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Ovarian cancer is one of the most dreadful diseases of women. Ovaries are important part of the female reproductive system that secrete various hormones and release an egg every month. Uncontrolled divisions of ovarian cells lead to formation of tumor, which may subsequently become cancerous, attaining the capacity to spread to other parts of the body.
Ovarian cancer is the deadliest of all the female reproductive track cancers. If diagnosed after spreading to other parts of the body, it leaves the patient only 30% chances of surviving for 5 years.
Ovarian cancer develops most frequently in menopausal or postmenopausal women. Ovarian X-ray or ultrasound of these women shows cysts or an enlarged ovary. However, this kind of X-ray or ultrasound pattern among women in reproductive years is not cancerous and cysts may commonly occur among them. A cyst or an enlarged ovary in menopausal woman should be evaluated immediately to rule out the possibility of cancer.
Ovarian cancer rarely shows any distinct symptom until its advanced stage and it is thus a "silent" killer. There are symptoms during the initial stages but they are not discrete and do not indicate ovarian cancer. Here are the common ones-
- Pelvic / abdominal pain
- Constant stomach upsets with gas, indigestion and nausea
- Alterations in bowel habits
- Pelvic / abdominal swelling
- Painful intercourse
- Frequent urination
- Postmenopausal bleeding
- Weight gain, particularly in the abdominal area
- Fatigue
To detect ‘symptomless’ ovarian cancer, you need a regular gynecological examination. The necessary tests include pelvic ultra sound, X-ray and laparoscopy.
The risk of ovarian cancer particularly increases in case you have a family history of it. Use of talcum powder in genital areas also increases the risk. On the other hand, if you used oral contraceptives or had tubal ligation, you are less likely to get this cancer. Having two or more children and breastfeeding also reduces the risk of ovarian cancer.
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