Do I Have Ovarian Cancer?

One of the top things that every woman should know is what the symptoms for ovarian cancer are. It is entirely possible to have cancer in the ovaries and exhibit absolutely no symptoms, which makes this cancer extremely difficult to diagnose in the early stages. As a result, over 60% of women have the cancer spreading into other parts of their reproductive system and beyond before a doctor catches it.

Knowing the symptoms and bringing them to the attention of a medical professional is very important. Symptoms women ignore could potentially save their lives. There are certain people that are at higher risk of gynecologic cancers than others, though there is no specific cause for the cancer.

A woman should always be aware of her health and focus on any symptoms that may arise. Some of them include abdominal pain, constipation, and vaginal bleeding. It is also possible to experience increased abdominal girth as a result of either abdominal bloating or fluid filling up the abdominal cavity.

If you experience any of these symptoms, make an appointment with a doctor to discuss them. Express your concerns and let the doctor know what your family history is as well. It could be a tumor or ovarian cysts, however it could also be ovarian cancer, which needs to be tested and screened so that a prognosis and treatment can be determined.

Once the doctor performs a pelvic exam, he or she will check for high blood pressure, swollen lymph nodes and run a blood test. These will all help to determine whether or not ovarian cancer is present. A series of screening tests will also be performed.

Should ovarian cancer be present, the doctor will then check for other forms of gynecologic cancers, including of the fallopian tubes and the uterus. 

Surgery is the primary way of treating the cancer, including a hysterectomy, removing both ovaries and the fallopian tubes. Chemotherapy treatment is also used to help treat any remaining cancer cells that are in the body. It is very rare for radiation therapy to be used in ovarian cancer patients in the United States.

Understanding risks will help you to also determine if you are at risk for developing this cancer. It can be hereditary, which means that if there is a person in your family that has had breast or gynecologic cancer in the past, you may be at a higher risk simply due to sharing the same potential mutated gene. In addition, those women that are fertile or who have never been pregnant may also be at a higher risk. Women who have been on birth control pills, however are actually at a decreased risk at developing the cancer.

Knowing the risks and the symptoms can help you to be aware of whether those pains in your abdomen are just gas or the sign of something much more serious. Checking in with the doctor for annual tests and alerting them if something is wrong will be the best precautionary methods that you can take.