Ovarian cancer: risks and treatments

Over 16,000 deaths a year occur because of it and over 25,000 women will be diagnosed with it this year alone. Ovarian cancer is a type of cancer that occurs within the cells of a woman’s ovaries. There are, essentially, three main types of ovarian cancer which are classified by the cellular origin of the cancer. Accounting for 3 out of 4 ovarian cancer cases is epithelial ovarian carcinoma which begins in the cells that cover the ovary surface. Less common is germ cell carcinoma which stems from the cells that are responsible for creating a woman’s eggs. The third type of ovarian cancer is stromal carcinoma. This type begins in the tissue that connects and binds a woman’s ovaries or in the cells that are responsible for creating progesterone and estrogen.

There are four stages of ovarian cancer, with stage I being the most treatable form of ovarian cancer. Stage I means that the cancer has not spread outside the ovaries, instead remaining within the ovary itself. Stage II implies that the cancer has spread to the immediate surrounding areas like the fallopian tubes or uterus. Stage III occurs when the cancer spreads to the lymph nodes or the abdomen lining. Stage IV means that the cancer has spread all the way to the lungs or the liver.

Many experts feel that the symptoms of ovarian cancer often go unnoticed by most women, so that the cancer is not discovered until it has reached one of the latter stages. However, as with other illnesses, there are symptoms to watch out for. These include, but are not limited to, constipation, nausea, frequent urination, irregular bleeding, bloating in the abdomen, weight gain or loss (not attributed to diet or exercise), fatigue and shortness of breath. While some of these symptoms may seem like common everyday occurrences, if they are not part of your normal routine, speak to your physician or gynecologist and discuss your concerns with him/her.

No woman is “safe” from ovarian cancer, but there are some things that put women at a higher risk. If your family has a history of ovarian, colon or breast cancer, this can pose a high risk. Women over the age of 65 have a higher risk, as well. Women who have had children actually have a decreased risk of developing ovarian cancer, while women who have bore no children or who have difficulties getting pregnant have an increased risk.

Fortunately, there are ways to minimize your risk. It has been researched that women who take oral contraceptives, like the birth control pill, for over five years have a much-decreased chance of developing ovarian cancer. As mentioned before, women who have had children have a decreased risk, as well as women who have hysterectomies or tubal ligation.

Ovarian cancer can be diagnosed with a blood test that is used to detect a substance which elevates in the blood of a patient who has a tumor that is cancerous, and ultrasound done transvaginally and vaginal and rectal pelvic exam. If diagnosed with ovarian cancer, there are many treatments available including surgery to remove the tumor, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.