Detecting Ovarian Cancer: Signs And Symptoms

Ovarian cancer develops when abnormal cells multiply and grow out of control in the ovary. Ovaries are female reproductive organs, one on each side of the uterus (womb), that produce eggs and female hormones.

Ovarian cancer occurs mostly in women of 50 to 65 years and sometimes runs in families. If left untreated, the tumor can spread to other parts of the body.

Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer:

Many symptoms of ovarian cancer resemble other medical conditions and differ among individuals.

Common symptoms are:

Abdominal bloating
Loss of appetite
Gas, indigestion, and nausea
Diarrhea, constipation, or frequent urination
Fatigue
Bleeding from the vagina
Fluid build-up around the lungs and abdomen
Obstruction of the digestive tract

Causes of Ovarian Cancer:

There cause of ovarian cancer is still unclear, but there are certain factors that increase the risk, like:

Age (over 50 Years)
Changes in the genes
Family history of ovarian, breast, or bowel cancers
Certain fertility drugs
Obesity
Infertile or having a first child after 35 years
Early onset of periods (before 12 years) and late menopause
Hormonal therapies

Ovarian cancer can also develop without having any of these risk factors.

Diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer:

Your doctor may suggest tests or scans to look for cysts, tumors, or other changes. These may include:

Physical examination – To check for any lumps and perform an internal vaginal examination
Blood tests – To check for a tumor marker which is increased in case of ovarian tumor
Pelvic ultrasound – To check for pictures of your ovaries and uterus
CT scan – To check for the spread of cancer
PET scan – To check abnormal tissues in the body
Biopsy – Only test to confirm the diagnosis of cancer

Treatment of Ovarian Cancer:

Best treatment for ovarian cancer involves surgery, chemotherapy, or a combination of treatments.

Surgery: Surgery is the primary option for treating ovarian cancer, as this is most effective in removing as many cancer cells as possible from the body. If cancer has spread to all the reproductive organs, the surgeon removes them.
Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is another effective way to treat ovarian cancer left in the body even after surgery. The surgeon injects powerful chemicals into the body intravenously or directly into the abdomen in case of ovarian cancer.
Targeted Therapy: Targeted therapy uses new oral or intravenous medications to stop the spread of cancer cells. Targeted drug treatments attack specific weaknesses in the cancer cells and can cause them to die.
Hormone therapy: Hormone therapy uses drugs to block the effects of the estrogen hormone on ovarian cancer cells. This is the treatment option for slow-growing ovarian cancers.
Radiation therapy: Radiation therapy is the use of high-energy x-rays to destroy leftover cancer cells. Radiotherapy helps to shrink secondary tumors that have developed in other parts of the body and are causing pain or other symptoms.

Prevention of Ovarian Cancer:

There are no proven ways to eliminate your risk of developing ovarian cancer. However, certain factors can lower your risk of developing ovarian cancer, including:

Stick to a healthy diet (high in fruits, vegetables, and grains and low in saturated fat)
Maintain healthy weight
Early screening for ovarian cancer (in case of family history)
Use birth control pills
Get pregnant and choose to breast-feed

Nutrition for Ovarian Cancer:

A balanced and well-nourished diet will increase the strength to fight ovarian cancer. The following foods help to gain extra amount of calories and proteins,