11 things every woman should know about ovarian cancer
It might not be the cheeriest of topics to discuss, but it's important that we all get to know the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer – which impacts 7,500 women every single year. That means each day, 21 women will sadly receive an ovarian cancer diagnosis (according to Cancer Research UK).
Although ovarian cancer more often than not impacts females over the age of 45, more so than those at a pre-menopausal age, it's not unheard of in teenagers, or women and people with ovaries in their twenties and thirties, so it's vital that we raise awareness of the symptoms. Especially given that if caught at the earliest stage, 9 in 10 will survive.
We teamed up with gynaecological cancer charity, The Eve Appeal, to share all the must-know information about the disease so you're clued up on how to spot the signs – and remember, there's never any need to feel embarrassed or awkward about asking your GP for a chat if you have any concerns or questions about ovarian cancer.
Ovarian cancer symptoms can be incredibly subtle (or not appear until the later stages)
There are four key ovarian cancer symptoms, but in some cases they do not show until the the disease has progressed beyond the earlier stages:
Increased abdominal size and persistent bloating (not bloating that comes and goes)
Persistent pelvic and abdominal pain
Unexplained change in bowel habits (as well as needing to pee more frequently)
Difficulty eating and feeling full quickly, or feeling sick
Symptoms should be persistent before you start to worry
If you're experiencing constant bloating that lasts longer than three weeks, for example, you need to go and check it out. However, if you're just experiencing a bloat once in a while, say after eating certain foods, it's likely not related to ovarian cancer. It can be helpful to keep track of your bloating though, e.g. through a Note on your phone, to see if you can spot any patterns (as you may have a food intolerance worth looking into).
A smear test will not detect ovarian cancer
It's a common misconception that they can. Cervical screenings (commonly referred to as smear tests) are vitally important, but they won't detect ovarian cancer – they’re only designed to test for high-risk HPV and cervical cell changes.
It's the sixth most common cancer in women
More than 7,000 women are diagnosed with cancer of the ovary every year and tragically, 11 of those women die each day.
There are several different types of ovarian cancer
Epithelial ovarian cancer is the most common form, whereas germ cell and stromal ovarian cancers are much more rare:
Epithelial ovarian cancer (epithelial ovarian tumours) comes from cells on the surface of the ovary
Fallopian tube cancer - it's recently been discovered that many ovarian cancers start here
Germ cell ovarian cancer (germ cell ovarian tumours) begins in the egg-producing cells within the body of the ovary
Stromal ovarian cancer (sex cord stromal tumours) starts from the cells that hold the ovaries together
Germ cell ovarian cancer is more common in younger women
Although it's rare for an ovarian tumour to start from cells within the ovary, when it does occur, it tends to affect teenagers more than any other age group.
The increased risk of developing ovarian cancer can be hereditary
If you have two or more close relatives (i.e. mother, sister, daughter) who have developed ovarian or breast cancer, your risk of also developing the disease may be increased.
You're probably at a lower risk if you take the pill
Every time an egg is released from your ovary, its surface breaks and is subsequently damaged. While it does repair itself, this renewed cell growth gives a frequent opportunity for abnormal (cancerous) cells to grow in place of regular cells. Women who take the pill don't release eggs every month, hence their ovaries are less frequently damaged and the risk of developing cancerous cells is likely to be lower.
The more periods we have, the higher our risk of ovarian cancer
Similarly to above, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding don't release eggs. So the more times they're pregnant or breastfeeding, the less opportunity there is for abnormal cancerous cells to grow. One study found that breastfeeding was associated with a 30% reduction in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) risk. Understanding the link between ovulation and ovarian cancer can help us understand our risk.
There are different ways of diagnosing it
Your GP will first feel your abdomen for any signs of a tumour, and then they may refer you for a blood test or an ultrasound for a diagnosis. An ultrasound will assess the ovaries themselves, while the blood test will seek out levels of a protein called CA125. High levels of this enzyme can be an indicator of ovarian cancer.
Treatment usually involves both chemotherapy and surgery
If you undergo surgery, you may have either a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy or a total abdominal hysterectomy. The former is the removal of both ovaries along with the fallopian tubes, whereas the latter is the removal of the womb, which would leave you unable to carry children naturally.
Find out more about ovarian cancer on The Eve Appeal's website or by contacting their expert information service, Ask Eve, on nurse@eveappeal.org.uk. There is also more information about ovarian cancer available via the NHS.
This article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
You Might Also Like
