There will be about 20,000 new cases of ovarian cancer in the USA in 2006

The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be about 20,000 new cases of ovarian cancer in the USA in 2006 and about 15,000 women will die of the disease. A woman's risk of getting ovarian cancer is 1 in 58 and the risk of dying is 1/54. It is the fifth leading cause of cancer in women. Most disturbing is that Scientists don't know what cause the disease, and there isn't a screening test for ovarian cancer. Women often do not have specific or intense symptoms until the cancer is at an advance stage and the results are often fatal.

Another reason the disease is hard to detect is during the annual pap test the provider will do a pelvic exam to feel the female organs for size and shape, but ovarian tumors are hard to find early since the ovaries are deep within the body, making it difficult for providers to locate. Therefore, women may want to request a blood test called CA-125 along with the pelvic examination. The CA-125 test measures sugar protein that may be released when cells are inflamed or damaged.

Though Scientists don't know what causes ovarian cancer there are facts they do know about the disease. For instance, ovarian cancer begins in the ovaries, located on each side of the uterus. The ovaries are the main source for the female hormones estrogen and progesterone, where eggs are stored, and if fertilized by sperm, develops into a fetus. The ovaries contain 3 kinds od tissues: Gum (make cells), Sex Cord Stromal (cells inside the ovaries), and Epithelial (cells covers the ovaries) about 90% of ovarian cancer begin in the covering.

 RISK FACTORS OF OVARIAN CANCER

Age: As a woman ages, she becomes a risk for ovarian cancer. More than half of deaths hapens after menopause, and is found in women between the ages og 55 and 74.

Family History: Ovarian cancer is a high risk among women whose close relatives (mother, sister, and daughters) who have or had the disease.

Menstrual Period: Women who began having periods early (before 12 years) of age/or who went through the change after the age of 50 have a chance of developing the disease.

Personal History: Women who have/had breast, endometrial, and/or colon cancer have a higher risk of developing ovarian cancer.

Fertility Drugs: Women with a history of infertility or use fertility drugs also have a high risk of developing ovarian cancer.

SYMPTOMS

Detecting the cancer early improves the odds of finding and treating the disease early. If you have any of the symptoms below, report them to your doctor. The symptoms resemble other common ailments in women and by the times it is diagnosed may have spred beyond the ovaries.

*Swelling of the abdomen

*Back or leg pain

*Pelvic pain

*Bloating

*Change in bowel habits

*Constant gastrointestinal problems (indigestion)

*Nausea and vomiting

*Unexplained weight loss or gain

*Unusual vaginal bleeding

*Frequency and/or urgency of urination

TREATMENT FOR OVARIAN CANCER

If the test does indicate that you have ovarian cancer, your provider will sugest one or more options for treatment. The choice of treatment will depend on the stage of the cancer. The main treatment for ovarian treatment is Surgery, Chemotheraphy, and intraperitoneal chemotheraphy. In some cases all 3 of the treatments can be used.

Surgery: depends on how far the cancer has already spread, the health of the patient, and if the plan to have children plays a part in the decision. (Surgery can involve removing both ovaries and uterus)

Chemotheraphy: use of drugs to kill cancer cells. The drugs are injected into the vein or by mouth. The drugs enter the bloodstream, spreading through the body (Preferred treatment if the cancer has not spread beyond the ovaries.

Intraperitoneal Chemotheraphy: Treatment involves inserting a cathether into the abdoninal cavity to deliver chemotheraphy drugs directly to the tumor instead of the bloodstream.

Some Victims of ovarian cancer include:

*Coretta Scott King, wife of civil right leader activist Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. (died at age 78)

*Gilda Radner, actress/comedienne (died at age 42)

*Dinah Shore, actress/singer (died at age 77)

*Cassandra Harris, actress/wife of Pierce Brosman (died at age 39)

*Patsy Ramsey, mother of JonBenet Ramsey (died at age 50)

* Carol Channing, actress surviving

For more information on Ovarian Cancer contact the National Cancer Institute: www.cancer.gov

Email:cancergovstaff.hotmail.nih.gov

PH: 1-800-4-Cancer (1800-422-6237)

TTY: 1-800-332-8615 for the hearing impaired 

(c) original article appeared in June 2006 issue of Jive Magazine

 
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