Early Warning Signs Of Ovarian Cancer Every Woman Should Know
Early Warning Signs Of Ovarian Cancer Every Woman Should Know
Ovarian cancer is difficult to diagnose in the early stages. There is no real screening test for early detection, and the symptoms are vague and easily mistaken for normal gastrointestinal problems like constipation and bloating.
But that doesn't mean women are powerless. Knowing the symptoms and risk factors of ovarian cancer is your best defense against the disease.
Ovarian Cancer Symptoms
Pelvic exams are important to a woman's health, but unfortunately, most ovarian tumors are difficult to detect. Healthcare providers screen for cervical cancers, such as Pap and HPV (human papillomavirus), but not ovarian cancer. In most cases, ovarian cancer is diagnosed when a woman undergoes an ultrasound or CT scan. All of this means that diagnosis is often made late, when the cancer is advanced and likely to spread to other parts of the body.
There are many noncancerous warning signs, but if you have any of these common ovarian cancer symptoms and they happen more often than usual, talk to your GP or gynecologist.
abdominal or pelvic pain
gas
Difficulty eating / loss of appetite
feeling full after eating a small amount of food (early satiety)
urination or frequency
You can also experience:
fatigue
Stomach cramps
back pain
painful sex
constipation
Menstrual changes such as heavy bleeding and irregularities
Abdominal tumors occur during weight loss
Risk factors for ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer death in women, but a woman's lifetime risk of developing the disease remains relatively low, according to the American Cancer Society. In the United States, less than 1% of women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer without a family history or additional risk factors.
Ovarian cancer usually occurs in postmenopausal women and increases with age. Half of all ovarian cancers occur in women over the age of 63, and the disease affects white women more than black women.
Other factors that may increase your risk include:
obesity or overweight
It is impossible to give birth to the first child or to become pregnant after the age of 35
Use of hormone preparations after menopause
Family history of ovarian, breast, endometrial, or colon cancer
BRCA1 and BRCA2, hereditary gene mutations associated with Lynch syndrome and other cancers
A Personal History of Breast Cancer
Smoking increases the risk of certain types of cancer. In addition, there may be an increased risk associated with the use of:
In Vitro Fertilization Treatment (IVF)
hormone replacement therapy
Factors that reduce the risk of ovarian cancer
For women at low risk of ovarian cancer:
Having a child before the age of 26 (the risk decreases with each subsequent full-term pregnancy)
breastfeeding
Taking birth control pills (birth control pills)
Use of a short-term IUD (intrauterine device).
Pelvic surgeries such as B. Tubal ligation (closure of the fallopian tubes) or hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) or removal of the ovaries.
Genetic Analysis
As mentioned above, ovarian cancer can be hereditary. Women with a family history of cancer or genetic syndromes should ask for genetic counseling and genetic testing.
Genetic testing is also important after ovarian cancer has been diagnosed. Your treatment will include removal of the tumour(s) and possibly chemotherapy, depending on how much cancer is in your body and where it is. You can help yourself and others by requesting a test for a gene mutation that may run in your family, such as: B. BRCA1 (breast cancer gene 1) or BRCA2.
Be proactive
Get an annual pelvic exam, know the risk factors and symptoms of ovarian cancer, and trust your gut. you know your body If something is wrong, ask for help.
Ovarian cancer is difficult to diagnose. However, being in tune with your body, sharing knowledge with friends and family, and speaking to your doctor if anything is happening can go a long way in fighting ovarian cancer.
