Ovarian Cancer - Symptoms and Treatment

Research has shown that ovarian cancer is not very common and this cancer is the seventh in the list of all other types of cancer. Though the survival rate of this cancer is not very high and rates fourth in the cancer related deaths that affect women. The survival rate is low due to its detection as by the time ovarian cancer is detected the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

The ratio of ovarian cancer is more in the western countries than in countries like Japan and other Mediterranean countries. Ovarian cancer affects women in their early sixties and seventies. The risk of developing ovarian cancer is more for those women who have never mothered a child or for those who have had trouble in conceiving and even to those who have had just a couple of pregnancies.

It has also been found that birth control pills reduce your chances of developing ovarian cancer and yet another fact is that those children are at a higher risk of developing ovarian cancer whose mothers have suffered from ovarian cancer.

What are the symptoms related to ovarian cancers?

The most common symptom that is related to ovarian cancer is the increase in the girth of the abdomen, there is also pain in the abdomen in some cases there is an abnormal bleeding in the uterus. Though the symptoms persists for a long time it is hardly taken into notice thus there is a wide spread of the disease to other parts of the body.

What is the mode of treatment?

Detection of ovarian cancer is possible only through CT scans, ultrasound or in some cases MRI scan of the abdomen. In some cases laparoscopy along with the biopsy of the ovaries also helps detect ovarian cancer. Apart from this there are other tests to detect ovarian cancer and they are x-ray of the chest, IVP, cystoscopy and barium test in the form of enema which helps assess the spread of cancer to other parts of the body.

Mode of treatment varies from patient to patient as this is based on the spread of cancer or tumor. Sometimes more than one mode of treatment is administered and in some cases there is a combination of one or more modes of treatments. Surgery along with radiation followed by chemotherapy is the most common mode of treatment.

It has been found that chemotherapy when used as a mode of treatment in advanced stage of ovarian cancer has proved to be successful and women suffering from ovarian cancer have survived for more than five years. Treatment is administered under the able guidance of a gynecological oncologist.

Apart from this if you find any irregular signs or symptoms you need to consult your gynecologist and seek advice as heavy bleeding or even irregular bleeding should all be taken into consideration and not taken lightly as this could be the first sign of ovarian cancer. Expressing your concern with your doctor and discussing your health problems with your doctor will go a long way to help prevent ovarian cancer.