Ovarian Cancer: Symptoms, Causes, Treatments

Shortly after she turned 50, Yamini began experiencing distressing symptoms in her abdominal area. For starters, her bowel movements, which had always been like clockwork, began to go erratic. Sometimes she felt constipated and at other times, she had loose motion. Her stomach appeared to be always swollen. She had flashes of pain in her lower abdomen. Her periods became irregular. She would have periods for a few months and then it would stop. She developed lower back pain that refused to go away. She started gaining weight. Yamini ignored the symptoms for a year or so and then decided that it would be foolish if she did nothing about it. She had read up the symptoms on the Internet and was convinced that she had contracted cancer. She went for a check-up, voicing her fears to the gynaecologist that she suspected it was ovarian cancer.

What is Ovarian Cancer and what are the risk factors?

Ovarian Cancer is a cancerous growth in the ovaries and is more common than any other cancers affecting the reproductive organsof women.

Obviously, the earlier it is diagnosed, the better. Therefore, if you feel funny down there and that things are not right, you are advised to immediately get a check-up done.

The most common risk factors for ovarian cancer are:

1. Older women who have reached menopause are more likely to get it, especially those who are over the age of 60.
2. Obesity is one risk factor , therefore one should eat sensibly and exercise regularly
3. Family history of ovarian or breast cancer. This type of cancer seems to run in families. If close female relatives have had them, then you are at higher risk
4. Reproduction actually decreases the risk of ovarian cancer; the more pregnancies lower the risk.
5. Use of birth control pills lower the risk of ovarian cancer
6. Infertility treatments appear to put women at higher risk
7. Hormone replacement therapy is also a risk factor
8. Those who have been diagnosed with breast cancer at higher risk of being detected with ovarian cancer as well

What are the symptoms of ovarian cancer?

In the early stages, women are not likely to experience any significant symptoms, making it difficult to diagnose. Women tend to ignore any health issues and this can prove dangerous to their well-being. Some of the early warning symptoms of ovarian cancer are:

1. Abdominal bloating and a feeling of fullness
2. Back pain; pelvic pain
3. Indigestion, heartburn and/or constipation
4. Changes in bowel habits
5. Frequent urination
6. Nausea
7. Unexplained weight loss
8. Breathlessness
9. Feeling tired

If any or several of these symptoms persist for a few weeks then women need to make it a point to get a check-up done. Self-care will simply not cut it.

Diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer

The first step in diagnosing ovarian cancer is through a pelvic examination for checking any abnormalities in the uterus or ovaries. An abdominal ultrasound may also be done. Apart from that, there are blood tests for checking a marker CA-125, laparoscopy, colonoscopy, imaging tests etc. If a tumorous growth is seen with any of the above methods then biopsy is the best way to definitively diagnose the cancer and it involves removing a piece of the rumour and examining it for cancer cells.

Stages of Ovarian Cancer

As with most cancer types, there are four major stages of ovarian cancer and the diagnosis would reveal what stage it is at. If the cancer is at Stage 1, it would have affected either one or both the ovaries and would not have spread beyond that. During Stage 2, both the ovaries would have been affected, including surrounding organs such as uterus, bladder, rectum, fallopian tubes etc. At Stage 3, both the ovaries would be affected, the abdominal lining and the lymph nodes towards the rear of the abdomen. At Stage 4, the cancer would have spread to other parts of the body such as the liver, spleen and lungs.

Treatment of Ovarian Cancer

Treatment of ovarian cancer would depend on the stage at which it is detected and its grade (which is a measure of its severity). The state of the woman’s health is another factor that determines treatment. Surgery is usually the first option in the case of ovarian cancer, especially if it is in Stage 1 and the cancer has affected just the ovaries. Removal of the ovaries and the fallopian tubes ensures that the cancer does not spread. If it has spread to the uterus then a hysterectomy will have to be performed, and if the lymph nodes have been affected they will have to be removed as well, especially those in the pelvic area and those near the aorta. Surgery is meant to remove as much of the cancerous tissue as possible and prevent their spreading to other places. If surgery is not fully effective, then chemotherapy is used as additional treatment. Hormone replacement therapy is a supplemental treatment that chokes off Oestrogen supply with the aim of slowing down cancer cell growth. Meanwhile, Yamini’s symptoms were found to be nothing more serious than the onset of menopause.

Disclaimer: This information is solely intended to guide you. It is not intended to provide any medical advice. Before taking any course of treatment, one should consult a certified medical practitioner.