Accounting for just four percent of cancers in women, ovarian cancer can be treated far more easily if it is caught early. This form of cancer is caused by an uncontrolled growth of aberrant cells in the ovaries, of which the severity is dependent on the amount of growth from where it originates. There are four stages – stage one is where the cancer has not spread beyond the ovaries. Stage two shows signs of cancer in the uterus, fallopian tubes, bladder and other pelvic organs. By stage three, the cancer has spread to the lining of the stomach and the lymph nodes. In the final stage, the cancer will have spread to other organs in the body such as the lungs or the liver.
The symptoms of ovarian cancer are difficult to pinpoint as this disease does not always show distinct warning signals. Women should be aware though of the following: general discomfort in the abdominal area, nausea, abdominal swelling, loss of appetite, pelvic pressure pains and a constant back or leg pain. If you have experienced any of these symptoms, it is vital that you speak to your GP to rule out this condition.
Treatment for ovarian cancer generally begins with surgery to remove the ovaries, uterus, fallopian tubes and cervix. In some cases, the lymph nodes are also removed. Chemotherapy or radiation therapy is usually the follow-up treatment as well, depending on the stage at which the patient is at at the time of diagnosis.
It is thought that eating more cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli or cabbage, can help women to live longer, as do high levels of vitamin E – it was noted that supplements didn’t help in this case. Those who have taken the contraceptive pill for long periods of time can also prevent the risk of developing ovarian cancer.
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