10 Early Warning Signs Of Ovarian Cancer You Shouldn’t Ignore
by December 12, 2014 5:23 am 851 views0
Causes
Until now the science hasn’t found the real causes of ovarian cancer, but several factors are known to increase the chances of developing the disease. Ovarian cancer is more likely to develop in these groups of women:
- White women, especially in Northern Europe
- Women who have never been pregnant or had children
- Women over 50. Half of the diagnosed cases are women over 65.
- Women who had breast cancer
- Women who have a family history of breast, ovarian, endometrial (uterus), prostate or colon cancer
- Women with genetic mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2. (Not all women with these genetic mutations of breast cancer will develop ovarian cancer)
- Women who have a first-degree relative (mother, daughter, sister) diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
Diagnosis
There are no tests that can reliably show if a woman has an early-stage of ovarian cancer. Some diagnostic procedures include a thorough diagnosticlaparoscopy, bimanual pelvic examination and variousx-rayprocedures.
The only thing that can be done is an ultrasound of the abdomen and the lower pelvic region or a transvaginal probe. CA-125 blood test is used to determine the level of CA-125, a tumor marker.Low GI series or barium enema involve series of X-rays to highlight the other organs.
The awareness among women and their gynecologists must be on a high level, because this is more than necessary, to have regular checkups, especially in cases of bloating where the cancer can be detected and diagnosedin an early stage when it can be actually cured.
Regular checkups must be done if you have family history with this disease because you are at high risk. Although it hasn’t been proven, when it comes to treating menopausal symptoms, women are advised to take the smallest dose of hormone replacement therapy in the shortest period possible.
Treating
There are various treatments for this disease. specialists usually advice women diagnosed with ovarian cancer to do a surgery, which involves removal of the uterus, ovaries,tubes and omentum. If the cancer has metastasized, the surgery may include removing of other tissues in the abdomen and pelvis, as well as parts of the colon.
Specialists explain that the recurrence of cancer after surgery can be stopped with chemotherapy. Chemotherapycan be helpful also to reduce the cancer before surgery, especially in advanced stages, and if the disease has reoccurred.
Most treatments are based on platinum agents, and there are many target-therapies. Specialists from many countries practice the treatment with the antibodies that are slowing the blood flow to the cancer. Chemotherapy can be inserted directly into the abdomen. Many researches have been conducted on this topic and have confirmed the positive effect of this hyperthermic peritoneal chemotherapy during surgery.
Radiotherapy is rarely used for ovarian cancer, only in the late stage of the disease in order to reduce pain and bleeding.
Source : www.healthyfoodhouse.com
