What is Ovarian Cancer: Symptoms , Causes and Treatment
Synopsis
Ovarian cancer can be treated if it is detected early, but mild ovarian cancer symptoms which could be linked to other conditions make this a challenge. Watch out for symptoms like gas and lumps.
Key Takeaways
- Women with family history of ovarian cancer are more likely to get it
- Advancing age and obesity are some ovarian cancer risk factors
- Ovarian cancer treatment includes surgery and chemotherapy
Ovarian cancer constitutes 3.4% of all cancer cases in the world and is the 3rd most common cancer among Indian women [1]. A highly common and one of the most prevalent types of cancer, ovarian cancer, can be beaten if it is treated early on. Initially, it may not be too easy to detect ovarian cancer symptoms since they can be mild.
In most cases, these symptoms may also be linked to other bodily anomalies like constipation, change in energy levels, and more. Owing to this reason, it is important to know everything about ovarian cancer causes and ovarian cancer treatment so that you can act promptly when needed. Read on to understand ovarian cancer better.
Ovarian cancer: Know it better
In 2022 alone, the number of deaths owing to ovarian cancer has reached almost 13,000 globally. Even though this is a big number, there is hope as the survival rate of ovarian cancer has increased to more than 49% [2]. This is a positive factor and ensures that you can be treated and beat this cancer.
A cancerous growth in the ovary is generally referred to as ovarian cancer. Every human female body consists of 2 ovaries that are known to produce eggs. When this organ encounters a cancerous growth, it is commonly referred to as ovarian cancer. If you want to protect yourself from Prostate cancer you can avail cancer insurance
Additional Read: Uterine Cancer: Types and Diagnosed
Ovarian cancer symptoms
There may be minimal or no symptoms of ovarian cancer in its initial stages. The symptoms are likely to get prominent at an advanced stage when treatment for cancer becomes almost impossible. However, some of the common ovarian cancer symptoms that you may begin to notice are diarrhea or severe constipation, fatigue, nausea, frequent urination, and bloating. You may also experience acute pain or inflammation in the pelvic region or may begin to experience unexpected vaginal bleeding due to ovarian cancer. Feeling full even after eating very less food or loss of appetite as well as lumps in the pelvic region can be the other signs to keep a tab on. If you want to protect yourself from Ovarian cancer you can avail cancer insuranceWhile other cancers can be diagnosed early on with check-ups, the challenge with ovarian cancer is that a regular pelvic exam usually doesn’t help with its detection. However, don’t miss out on this test as it can help diagnose other health conditions. Even a transvaginal ultrasound is not a trustworthy solution, but scientists are working on creating a better test for ovarian cancer.
Ovarian cancer causes
Most experts cannot definitively pinpoint the major causes of ovarian cancer as the research until now is not very conclusive. However, the major high-risk factors that contribute to the disease are the following.
- Family history of ovarian cancer, where other family members may have been diagnosed with the disease, and you may have inherited the gene mutation
- Women who have never been pregnant are also considered to be at high risk.
- Women who are dealing with endometriosis or have had breast, uterine or colorectal cancer are more at risk.
- Age is also another factor that can increase the risk of ovarian cancer.
- Inherited conditions like Lynch syndrome also increase the risk of ovarian cancer.
- Women who are obese and taller than average are also at higher risk, as are those who have endometriosis.
Considering these ovarian cancer causes, you can keep an eye on the symptoms to know if there is a health marker that you need to report to a doctor.
Additional Read: Endometriosis: Symptoms and Causes
Ovarian cancer treatment procedure
Once detected, ovarian cancer treatment is very straightforward and involves surgery for the removal of the tumor, leading to chemotherapy. In order to detect ovarian cancer, the physician will conduct an MRI scan and ultrasound, and later a biopsy of the tumor to confirm the presence of cancerous cells in the body.
A little awareness about ovarian cancer, as well as other types of cancer like breast cancer, goes a long way in keeping you attentive to the symptoms. You can start now and observe World Cancer Day become more conscious of these issues. By knowing the basics of uterine cancer causes or symptoms of breast cancer and by doing regular health check-ups, you can get treated early on. So, pledge to act responsibly for better health.
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You can choose an easy teleconsultation or even an in-clinic appointment using this platform. What’s more, you can even book lab tests without stepping out of your home and get health insurance with a 100% digital process. The app helps you monitor important health markers and even has medicine and vaccine reminders. Use it today to attend to your health mindfully!
- https://main.icmr.nic.in/sites/default/files/guidelines/Ovarian_Cancer.pdf
- https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/ovary.html
Please note that this article is solely meant for informational purposes and Bajaj Finserv Health Limited (“BFHL”) does not shoulder any responsibility of the views/advice/information expressed/given by the writer/reviewer/originator. This article should not be considered as a substitute for any medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always consult with your trusted physician/qualified healthcare professional to evaluate your medical condition. The above article has been reviewed by a qualified doctor and BFHL is not responsible for any damages for any information or services provided by any third party.
