Never Ignore this Early Signs of Ovarian Cancer – Symptoms and Signs!

Ovarian cancer is often diagnosed too late and that is why it is the second most common gynecological cancer and has the highest mortality rate.

This disease mostly affects women from Europe, particularly from Eastern and Northern Europe and is sixth most common cancer in European women as in 2012 there were 65.000 patients. Each year about 250.000 women get cancer. Only half of them live up to 5 years from the day they are diagnosed with cancer. And the reason is because is discovered too late. But, if detected on time even 95% of women can be saved.This cancer more often develops in women in their 50s or older but this is not a strict rule and can appear in women at any age. 50% are women at the age of 65 and older. The highest rate of ovarian cancer is in developed industrialized countries. Asian and African-American women are at slightly lower risk than women with white skin.

The risk of developing ovarian cancer increases as the women is getting older. As we have mentioned before this cancer is second most common gynecological cancer and fifth in American women which is 4% of all cancer female patients. Unfortunately mortality rate is higher than any other cancer in women because is diagnosed too late.

Symptoms and Signs

The bad news is that there are no early signs of the disease. That is why this cancer is named a “silent killer” because women don’t know if they have it or have symptoms that are not linked with this cancer until the cancer is in its advanced stage.

Here are some symptoms that can be warning signs of ovarian cancer:

• Frequent urination or pelvic pressure
• Vomiting or nausea
• Digestive symptoms such as constipation, indigestion, gases, constipation or a feeling of fullness after a light meal, bloating, abdominal discomfort and cramps.
• Lack of appetite
• Fatigue
• Pain during intercourse
• Unexplained weight gain or weight loss
• Vaginal bleeding in post-menopausal women
• Unexplained changes in the bowel
•  Swelling or abdominal pain

Causes

It is known that some factors increase the risk of developing ovarian factors but the exact reason is still unfamiliar.
These women are more likely to get ovarian cancer:

• White women, especially in Northern Europe
• Women who had breast cancer
• Women who have never been pregnant or had children
• White women, especially from Northern Europe
• Women that are older than 50. Even half of the patients are women over 65.
• Women who have a family history of ovarian, breast, prostate, endometrial (uterus) or colon cancer
• Women who have never been pregnant or had children
• Women who suffered from breast cancer-Women who have a close relative (mother, sister, daughter) diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
• Women with genetic mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2. (This doesn’t mean that every woman with these mutations will get ovarian cancer)

Findings

Unfortunately there are no precise tests that can reliably specify if a woman has ovarian cancer in early stage. Various ray procedures, careful bimanual examination and diagnostic laparoscopy can be used.
Transvaginal ultrasound is also used for checking woman’s reproductive organs.

 Low GI arrangement or barium bowel purge include using X-rays to highlight other organs. CA-125 blood test is used to indicate the level of CA-125, a tumor marker.

Woman need to be responsible as well as their gynecologist. They must be aware that regular checkups, especially if bloated can help in detecting the disease in its early stage when it is still curable.

Women that are genetically predisposed to this disease need to make regular tests although there is none that is completely reliable. Also women in menopause should use fewer hormones for alleviating menopause symptoms.

Treating

There are several symptoms but doctors usually advise women to do a surgery for tubes, uterus and ovaries removal. Also other tissues in the abdomen and pelvis as well as colon parts should be removed in case the cancer has spread.

Chemotherapy is done usually after the surgery to stop the cancer to return but in severe cases chemotherapy is done before the operation. If the disease comes back again chemotherapy is used again.

There are a lot of target-therapies and most of the treatments are based on platinum agents. Specialists from all over the world are using antibodies that delay the blood flow toward the cancer cells. Hyperthermic peritoneal chemotherapy during surgery is shown as a positive procedure and with this procedure chemotherapy through vein goes directly into the abdominal cavity.

Radiotherapy is hardly ever used against this type cancer only in late stage to relieve pain and prevent the bleeding