Ovarian cancer – which, as the name suggests, is a type of cancer that affects the ovaries – has a terrible nickname: the silent killer. That’s because the early symptoms are very difficult to detect, and although this is a condition that can generally be treated, the prognosis for anyone with it becomes much more serious the longer it’s left. In other words, early detection is crucial.
That’s why it’s such a good idea to understand more about ovarian cancer so that, should you notice any strange and unusual symptoms, you can have a better idea about whether it’s this form of cancer (or whether it could be) and you won’t delay making an appointment to get a proper professional diagnosis. When you think this could literally be the difference between life and death, you’ll see why it’s such an important thing to do and know about. With that in mind, keep reading to get some crucial details about ovarian cancer that could one day save your life.
Understanding Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian cancer develops when abnormal cells in the ovaries start to multiply. When that happens, they create a tumor that then spreads further and ‘eats’ healthy cells as it goes. There are different types of ovarian cancer, and it all depends on precisely where the tumor or cells start – some of the types of ovarian cancer include epithelial, germ cell, and stromal cell cancers.
Risk Factors
It can sometimes surprise people to find that cancer doesn’t always just happen and that there are certain risk factors that might be in place that can make it more likely for the condition to occur. Of course, when it comes to something like lung cancer, everyone knows that smoking is a big risk factor, but the truth is that although some cancers do just develop spontaneously, many more come about due to lifestyle and habits.
When it comes to ovarian cancer, some of those risk factors can be helped and some can’t, but it’s useful to know them anyway, as you’ll know if you’re more at risk than others. Risk factors include:
- Age – women over the age of 50 are more likely to get ovarian cancer, although those over 60 have the highest risk.
- Family history – if there is a family history of ovarian cancer (as well as colon cancer and breast cancer), this could increase your own chances of developing the disease.
- Personal history – if you’ve had colorectal, breast, or uterine cancer in the past, you’re more likely to develop ovarian cancer in the future.
- Reproduction – women who had their first pregnancy over the age of 35, had trouble getting pregnant, or who have never been pregnant have a slightly higher chance of developing ovarian cancer.
- Obesity
- Hormone replacement therapy
Symptoms
Whether you’re at a higher risk of developing ovarian cancer or not, it’s well worth knowing what the symptoms are because any woman can get this condition. If you know the symptoms, you’ll know to get advice and help from professionals such as those at moffitt.org. Some of the symptoms include:
- Bloating
- Abdominal pain
- Pelvic pain
- Difficulty eating (due to feeling full quickly, no matter how little you eat)
- Frequent need to urinate
- Fatigue
- Constipation or diarrhea
Diagnosis
Diagnosing ovarian cancer is something that specialists can do quickly once they know there is an issue, which is why it’s so important to know and recognize the symptoms mentioned above. Even if you’re not sure there is a problem, it’s far better to get checked out than to assume everything is fine because early diagnosis means a much better outcome overall.
When you see a doctor about your potential ovarian cancer symptoms, don’t be afraid to say that that’s what you think it might be. It’s true that you could be wrong, but it’s worth speaking the problem aloud as you can be sure the doctor will check for it. They’ll start with a pelvic exam where the doctor will check the ovaries and surrounding tissues to see if there is anything abnormal to be found. In some cases, an ultrasound (either transvaginal or abdominal) will be carried out if it’s hard to detect something in any other way, or for confirmation.
The doctor should also call for blood tests to see if there are elevated amounts of CA-125 in the blood, which is a potential sign of ovarian cancer. Of course, this isn’t the only reason for having elevated CA-125, but it’s a good indicator if other symptoms are present. On top of this, CT scans or an MRI can help the doctor to see the ovaries better and see how far the disease has spread.
For the ultimate confirmation, a biopsy will be taken from the tumor.
Treatment Options
There are various options when it comes to treating ovarian cancer, and it will generally depend on factors like how far advanced the cancer is as well as the patient’s overall health. This is something your doctor will discuss with you, as you’ll need to understand the different options and agree as to what you want to happen next.
Some common treatments for ovarian cancer include:
- Surgery (this could be just removing the tumor, but it might be more serious and involve removing the ovaries entirely)
- Chemotherapy
- Targeted therapy
- Radiation therapy
- Clinical trials (it’s not always possible to take part in clinical trials, but it might be there is something happening at the right time for you that would give you access to new but experimental drugs – it’s a big choice to make, so you’ll need to have all the facts).
Prevention And Awareness
As with any cancer, it’s not always possible to prevent ovarian cancer from developing, but there are some things you can do that will certainly help to reduce the risk. For one thing, you can get genetic testing carried out, which can be useful if you have a family history of ovarian cancer – this testing will spot whether you have the inherited gene that might cause ovarian cancer, and you can then determine what to do from there.
You might also want to start taking oral contraceptives as there have been links to ovarian cancer reduction rates from long-term use of birth control pills. Plus, maintaining a healthy weight, doing regular exercise, and eating a nutritious, well-balanced diet can also help.