Certain factors can lower risk of contracting disease

Ovarian cancer is estimated by the American Cancer Society to claim more than 14,000 lives in 2013. Though there has been little to no improvement in mortality rates, treatment for ovarian cancer remains most effective when the cancer is caught in its early stages, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

The diagnosis was once thought of to illicit no symptoms, often going overlooked and undetected. However, in the last decade there has been confirmation showing otherwise. The Ovarian Cancer National Alliance lists bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly or urinary issues as symptoms of ovarian cancer, though they are not a definitive diagnosing measure. It’s important for anyone exhibiting abnormal symptoms more than 12 times in a month to see their doctor.

Ovarian cancer is when the rapid growth of malignant cells begins in the ovaries. The CDC states that all women are at risk for the disease, but that there are certain factors that can put someone at a higher risk. Age plays a key factor in the diagnosis of ovarian cancer, with women of middleage or older being more likely to develop the cancer. Ninety percent of the women diagnosed are older than the age of 40, with a large number of them being older than 60 years of age. Genetics and other family members who have had ovarian cancer also play a role in the diagnosis. Other risk factors include having been diagnosed with breast, uterine or colon cancer, having never given birth or had trouble getting pregnant, endometriosis or women who have taken estrogen without progesterone for 10 or more years.

There are no definitive ways to prevent ovarian cancer, but there are a few things that can lower the risk of becoming diagnosed. Having taken oral contraceptives (birth control) for more than ve years, having given birth or undergone gynecological surgery such as a hysterectomy, having both ovaries removed or tubal ligation (tubes tied) have proved in lowering the chance of getting ovarian cancer. The American Cancer Society suggests that genetic counseling can give insight into the genetic risk of the patient. Specifically, the results point to whether someone is likely to have the BRAC mutation that is associated with ovarian cancer.

Early detection is a major factor in successfully treating ovarian cancer, yet there is no one early detection test that exists. Screening proves especially challenging for women who have no signs or symptoms. There are, however, certain tests that can be used for those predisposed to ovarian cancer or who are exhibiting symptoms.

A transvaginal ultrasound can be used to examine a patient’s reproductive organs and bladder by sending sound waves from a probe that reflect off body structures. A pelvic exam, which is a standard procedure during a typical gynecological visit, is another screening tool.

A blood test detecting the concentration of the protein CA-125 can sometimes help doctors determine if the patient has ovarian cancer, and how progressive it is. It isn’t, however, a reliable early detection tool, according to the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance. Premenopausal women, as well as women with uterine fibroids, liver disease, inflammation of the fallopian tubes or other types of cancer may also have elevated levels of CA-125, which could possibly lead to a “false-positive” test for ovarian cancer. The blood test is best used in combination with a transvaginal ultrasound.

If a patient is diagnosed with ovarian cancer, the CDC recommends they be referred to a gynecologic oncologist who is specially trained to treat cancers in the female’s reproductive system. The cancer can be diagnosed in four stages ranging from a limited cancer to a severe stage in which the disease has spread to other parts of the body.

The American Cancer Society states that oftentimes, two or more treatment methods are used to combat the disease. Those treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, targeted therapy and hormone therapy. Surgery includes removing the cancer tissue, whereas chemotherapy uses drugs in order to slow or stop the growth of cancerous cells. Though survival rates are typically higher when the cancer is diagnosed at an early stage, every patient is different and the American Cancer Society states that other factors like overall health also come into play.

For more information go to www.cancer.org/cancer/ovariancancer.