Sneaky Symptoms Prevent Early Detection of Ovarian Cancer

Like most cancers, early detection of ovarian cancer is extremely important. However, only around 20 percent of cases are diagnosed early enough to effectively treat the disease. One of the main reasons ovarian cancer is so difficult to detect is because the symptoms can be very subtle and often times, they’re the same symptoms that might arise from a common cold or other “minor” health issues.

The main difference? The symptoms of ovarian cancer will occur daily and they won’t subside. But if you’re not sure what the exact symptoms are for ovarian cancer, Activebeat.com had a great article reviewing some things to look out for - here are some of them:  

Abdominal Pain

Pain in the pelvic area or belly that feels very different from normal indigestion and menstrual problems (i.e., cramps) is indicative of ovarian cancer. Most patients complained of abdominal pain that persisted for longer than 2 weeks, and wasn’t associated with their period, diarrhea, or the stomach flu.

Indigestion

Persistent indigestion, gas, nausea, or other gastro-intestinal issues, like heartburn, are quite common and persistent of ovarian cancer.

Loss of Appetite

Ovarian cancer is known to cause an abrupt loss of appetite that’s normally out of character for the person affected. This is because the cancer impacts metabolism—or the breakdown of food into energy that fuels the body.

Bloating

Frequent bloating or gas pain in your belly or pelvis that doesn’t go away is another symptom of ovarian cancer. For instance, if your abdominals bloat so much that your clothes fit tighter around your waist so suddenly and without diet or activity changes—this may be cause for a doctor’s visit.

Urinary Frequency

Urinary problems, such as being overwhelmed by a sudden urge to urinate as well as peeing more often than usual is a sign of ovarian cancer—this can include bouts of incontinence (complete loss of bladder control before you can get to a bathroom) that will gradually worsen over a few weeks.

Click here to learn about more symptoms of ovarian cancer at Activebeat.com.

Coping With Cancer

Cancer is a disease that affects family members and loved ones as well as the one diagnosed. Coping with the news that someone close to you has cancer can be stressful and emotional, but you don’t have to do it alone. Each person may deal with diagnosis differently, but there are resources that you can look to help guide you and your family through this difficult time.

“How a family handles cancer depends a lot on how the family has dealt with problems in the past. Those who are used to communicating openly and sharing feelings are usually able to talk about how cancer is affecting them. Families who solve their problems as individuals instead of a team might have more trouble coping with cancer.

Cancer treatment includes care for the patient and the family, not just the cancer. A mental health professional may already be a part of the cancer care team. If not, talk with the doctor or nurse to learn about other resources that can help you and your family cope with cancer.

People with cancer often say that lack of communication in their families is a problem. Changes in responsibilities can cause resentment and anxiety. Some family members may not feel comfortable openly discussing their feelings. Other family members may avoid the person with cancer because they feel as if they have nothing to offer, don’t know how to act, or feel they can’t do anything to help make the situation better. These factors can all make families more distant at a time when they need to pull together. Many families need help with this. Through family counseling, members can learn to deal with changes within the family and discuss their feelings more comfortably.”

Find out more about coping with cancer here.

Who Should Get Tested for Ovarian Cancer?

Ovarian cancer was known as “the silent killer” for many years in the past. That’s because symptoms may be unnoticeable or too similar to other ailments to easily detect. This meant that many women in the past would believe they had a run-of-the-mill problem, only time find out that they had ovarian cancer. However, today, women are better able to get screened to determine if they may have cancer or be at risk for ovarian cancer. According to Healthline.com, “One of the most disappointing facts is that in over 30 years, the mortality rates for ovarian cancer have not been reduced. However, women diagnosed in the early stages have a much higher five-year survival rate than those diagnosed at later stages.”

The risk factors for ovarian cancer are wide-reaching. If you have one of the following risk factors, you may wish to pay special attention to testing for ovarian cancer:

·         Family history of ovarian cancer.

·         Having your first menstrual cycle early in life.

·         Late menopause.

·         Being 65 years old or older.

·         Never having been pregnant.

·         Being overweight or obese.

·         Getting an endometriosis diagnosis.

·         Having breast cancer.

·         Never taking birth control.

Today, there are three major screening methods to determine if you have ovarian cancer. These are a pelvic exam, a CA-125 array, or a transvaginal ultrasound. However, recent evidence shows that these screenings may cause more harm than good, because of a large number of false results (positive and negative). As StopCancerFund.org points out, “In September 2012, the United States Preventative Services Task Force recommended against annual ovarian cancer screening tests for women who do not have symptoms.[3] They concluded that women who have no signs or symptoms, no family history of breast or ovarian cancer, and no increased risk based on their genes do not benefit from screening and may even be harmed by it.”

If you’re concerned about the risk of ovarian cancer, you can simply ask your gynecologist or primary care physician to pay extra attention to your ovaries and reproductive organs when you’re in for your yearly checkup.

Ovarian Cancer: Statistics And Facts

When talking about women’s health issues we often immediately think about breast cancer, the most common type of cancer that affects women. But with so much discussion and dialogue focused on that issue it’s easy to forget that all women are also at risk of developing five types of gynecologic cancers: cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal, and vulvar.  And not only are all women at risk of developing one of these cancers, but the risk of that happening also increases with age.

Today we want to talk about ovarian cancer, which affects about 20,000 women each year and is the deadliest of the five gynecologic cancers. Roughly 44% of women survive 5 years or more after a diagnosis.

The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention report that, “Among women in the United States, ovarian cancer is the eighth most common cancer and the fifth leading cause of cancer death, after lung and bronchus, breast, colorectal, and pancreatic cancers. Ovarian cancer causes more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system, but it accounts for only about 3% of all cancers in women.”

One of the reasons ovarian cancer is so dangerous is that it’s harder to detect than other cancers. Because of this women should always monitor for signs of trouble and speak to their doctors about their risk of developing ovarian cancer. Mayoclinic.org reports that symptoms of ovarian cancer include:

• Abdominal bloating or swelling
• Quickly feeling full when eating
• Weight loss
• Discomfort in the pelvis area
• Changes in bowel habits, such as constipation
• A frequent need to urinate

All women are at risk of developing ovarian cancer, though most cases appear in women aged 55 and up. A family history of ovarian or breast cancer, a higher weight or BMI, the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, and certain reproductive issues can all also contribute to a woman’s risk of developing ovarian cancer.

Click this link to read more about ovarian cancer statistics, risk factors, and symptoms.

What is Ovarian Cancer?

Often touted as “The Silent Killer of women,” ovarian cancer is often misunderstood at best. Afflicting at least 5,500 women in the US each year, ovarian cancer rings in as one of the leading causes of death in females. Before understanding why this disease is so devastating, it is important to understand what it is and how it forms. This article, courtesy of medicalnewstoday.com, will help to shed some light on the parts of the body this cancer effects and the genesis of the condition.

Ovarian cancer is any cancerous growth that may occur in different parts of the ovary. The majority of ovarian cancers arise from the epithelium (outer lining) of the ovary. According to the American Cancer Society it is the 8th most common cancer among women in the USA (excluding non-melanomaskin cancers). In the UK ovarian cancer is the fifth most common cancer among females, after breast cancer, bowel cancer, lung cancer and uterine cancer (cancer of the uterus).

Approximately 5,500 women in the UK and 21,000 women in the USA are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year. Worldwide, around 140,000 women die of ovarian cancer every year.

Tragically, the overall five year survival rate is only 46 per cent in most developed countries (it is lower for more advanced stages). However, according to the National Cancer Institute, if diagnosis is made early, before the tumor has spread, the five year survival rate is nearer 93 per cent. In 2009 scientists in the US said that current tests for diagnosing ovarian cancer are not good enough .

Even modern screening tests for ovarian cancer, which include a blood test for the CA 125 marker, combined with ultrasound, often result in unnecessary surgery and "..are failing to catch early signs of the disease..", a study at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Comprehensive Cancer Center revealed.

What are the ovaries?

The ovary is the female gonad, while the testis is the male gonad. A gonad is a reproductive gland that produces germ cells (gametes). A male sperm is a gamete, and a female egg is also a gamete. Each human gamete has 23 chromosomes, half the number of chromosomes contained in most types of human body cells. 

The ovary, also known as the egg sac, is one of a pair of reproductive glands in women. The ovaries are located at either side of the uterus (womb), in the pelvis. Each ovary is about the size and shape of an almond. The ovaries produce ova (eggs) and female hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone. These hormones regulate the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and control the development of female characteristics, such as body shape, body hair, breasts, etc.

During the female menstrual cycle, which lasts about one month, one egg is released from one of the two ovaries - the egg travels through the fallopian tube and into the uterus. This is known as ovulation.

Cancer of the ovary can spread to other parts of the reproductive system as well as surrounding areas, such as the stomach, vagina and uterus. Ovarian cancer more commonly occurs in women aged 65 or over, but can affect women of any age.

What is cancer?

Cancer is a class of diseases characterized by out-of-control cell growth. There are over 100 different types of cancer that occur in various parts of the body - each is classified by the type of cell that is initially affected.

Usually our cells divide (multiply, form new ones) only when old and dying ones need to be replaced. However, the controls that regulate when a cell divides as well as when a cell should die sometimes become faulty. This may result in cells not dying when they should, while additional cells are still being added - an uncontrolled accumulation of cells. Eventually a mass of cells is formed - a tumor. 

Malignant and benign tumors

Tumors that stay in one place and demonstrate limited growth are usually considered to be benign. Malignant, or more dangerous tumors emerge when two things occur:

Invasion - the cancerous cell manages to move throughout the body using the blood or lymph systems, destroying healthy tissue - this process is called invasion.

Angiogenesis - the cancerous cells manage to divide and grow, making new blood vessels to feed themselves.

Metastasis
When a tumor manages to spread to other parts of the body and grows, invading and destroying other healthy tissues, it is said to have metastasized. This process itself is called metastasis, and the result is a serious condition that is extremely hard to treat.

Education is one of the most important tools we can use to protect ourselves against ovarian cancer. Learning about the causes of the disease is simply the first step on the road to decreasing the number of victims of the disease.  

New Research Programs Will Study Genetic Risk For Ovarian Cancer

The USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center recently announced that its team will expand their ovarian cancer research efforts thanks to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The NIH awarded two grants totaling over $4 million to the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center for use on two important ovarian cancer research projects.

One project being funded by these grants will focus on studying how certain genes and mutations may impact a woman’s risk of developing ovarian cancer. Set to last at least five years, this project is being led by Simon Gayther, a professor of preventive medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, and Susan Ramus, an associate professor of preventive medicine.

The hope is that this project will ultimately contribute to a decreased ovarian cancer mortality.

“We expect to identify, in the population, ovarian cancer susceptibility genes that confer substantial risks of ovarian cancer,” Gayther said about the project. “We will calculate these risks by comparing the frequency of gene mutations in ovarian cancer cases compared to unaffected controls. We expect the size of disease risks caused by these genes to be quite substantial, and anticipate this information could soon be used to screen unaffected women in the population to identify those individuals at greatest risk.”

In addition to working on this first project, Susan Ramus is leading the second ovarian cancer research study being funded by these grants. This second project, which is currently the world’s largest ovarian cancer tumor tissue study, will evaluate signs of ovarian cancer risk at a molecular level. This could help researchers develop new ways of testing for and treating ovarian cancer and is a significant endeavor, as no treatment for ovarian cancer based on tumor profiling currently exists.

Click here to read more about these two important ovarian cancer research projects.

Dogs: An Oncologist’s Best Friend?

We all know that dogs are man’s best friend. But soon, they could also be a doctor’s best friend as well.

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania’s Work Dog Center have discovered that dogs can detect the smell given off by certain chemical compounds that are produced during the early stages of ovarian cancer.

Every year, over 20,000 Americans are diagnosed with ovarian cancer, but due to generic symptoms like bloating, weight gain, and constipation, it can be difficult for physicians to offer a precise diagnosis. However, like most cancers, early diagnosis is key. In fact, women who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer in its early stages have a five-year survival rate of 90 percent. And this discovery could very well help diagnoses ovarian cancer before it spreads.

Over at Monell Chemical Sensess Chemical Center, researchers are trying to replicate the dogs’ ability with an electronic sensor. Said organic chemist George Preti on The Animal Rescue Site’s blog:

“Because if the dogs can do it, then the question is, “Can our analytical instruments do it?” We think we can,” said George Preti, Monell organic chemist.

Although dogs’ senses haven’t directly made any major breakthroughs for ovarian cancer, the American Cancer Society is hopeful that dogs may eventually play a role in patient care. Cindy Otto, director of the Working Dog Center, on the other hand, can see this happening sooner than later:

“If we can figure out what those chemicals are, what that fingerprint of ovarian cancer is that’s in the blood — or maybe even eventually in the urine or something like that — then we can have that automated test that will be less expensive and very efficient at screening those samples,” said Cindy Otto, director of the Working Dog Center.

Click here to read the full story on the Animal Rescue Site’s blog!

Risk Factors of Ovarian Cancer

As with many types of cancer, there are some factors known to increase and decrease the risk of developing ovarian cancer. If ovarian cancer runs in your family, you are more likely to develop the disease, but there are other procedures and factors that may put you at risk. It is important to understand the risks and speak with your doctor about any health concerns you have. The National Cancer Institute has outlined some of these factors:

Avoiding risk factors and increasing protective factors may help prevent cancer.

Avoiding cancer risk factors may help prevent certain cancers. Risk factors include smoking, being overweight, and not getting enough exercise. Increasing protective factors such as quitting smoking, eating a healthy diet, and exercising may also help prevent some cancers. Talk to your doctor or other health care professional about how you might lower your risk of cancer.

The following risk factors may increase the risk of ovarian cancer:

Family history of ovarian cancer

A woman whose mother or sister had ovarian cancer has an increased risk of ovarian cancer. A woman with two or more relatives with ovarian cancer also has an increased risk of ovarian cancer.

Inherited risk

The risk of ovarian cancer is increased in women who have inherited certain changes in the following genes:

BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes.

Genes that are linked to hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC; Lynch syndrome).

Hormone replacement therapy

The use of estrogen -only hormone replacement therapy (HRT) after menopause increases the risk of ovarian cancer. The longer estrogen replacement therapy is used, the greater the risk may be. It is not clear whether the risk of ovarian cancer is increased with the use of HRT that has both estrogen and progestin.

Fertility drugs

The use of fertility drugs may be linked to an increased risk of ovarian cancer.

Talc

The use of talc may increase the risk of ovarian cancer. Talcum powder dusted on the perineum (the area between the vagina and the anus) may reach the ovaries by entering the vagina.

Obesity

Having too much body fat, especially during the teenage years, is linked to an increased risk of ovarian cancer. Being obese is linked to an increased risk of death from ovarian cancer.

Height

Being taller than 5 feet 8 inches is linked to an increased risk of ovarian cancer.

The following protective factors may decrease the risk of ovarian cancer:

Oral contraceptives

The use of oral contraceptives (“the pill”) lowers ovarian cancer risk. The longer oral contraceptives are used, the lower the risk may be. The decrease in risk may last up to 25 years after a woman has stopped using oral contraceptives.

Taking oral contraceptives increases the risk of blood clots. This risk is higher in women who also smoke. There may be a slight increase in a woman’s risk of breast cancer during the time she is taking oral contraceptives. This risk decreases over time.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Pregnancy and breastfeeding are linked to a decreased risk of ovarian cancer. Ovulation stops or occurs less often in women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Some experts believe that women who ovulate less often have a decreased risk of ovarian cancer.

Bilateral tubal ligation or hysterectomy

The risk of ovarian cancer is decreased in women who have a bilateral tubal ligation (surgery to close both fallopian tubes) or a hysterectomy (surgery to remove the uterus).

Prophylactic oophorectomy

Some women who have a high risk of ovarian cancer may choose to have a prophylactic oophorectomy (surgery to remove both ovaries when there are no signs of cancer). This includes women who have inherited certain changes in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes or in the genes linked to hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer (HNPCC). (See the PDQ summary on Genetics of Breast and Ovarian Cancer for more information.)

It is very important to have a cancer risk assessment and counseling before making this decision. These and other factors should be discussed:

Early menopause: The drop in estrogen levels caused by removing the ovaries can cause early menopause. Symptoms of menopause include the following:

Hot flashes.

Night sweats.

Trouble sleeping.

Mood changes.

Decreased sex drive.

Heart disease.

Vaginal dryness.

Osteoporosis (decreased bone density).

These symptoms may not be the same in all women. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may be needed to lessen these symptoms.

Risk of ovarian cancer in the peritoneum: Women who have had a prophylactic oophorectomycontinue to have a small risk of ovarian cancer in the peritoneum (thin layer of tissue that lines the inside of the abdomen). This may occur if ovarian cancer cells had already spread to the peritoneum before the surgery or if some ovarian tissue remains after surgery.

Cancer prevention clinical trials are used to study ways to prevent cancer.

Cancer prevention clinical trials are used to study ways to lower the risk of developing certain types of cancer. Some cancer prevention trials are conducted with healthy people who have not had cancer but who have an increased risk for cancer. Other prevention trials are conducted with people who have had cancer and are trying to prevent another cancer of the same type or to lower their chance of developing a new type of cancer. Other trials are done with healthy volunteers who are not known to have any risk factors for cancer.

The purpose of some cancer prevention clinical trials is to find out whether actions people take can prevent cancer. These may include eating fruits and vegetables, exercising, quitting smoking, or taking certain medicines, vitamins, minerals, or food supplements.

New ways to prevent ovarian cancer are being studied in clinical trials.

Clinical trials are taking place in many parts of the country. Information about clinical trials can be found in the Clinical Trials section of the NCI Web site. Check NCI's list of cancer clinical trials for ovarian cancer prevention trials that are now accepting patients.

If you think you may be at risk for ovarian cancer, speak with your gynecologist.

New Chemo Treatment Helps Woman Overcome Ovarian Cancer

Ellen Mytnik originally believed that the swelling in her ankles and feet were signs of overworking herself, but as other symptoms popped up she decided to consult her doctor. Thank goodness she acted as soon as she did, because one CT scan later Ellen was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

"A CT scan showed a potentially cancerous mass growing in Mytnik’s abdomen. After further tests, Mytnik was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

Mytnik’s physician, Dr. M. Patrick Lowe, a gynecologic oncologist with Advocate Medical Group, recommended that she have surgery to be followed by chemotherapy.

As part of her post-surgery treatment, Dr. Lowe recommended a groundbreaking therapy called intraperitoneal chemotherapy. This approach delivers chemotherapy both directly into the abdomen and intravenously.

In February 2012, during a four-hour surgery, Dr. Lowe and his team successfully removed a 25 cm tumor (nearly 10 inches). The procedure, called optimal cytoreductive surgery, removes all visible evidence of cancer from the abdomen at the time of surgery. This type of surgery is associated with the best survival outcomes when combined with aggressive postsurgical chemotherapy, says Dr. Lowe.

After the surgery, Mytnik, one of the first to be given intraperitoneal chemotherapy at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Ill., received six cycles of the new therapy.

Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society. Despite that sobering statistic, Dr. Lowe, who specializes in the management of ovarian and other gynecologic cancers at Advocate Christ Medical Center, says studies show that a majority of U.S. women do not receive treatment for ovarian cancer from a board-certified gynecologic oncologist or receive standard-of-care chemotherapy treatments after surgery, which has a negative impact on overall survival.

Today, Mytnik is fully recovered, with no evidence of the disease and no long-term side effects of the surgery or chemotherapy, says Dr. Lowe. And she missed only three weeks as a substitute teacher in Minooka, Ill.

This past June, she attended Christ Medical Center’s annual cancer survivors’ luncheon for the second time with her family."

Mytnik isn't the only patient to benefit from this therapy, as the superior survival rates for those receiving it have led to many gynecologic oncologists to consider it the standard.

12 Signs of Ovarian Cancer, A.K.A. The Silent Killer – An Infographic

Ovarian cancer, the 5^th most common cancer in women, is often referred to as “the silent killer.” Currently the American Cancer Society estimates that 21,980 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer and about 14,270 women will die from ovarian cancer in 2014. Yet despite its prevalence relatively few people know how deadly this cancer is, or how to recognize it.

Sadly recognizing ovarian cancer is not easy. The nickname “the silent killer” refers to the fact that ovarian cancer is very hard to detect, as many women show no outward symptoms of the disease or attribute the symptoms that do emerge to other health problems; as a result of this only 15% of ovarian cancer patients receive an early diagnosis. Most women are diagnosed with late stage Ovarian Cancer, and unfortunately thanks in part to this delay only about 45% of women live five years or longer after an ovarian cancer diagnosis.

Because no routine screenings for ovarian cancer exist yet, women of all ages need to know the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer. If women do experience one, two or more of these symptoms persistently, they should consider asking for an ovarian cancer test. It’s better to be safe than sorry: too many women ignore their symptoms or attribute them to other health issues when even having one symptom could be a sign of ovarian cancer.

Keep scrolling down to learn more about ovarian cancer’s symptoms and find out who’s most at risk from it in infographic form.

New Screening Could Catch Ovarian Cancer in Earlier Stages

The best way to beat cancer is to get out in front of it. Early diagnosis and treatment is crucial and thanks to a new screening procedure at the University of Texas, ovarian cancer just got a little less threatening. Read below about how the new screening process may help identify ovarian cancer earlier in women.

Ovarian cancer is so dangerous -- it kills about 14,000 of the 20,000 U.S. women diagnosed each year -- because it has few telltale symptoms and is often not detected until it’s in fairly advanced stages. But researchers at University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center have now shown that a new screening procedure may help identify ovarian cancer cases earlier and more accurately. If their study results can be duplicated in a larger trial, they say, the screening could potentially save many of those lives in the near future.

Published today in the journal Cancer, the new study gave more than 4,000 post-menopausal women -- the age group most likely to get ovarian cancer -- a blood test that looked at levels of a protein called CA125. Based on a new algorithm to calculate their cancer risk, 5.8 percent of the women were classified as "intermediate risk" and were told they'd need a follow-up blood test there months later.

Another 0.9 percent were classified as "high risk" and were referred to a specialist for an ultrasound. Ten of those women had what were dubbed "suspicious" ultrasounds and underwent surgery -- four of whom were found to have early-stage, invasive ovarian cancer. Five had benign or non-invasive ovarian tumors, and one had endometrial cancer -- demonstrating that the screening-and-ultrasound combo leaves very little room for false positives.

Because the study was so small, says lead author Karen Lu, MD, these results alone won't change screening protocol in real life. But the researchers are awaiting the results of a much larger clinical trial taking place now in Europe that also uses the same new screening algorithm. "If the results of this study are also positive, then this will result in a change in practice," Dr. Lu adds.

For the full article from Self follow the link: http://on.self.com/1lcUd2i

Ovarian Cancer Myths

Ovarian Cancer has a higher mortality rate than breast cancer. However many people are often unaware or even confused about the simple facts about ovarian cancer. This article from mamamia.com busts six of the most common myths about ovarian cancer.

Myth 1: Ovarian cancer is detected through a pap smear.

Pap smears are actually designed to detect cervical cancer, not ovarian cancer. When a doctor suspects that a patient may have ovarian cancer, they will perform a pelvic exam to check for growths or masses on the ovaries. Transvaginal ultrasounds can also be used to detect it, as can blood tests which detect higher levels of protein CA 125 in the blood stream – as this is often the case for women with advanced ovarian cancer.

Myth 2: You need to have a family history of ovarian cancer to develop it yourself.

This is another myth. Only 10 to 15 percent of ovarian cancers are inherited. But it’s true that one of the greatest factors that indicate risk is the presence of the inherited mutated genes known as BRCA1 and BRCA2 – the same genes that Angelina Jolie detected, which motivated her to undergo a prophylactic double mastectomy.

Myth 3: There are NO early symptoms of ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer is often called the ‘silent killer’, because many people believe that symptoms only present in late stages of the disease – but this is a misnomer. However, there are early symptoms – the difficulty is that they are often mistaken for signs of other conditions. Common symptoms include bloating, urinary urgency or pelvic discomfort and pain, swelling and bloating, or abdominal pressure.

Because women often delay asking their GP’s advice about these symptoms, diagnosis can be significantly delayed – and when it is given, the ovarian cancer may have spread already.

Myth 4: Women who’ve had a hysterectomy can’t get ovarian cancer.

This isn’t true. If one, or even both, of the ovaries are preserved, ovarian cancer is still possible. During a hysterectomy, a surgeon usually removes the uterus and the cervix. In some instances, a surgeon will also remove the ovaries and the fallopian tubes. However, even when the ovaries are removed there is a very small chance of developing the disease.

Myth 5: Sexual activity affects chance of developing ovarian cancer.

Some women believe that the number of sexual partners they have had, has something to do with the development of ovarian cancer – but this is completely untrue. The spread of the HPV virus, which can cause cervical cancer and is linked to sexual activity is not connected with ovarian cancer in any way.

Myth 6: Ovarian cancer is always deadly.

As mentioned at the beginning of this article, ovarian cancer is the most deadly of all gynecological cancers – but relative survival rates for ovarian cancer have increased in recent years in Australia. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, between the periods 1982-1987 and 2006-2010, the five-year relative survival increased from 32.4 per cent to 43.3 per cent.

It is not always deadly – and that’s why it’s so important that women take any symptoms they may be suffering seriously, and ask their GP for an opinion. The sooner any cancer is detected, the better. Breaking these myths about ovarian cancer will surely help.

Click the link to read the full article from mamamia.com: http://bit.ly/1n5OGit

Possible link found between IVF and ovarian cancer

A recent study conducted in the Netherlands suggests a possible link between receiving in-vitro fertilization treatments and ovarian cancer. The study followed women who had IVF treatments, from the time of their first treatment to up to 16 years later. In most cases, the increased risk was of a non-invasive type of tumor. This article from Our Bodies, Our Selves shares more on the study:

A recent article in the journal Human Reproduction has attracted a fair bit of attention because it suggests a possible link between in vitro fertilization (IVF) and later increased risk of ovarian cancer.

Certain factors increase a woman’s risk of getting ovarian cancer, including a family history of reproductive cancers, personal history of cancer, certain gene mutations, increasing age, hormone replacement therapy, and infertility itself.  Right now, it’s still very hard to determine how much fertility treatments – such as the ovarian stimulation used in IVF – may contribute to increased risk.

For the current study, researchers in the Netherlands identified about nineteen thousand women with fertility problems who received in vitro fertilization, and about six thousand women who had fertility problems before IVF was in common use and so did not receive it. The researchers used questionnaires and medical and cancer records to follow the women for fourteen to sixteen years, from the time of their first IVF treatment or first infertility diagnosis.

The authors found a two-fold risk of ovarian cancer in women who had IVF. Most of this increased risk, however, was for “borderline ovarian tumors,” a noninvasive type that may require surgery but typically has a good prognosis. There was no significant difference in rates of invasive ovarian cancer between the two groups. The authors also note that even larger studies are needed to confirm or refute their findings and to examine any possible relationship between the dose of ovarian stimulation treatments and increased ovarian cancer risk.

They also make this important point:

Knowledge about the magnitude of the risks associated with ovarian stimulation is important for women considering starting or continuing IVF treatment, as well as their treating physicians.

A 2006 review of existing literature on the topic also observed “a stronger association…between fertility drug use and borderline tumors of the ovary,” but called the finding “not consistent among the available studies to date.”

Although there is no definitive correlation between receiving IVF treatments and ovarian cancer, it is important to understand the risks of IVF before undergoing treatment. Your OB can provide you with more information.

Chemo Options for Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is a disease that over 21,000 are diagnosed with a year. While a diagnosis may be extremely scary, it’s important to know what the process of treatment looks like. Because there is no real screening process for ovarian cancer, the disease is usually found in its more advanced stages. Treatment typically begins with surgery, but because cancer cells are usually not all removed from surgery alone, ovarian cancer patients must also go through chemotherapy to eliminate any cells that may still remain in the body.

This article from WebMD describes the chemotherapy process for ovarian cancer and how the treatment works to combat the disease:

The chemotherapy drugs used to treat ovarian cancer are fairly standard. Typically doctors combine a platinum-based drug such as carboplatin (Paraplatin) or cisplatin with a taxane such as paclitaxel (Taxol) or docetaxel (Taxotere).

Two different methods are used to administer the drugs. One method is to give them through a vein (intravenously or IV). Chemotherapy is administered in cycles of treatment days and rest. That means you'll get the drug treatment, and then you'll have a rest period. The number of treatment days varies with the drug given. Women with ovarian cancer typically get six cycles of chemotherapy.

The other option is to deliver the chemotherapy directly into the abdominal cavity using a thin tube or catheter. This process is known as intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy. The advantage to IP chemotherapy is that it bathes the cancer cells directly in the cancer-killing drugs.

Doctors will often place the tube for IP chemotherapy during the initial surgery to remove the cancer. The tube is attached to a port, which makes it easy to deliver the drugs into the abdomen each time treatment is given.

Often, women who receive IP chemotherapy get IV chemotherapy too, because studies have shown that the combination significantly improves survival.

Click the link to read the full article and learn more about chemotherapy treatment for ovarian cancer: http://bit.ly/1p2T5zu

Pilot Program for Genetic Testing

A charitable foundation in the United Kingdom recently announced a pilot program to genetically test patients for ovarian and breast cancer. Due to sequencing, which is a method for reading genetic code, looking for gene mutations has become faster and more affordable (only a few hundred dollars), according to Wellcome Trust.

The genetic test was developed by Illumina Inc. and was designed to analyze 97 cancer-associated genes, such as the BRCA 1 and 2 genetic markers, within just a few weeks. The test will be introduced in London’s Royal Marsden hospitals in 2014. If it’s successful, it will expand to the rest of the United Kingdom and the National Health Service.

“It is very important to know if a mutation in a person’s genetic blueprint has caused their cancer,” explained Dr. Nazneen Rahman, a genetics leader at the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) and the Cancer Genetics Clinical Unit at The Royal Marsden. “It allows more personalized treatment, so for example such people are often at risk of getting another cancer and may choose to have more comprehensive surgery, or may need different medicines, or extra monitoring. It also improves the information available for relatives about their own cancer risks. Sometimes a relative is found to also have an increased risk of cancer, and screening or preventative measures can be employed. Just as frequently, testing provides the reassuring news that a relative is not at increased risk of cancer and does not need interventions.”

Follow this link for more information.

Tai Chi Helps Ovarian Cancer Patients in Mt. Lebanon

David Clippinger, 45, goes by many titles in Mt. Lebanon:

• Author
• Professor
• Lecturer
• Tai Chi and Chi Kung Master
• Owner of Still Mountain, a tai chi school
• Buddhist monk
• Buddhist priest

With all of this, Clippinger uses his knowledge and talents to help women with ovarian cancer through tai chi. He believes that there are health benefits linked to practicing tai chi, which includes a lowering of blood pressure and an increased healing rate for cancer patients who’ve undergone radiation and chemotherapy treatments.

In 2005, he was the keynote speaker for the National Ovarian Cancer Symposium when it was held in Pittsburgh. He serves as a wellness program consultant for a number of organizations and corporations, including the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He has also staged therapeutic workshops in chi kung and tai chi at Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC, the Cancer Caring Center, Gilda’s Club of Western Pennsylvania, the National Hemophilia Foundation’s Family Weekend, The Dean Ornish Program at Allegheny General, the Healing Weekend Retreat for Persons for HIV/AIDS, and the Shepherd Wellness Community Center.

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Jolie's Decision to Be a Previvor of Breast and Ovarian Cancer

You may have noticed recently that the media can’t stop mentioning Angelina Jolie. For those of you who may not know her, she is an A-list actress who is well known for her adoptions and charity work in Third World countries. She also underwent a double mastectomy in February after learning that she has the BRCA 1 gene mutation.

This procedure makes Jolie a “previvor.” She doesn’t have cancer, but the gene mutation gave her an 85 percent chance that she would eventually be diagnosed with it. She underwent the procedure with that in mind, and it was only a matter of time before her attention shifted to ovaries. This is because the BRCA 1 gene doesn’t just cause breast cancer; the mutation also causes ovarian cancer.

To be a previvor of that as well, Jolie plans to have both of her ovaries removed.

Despite drawing inspiration from her decisions, readers should remember that normal women make these decisions every day. And whereas Jolie has enough money to not bat an eye at surgeries and a giant family already (a mix of biological and adopted children), most women must worry about financial concerns and family expansion. Also, it is still possible for Jolie to contract breast or ovarian cancer elsewhere in her body.

But thanks to her, women are becoming more aware of these “previvor” possibilities and the importance of genetic testing.

Facts about HPV

We've already told you that untreated HPV can result in cervical cancer. You've also probably heard that fact before. But what exactly is HPV? How dangerous is it really, can you tell whether you may have contracted it, and can you treat it?

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections. Over 40 types affect the genital area, as well as the mouth and throat. HPV can be contracted during genital contact through intercourse or oral sex. Both genders can contract it. However, most people don’t realize they have it and may not show symptoms for years.

The good news is that the body’s immune system is capable of clearing out HPV from the body within two years. But a person could also show symptoms, which include:

• Genital warts, warts in the throat
• Abnormal cells—which could form cancer

In order to detect the infection, girls can undergo a Pap smear or an HPV test, which is similar to a Pap but specifically looks for HPV.   

Although there is no treatment for the virus itself, there are treatments for the symptoms. Those treatments include:

• Medications for the warts
• Removal of abnormal cells
• General cancer treatments
• Surgery

For more information, follow this link.