1. Although ovarian cancer is most common in women over 50, it can affect women of any age. Statistically, the chance of developing ovarian increases with age.
2. Symptoms are often overlooked. These may include:
- abdominal discomfort
- pelvic pain or pressure
- painless swelling in the abdomen
- bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea or other persistent digestive problems
- frequent urination
- unusual vaginal bleeding
- fatigue
- nausea
- loss of appetite
- unexplained weight loss or gain
- shortness of breath
- fever
- pain during intercourse
3. Although there is a familial link, 90 percent of women with ovarian cancer do not have history of ovarian cancer in their families.
4. Use of oral contraceptives (the birth control pill) and pregnancy in women decreases the likelihood of ovarian cancer. Women who have been on the pill for more than 10 years are 50% less likely to get ovarian cancer than those who have not been on it. And the more children a woman has had, the less likely she is to contract ovarian cancer.
5. In addition to family history, known risk factors include:
- history of infertility
- early menstruation
- late menopause
- a link with a high-fat diet
6. While there are many kinds of ovarian cancer, the disease is categorized by four stages according to the spread of the disease:
Stage 1 — The disease is confined to both or one ovaries.
Stage 2 — It is in both or one ovaries and has spread to other body parts, such as the fallopian tubes and uterus, within the pelvis.
Stage 3 — It is in both or one ovaries and has spread to lymph nodes or to other body parts inside the abdomen.
Stage 4 — It is in both or one ovaries and has spread outside the abdomen or has spread to the inside of the liver.
7. If diagnosed while it is in the first stage, the survival rate is 90 percent or better. Diagnosed in stages 3 or 4, the survival rate is less than 20%, which gives ovarian cancer one of the highest cancer mortality rates.
8. Inform your physician if you have any — or a combination — of symptoms that continue for more than two to three weeks. Be persistent. Find a physician you can trust and who will support you.
9. Inform your physician if your have had breast cancer, endometrial or colorectal cancer, or if there is a history of ovarian cancer in your family.
10. The Pap test is not a test for ovarian cancer. Progress is being made in the area of testing. The transvaginal ultrasound and blood tests for tumors are currently being refined. A bimanual rectovaginal exam is recommended during regular annual checkups for women who are at high risk of developing ovarian cancer.
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