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.