Ovarian
Cancer, long hailed as the Silent Killer, has been difficult to detect.
But recent studies state that most cancer patients have a few symptoms
in common.
Cancer that begins in the ovaries or the fallopian tubes is called
ovarian cancer. The risk of ovarian cancer rises with age. More than 50
% of deaths due to ovarian caner occur in women between 55 and 74, and
about a 25 % in women between 35 and 54.Ovarian cancer has been termed
the ‘Silent Killer’ even in medical textbooks because there are no
symptoms until a considerably advanced stage of the disease. Recent
studies, however, show that though there are no symptoms that are
characteristic to ovarian cancer, the following warning signs manifest
a few months before the cancer is detected:
Pelvic, abdominal, or back pain
Weight gain or weight loss
Unusual vaginal bleeding or discharge (heavy menstrual flow or menopausal bleeding)
Discomfort during sex
Frequent or intense need to urinate; burning sensation or spasms while urinating
Feeling full even though you haven’t eaten much
Vague gastro-intestinal problems, like gas, indigestion, loss of
appetite, bloating, nausea and vomiting, bloody stool, prolonged
constipation or diarrhoea
Unexplained increase in waistline
Shortness of breath
Fatigue
If you experience any of the above symptoms over two or three weeks and
if it gets worse with time, you should get yourself tested for ovarian
cancer. As these symptoms could be associated with any other disease or
minor ailment, it is impossible to diagnose ovarian cancer on their
merit alone. The doctor will conduct a pelvic exam, an abdominal or
vaginal ultrasound, and a blood test to check for the presence of CA
125. None of these tests are conclusive in themselves. But, a positive
count on two or more of the tests should be followed by a biopsy
(laparotomy) or a laparoscopy to rule out or diagnose ovarian cancer.
A very small percentage of women facing these symptoms are diagnosed
with the dreaded disease. And sometimes, women can reach the very last
stages of cancer with no symptoms at all. The best you can do is to
maintain a healthy lifestyle and undergo an annual examination to catch
the cancer before it metastasizes.
