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Apr 06, 2006
Ovarian cancer: Causes, symptoms risk factors, treatment and prevention
by MariAnne|
Symptoms of ovarian cancer
Early symptoms are often mild, making this disease difficult to detect, where some early symptoms may include an unusual feeling of fullness or discomfort in the pelvic region. Unexplainable indigestion, gas, or bloating that is not relieved with over-the-counter antacids, pain during sexual intercourse, abnormal bleeding, and swelling and pain of the abdomen are also symptoms of ovarian cancer. Although, these symptoms do not indicate ovarian cancer, but if any woman experiences them, she should discuss them with her clinician. Early detection of ovarian cancer offers a 90 percent cure rate but sadly, a lack of symptoms from this silent disease means that about 75 percent of ovarian cancer cases will have spread to the abdomen by the time they are detected. That is why, unfortunately, most patients die within five years because they did not have chance to cure this disease. Risk factors for ovarian cancer
Any woman who has one or more first-degree relatives such as mother, sister, daughter with ovarian or breast cancer are under risk to develop ovarian cancer. A personal history of breast, endometrial, or colon cancers, and history of infertility or use of fertility drugs are risk factors as well. It is estimated that only 5% to 10% of all ovarian cancers are hereditary, and the rest are sporadic, which means they occurs with no known cause. However, women with two or more first-degree relatives such as mother, sister, daughter, or second-degree relatives, which are grandmothers or aunts with breast or ovarian cancer may have a significantly increased risk of developing the disease.Diagnosis of ovarian cancer
 Symptom less ovarian cancer is most often detected during a woman's regular gynecological examination, where physician palpitate ovaries during pelvic and rectal exam. In this process he is searching for the presence of ovarian cysts or fibroid tumors. If any abnormalities are noted, he will follow up with further testing which may include an ultrasound and chest X-ray, as well as laparoscopy if is needed. There are some new methods for early screening of ovarian cancer that are being investigated including ultrasound in conjunction with a blood test. The blood test may detect an antigen called CA 125 which has been detected in the blood of women who have ovarian cancer. These tests are useful in evaluating tumor growth, as well as ultrasound can detect changes, but it does not give enough information alone to diagnose ovarian cancer. The CA 125 blood test can return positive results when no cancer is present due to some other conditions. These conditions that woman may commonly experience are fibroid tumors, endometriosis, pelvic infection, pregnancy, or other non-gynecological problems. Although these methods of screening for ovarian cancer look promising, further study is needed before either of these tests is routinely used to screen for ovarian cancer diagnose. Prognosis of ovarian cancer by stage
As with many other types of cancer, the outcome depends on how advanced patient's cancer is when it is diagnosed. In other words, this means the stage of cancer. Between 40-50% of all women diagnosed with cancer of the ovary survives it in next 5 years.Stage 1
Very few clinical trials have been done with stage 1 ovarian cancer, so finding out the statistics on long term survival rates is quite difficult. However, there is a study that about 9 out of 10 women diagnosed with stage IA and IB ovarian cancer will survive it next 5 years later. This is a general figure and individual situations do vary, because 5 year survival rates may drop below this level. This could happen for some women who have a poorer outlook because of general ill health, age or the type of tumor they have. Stage 2
Between 60-70% women diagnosed with stage 1 ovarian cancer has chance to survive next 5 years, which is confirmed during researches of ovarian cancer. Stage 3
As you might expect, the survival statistics fall with these more advanced stages of ovarian cancer, where 15 - 35% women with ovarian cancer diagnosis will live at least 5 years after their diagnosis. There is a wide range because the figures vary depending on how far the cancer has spread into the upper abdomen, and each woman is different. Stage 4
Understandably, the survival statistics are lower for stage 4 ovarian cancers than they are for stage 3, where statistics are quite a bit between reports. This is because this stage covers a lot of different situations, which means the cancer has spread, but it will have different effects depending on where it has spread. Around 5% and 14% women with stage 4 ovarian cancer will live for at least 5 years. Other factors affecting prognosis of ovarian cancer
There are 2 other factors that can affect prognosis, apart from the stage of the cancer, and those are grade and how well woman is overall. Doctors also have a way of grading how well you are, and they call this your performance status. This is relevant to survival because overall, the fitter a woman is, the better will be able to withstand their ovarian cancer and treatment. Statistics for ovarian cancer
Doctors collect statistical information about the different types of cancer and prognosis, which is the likely outcome of disease and treatment. In other words, chances of getting better and how long patient is likely to live. Although many people have asked for statistics, but not everyone who is diagnosed with a cancer wishes to read this type of information. However, it should be clear that statistics are averages based on large numbers of patients. They cannot predict exactly what will happen to you, because two patients are not exactly alike, and response to treatment also varies from one person to another. Everyone with ovarian cancer should feel free to ask doctor about prognosis, but not even doctor can tell for sure what will happen. It is important to know that if you even hear your doctor use the term “5 year survival”, this does mean you will only live for next 5 years! The point is that doctors follow what happens to people for 5 years after treatment in most research studies, because there is only a small chance that ovarian cancer could come back 5 years after the treatment. The same type of cancer can grow at different rates in different people, so the statistics are not detailed enough to tell you about the different treatments people may have had. Therapy for ovarian cancer
The most common treatment for ovarian cancer involves surgery and chemotherapy, where the type of surgery depends on the general health of the patient and the extent of the cancer. Most patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer will have surgical procedures that remove the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus and as much tumor as possible. This will cause premenopausal women to undergo surgical menopause, so patient could expect typical menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness. They may also be at increased risk for osteoporosis and cardiovascular events, so patient could discuss with the doctors the use of hormone replacement therapy to relieve some of these symptoms. Chemotherapy
Most chemotherapy treatments can be administered on an outpatient basis and do not require an overnight stay in the hospital, but there are side effects. The chemotherapy side effects that patients experience in general, depend on the type of chemotherapy and the duration of the treatment regimen for ovarian cancer. Nutrition during ovarian cancer treatment
Adequate nutrition is very important during cancer treatment, because the food that woman eat provide nutrients, which can help maintain energy levels, heal wounds, and build the immune system. It is important to try to reach the following goals while going through treatment for ovarian cancer. Each woman should maintain her current weight, and if she is experience weight loss during treatment, she should be sure to add extra calories to the foods she eat. Nutrient dense foods, such as whole milk, jam, honey, oil, and salad dressings may be used to fortify the foods she is already eating. It is also important to drink adequate amounts of fluids, because this is essential to body's proper function. Patient of ovarian cancer should also consume enough protein to maintain lean body mass, and try to include a protein source with each meal and snack. |
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Ovarian cancer is often called the silent killer because many times there are no symptoms until the disease has progressed to an advanced stage and is too late for treatment. This is huge problem because one-third of American women will get some form of cancer in their lifetime. Approximately one and one half percent of those cases will be cancer involving one or both ovaries, which is huge problem. When we hear so many women have trouble with this disease, it is normal we want to hear as much about ovarian cancer as it is possible. It is necessary to know what are causes, risk factors and symptoms for ovarian cancer. Many people are also interested into treatment and prevention of this scary disease.
