Ovarian Cancer: What Every Woman Should Know
September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in woman ages 35 to 74. Each year approximately 22,000 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer and about 15,000 women will die from the disease. Early detection is the key to increased survival from this deadly disease. Because symptoms are subtle and easily confused with other conditions, it's often difficult to detect. However, in cases where ovarian cancer is detected before it has spread beyond the ovaries, 9 out of 10 women will survive more than 5 years. But that's with early detection and only 19 percent of ovarian cancer cases in the United States are diagnosed early.
Know the symptoms
If you are a woman and experience these symptoms for more than 2 weeks, tell your doctor:
- Pelvic and/or abdominal swelling, bloating and/or a feeling of fullness
- Pelvic and abdominal pain or discomfort
- Unexplained changes in weight (gain or loss)
- Urinary issues (urgency or frequency without any signs of infection)
- Continued unusual tiredness and fatigue
- Vague but persistent gastrointestinal upsets such as gas, nausea and indigestion
- Unexplained changes in bowel habits
What can be Done?
There is no one reliable test to detect ovarian cancer, but there are several things you can do. It's important to note that an annual Pap test is not enough and does not detect ovarian cancer. In addition to the annual Pap, the following tests are available that can provide signs as to whether further extensive tests need to be taken:
- Annual vaginal exam
- Transvaginal sonogram (an ultrasound performed with a small instrument that is placed in the vagina)
- CA-125 blood test. This is not a definitive test, but an increase in the CA-125 level can indicate the presence of ovarian cancer.
Read what every woman should know about ovarian cancer from the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition.
For more information on ovarian cancer, visit these websites:
Ovarian Cancer National Alliance
www.ovariancancer.org
National Ovarian Cancer Coaliation
www.ovarian.org
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