Ovarian cancer- don't ignore these signs
Many people tend to think of cancer as a
death sentence. Ovarian cancer is a silent killer with no visible
symptoms in the early stages, but that doesn’t mean it’s not curable.
The important thing is to catch it early before it spreads. When the
symptoms do begin to show, they can be vague and easily confused with a
number of other conditions. Oncology is a well-developed medical field
and many cancers are curable with the right treatment at the right time.
The healthy thing to do is to keep a balance between denial and
hypochondria.
The good news is that there are a number of
early warnings signs. Ovarian cancer symptoms only match actual early
stage ovarian cancer 1% of the time. While there is no absolutely
reliable detection method for early stage ovarian cancer, doctors make
use of pelvic examinations, ultrasound scans and blood tests for genetic
cancer markers to diagnose the illness. While scientists are busy
working at fixing this gap in the medical field, it’s important for you
to know and listen to your body. This guide will help you discover the
risk factors and early warning signs.
Risk Factors
While the cause of ovarian cancer is unknown, certain factors can
increase your chances of it developing:
Age: Ovarian cancer tends to strike women over the age of 60 most, with
over 50% of all occurrences affecting this age group. Women over the age
of 50 are also at a higher risk, although age does not safeguard
younger aged women from developing this cancer too, and cases are
sometimes found in women in their 20s.
Family history: Genetics can increase the
likelihood of a person developing ovarian cancer. A family history of
ovarian cancer, breast cancer, or colon cancer strengthens your
susceptibility to the illness. The genes BRCA1 and BRCA2, known as the
breast cancer genes, were initially only linked to detecting breast
cancer chances, but further research revealed that these genes also
indicate ovarian cancer.
Period history: The number of periods an individual has during her
lifetime has been shown to correlate with increased chances of the
development of ovarian cancer. Women who began menstruating young, have
never given birth, or reached menopause at a later age (after the age
of 50) have been found to have a higher risk of getting ovarian cancer
than those who experienced less periods of menstruation.
Certain medications: Research has found that having hormone replacement
therapy after menopause, or enduring large doses of hormones for
fertility treatment, can strengthen the chances of ovarian cancer
developing.
Other risk factors that make ovarian cancer more likely include smoking,
obesity, use of an IUD (intrauterine device) or polycystic ovary
syndrome.
8 Early Warning Signs
One or several of these symptoms offer enough reason for rightful
concern. If they persist for longer than two weeks, consult with your
physician:
1. Constipation: This can also include other changes in your bowel
movements.
2. Pelvic pain: This can range from a feeling of discomfort in the
pelvic area, to outright pain. It can also be felt in the abdomen.
3. Frequent, urgent urination: In older
women, this can be a sign of weak pelvic floor muscles or a urinary
tract infection, but this symptom can also be a sign of ovarian cancer.
4. Swollen or bloated abdomen: Your stomach increases in size, and you
might feel particularly bloated along with being full of gas. This one
is easily detectable when your clothes begin to feel tighter around your
waist and hips, without weight gain elsewhere.
5. Fatigue: You’ll have slept enough but still feel overly tired and low in energy.
6. Pain from sexual activity.
7. Low back pain: This one is especially relevant if it starts in the pelvic area.
8. Loss of appetite, feeling full quickly: You might also observe unexplained weight loss.