Earlier this year, in January, a dear friend was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer after experiencing extreme abdominal pain while on holiday with her family. It came as a HUGE shock to us all as she
Earlier this year, in January, a dear friend was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer after experiencing extreme abdominal pain while on holiday with her family. It came as a HUGE shock to us all as she was always appeared so healthy. This got me to thinking, what do they do to test for it?
A Pap smear does not detect ovarian cancer. There is currently NO RELIABLE screening test. Women must listen to their bodies for the whisper of ovarian cancer. Early detection increases the survival rate significantly. Being educated about the early symptoms is of utmost importance.
What are the Signs and Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer?
The main difference between ovarian cancer and other possible disorders is the persistence and gradual worsening of symptoms.
Early symptoms of ovarian cancer may include:
* pain in the pelvis, the lower abdomen, or the lower part of the body
* back pain
* indigestion or heartburn
* feeling full rapidly when eating
* more frequent and urgent urination
* pain during sexual intercourse
* changes in bowel habits, such as constipation
As the cancer progresses, there may also be:
* nausea
* weight loss
* breathlessness
* tiredness
* loss of appetite
If you experience bloating, pressure, or pain in the abdomen or pelvis that lasts for more than a few weeks you should see a doctor immediately.
What is Ovarian Cancer?
Ovarian cancer is when abnormal cells in the ovary begin to multiply out of control and form a tumor. If left untreated, the tumor can spread to other parts of the body. This is called metastatic ovarian cancer. The ovaries are two female reproductive glands that produce ova, or eggs. They also produce the female hormones estrogen and progesterone.
More than 22,000 women will receive an ovarian cancer diagnosis in 2017, and 14,000 women will die from it.
Types of Ovarian Cancer
The ovaries are made up of three types of cells. Each cell can develop into a different type of tumor:
* Epithelial tumors form in the layer of tissue on the outside of the ovaries. About 90 percent of ovarian cancers are epithelial tumors
* Stromal tumors grow in the hormone-producing cells. Seven percent of ovarian cancers are stromal tumors.
* Germ cell tumors develop in the egg-producing cells. Germ cell tumors are rare.
Ovarian cysts
Most ovarian cysts aren’t cancerous. These are called benign cysts. However, a very small number can be cancerous.
An ovarian cyst is a collection of fluid or air that develops in or around the ovary. Most ovarian cysts form as a normal part of ovulation, which is when the ovary releases an egg. They usually only cause mild symptoms, like bloating, and go away without treatment.
Cysts are more of a concern if you aren’t ovulating. Women stop ovulating after menopause. If an ovarian cyst forms after menopause, your doctor may want to do more tests to find out the cause of the cyst, especially if it’s large or doesn’t go away within a few months.
If the cyst doesn’t go away, your doctor may recommend surgery to remove it just in case. Your doctor can’t determine if it’s cancerous until they remove it surgically.
Causes of Ovarian Cancer
The exact cause of ovarian cancer is unknown.
But some things may increase a woman’s risk of getting it, such as:
* being over 50 years of age
* a family history of ovarian or breast cancer – this could mean you’ve inherited genes that increase your cancer risk
* hormone replacement therapy (HRT) – although any increase in cancer risk is likely to be very small
* endometriosis – a condition where tissue that behaves like the lining of the womb is found outside the womb
* being overweight
What Are the Treatments for Ovarian Cancer?
Surgery
This is usually the first step. It’s done to take out a piece of the mass to see if it’s cancer. Doctors call this a biopsy. Surgery helps “stage” the cancer to see how far it has spread. Once cancer is confirmed, your surgeon will take out as much of the tumor as possible.
How much surgery you have depends on how far the cancer has spread. In some cases, the ovaries, uterus, cervix, or fallopian tubes may need to be removed. Other tissue typically removed includes lymph nodes, the omentum (fatty apron covering the intestines) and all visible cancer. If your surgery is in the very early stages or you want to have children, your doctor may not remove all your reproductive organs.
Chemotherapy (“chemo”)
You may need chemo to get rid of any cancer cells that are still in your body after surgery. You usually receive these powerful medications through an IV. But sometimes they work better for ovarian cancer if they’re injected into your abdomen. This lets the medicine come into direct contact with the part of your body where the cancer was and is most likely to spread.
Radiation
These high-energy X-rays can help kill any cancer cells that are left over in the pelvic area. Radiation is given to you just like a regular X-ray. It can be used if cancer has come back after treatment or to help control symptoms like pain.
Targeted Therapy
These treatments use newer medications that find and attack cancer cells while doing little damage to surrounding normal cells. These meds all work in different ways, but they’re able to stop cancer cells from growing, dividing, or fixing themselves. The medications are either taken by mouth or given by IV.
Hormone Therapy
In some cases, your doctor might suggest using hormones or hormone-blocking medications. According to the American Cancer Society, this therapy is most often used to treat ovarian stromal tumors, not epithelial ovarian cancer.
Clinical Trials
Doctors are always conducting studies to take a closer look at new treatments and procedures. By taking part in these trials, you can get access to current state-of-the-art treatments. But they may not be right for everyone. Ask your doctor how you can find out more and if a clinical trial might be right for you.