reached an advanced stage that has affected other organs of the body. Here, it is necessary to mention that the probability of subsequent survival decreases significantly in these cases. This can also demonstrate how critical it is to diagnose ovarian cancer at an early stage to increase the survival probabilities of affected women.
Conclusion
It is crucial for women’s health. Therefore, understanding ovarian cancer is very vital. This type of cancer is commonly referred to as the “silent killer” since symptoms are not easily seen until they are far advanced. Women must familiarize themselves with the symptoms and risk factors associated with the ailment. This knowledge is essential for early detection and management. In particular, some signs are hurting the stomach, frequent urges to go to the washroom, and feeling gassy most of the time.
Attending annual exams with doctors and talking with their families about their medical histories may allow women to remain healthy. When women know what ovarian cancer is, they can ensure that in case the symptoms are observed, they seek medical attention for themselves or their relatives.
Sources:
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/ovarian-cancer/about/what-is-ovarian-cancer.html
https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/ovarian-cancer
https://medlineplus.gov/ovariancancer.html
https://www.fredhutch.org/en/diseases/ovarian-cancer/facts-resources.html
https://portal.ct.gov/dph/genomics/ovarian-cancer/ovarian-cancer-facts
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4447-ovarian-cancer