But other than knowing that ovarian cancer is difficult to diagnose and it’s survival rate is not good because of the difficulty diagnosing it in the early stages, how much do you know about it?

Ovarian cancer, one of the gynecological cancers, along with uterine, endometrial, cervical and vaginal cancers, affects mostly women over the age of 50, or post menopause. Younger women do develop ovarian cancer but it’s not as common. While doctors don’t know what causes ovarian cancer, they do know that fertility and menopause play a role, showed by the rising number of older women who develop it.

Why is it hard to diagnose?

The symptoms of ovarian cancer are very vague and could easily be mistaken for other, much less serious health problems. And, although they may be uncomfortable, many women end up managing to live with them. The symptoms may include:

• Bloating in the abdomen
• Cramping
• Gas
• A feeling of pressure in the abdomen
• Unexplained changes in bowel habits, such as constipation
• Changes in bladder habits, including a frequent need to urinate
• Pain during intercourse (dyspareunia)
• Low back pain
• Changes in menstruation

Some women are diagnosed when they visit their doctor for a regular check up. Unfortunately, many women stop going for gynecological check ups once they’ve finished menopause because they feel that they no longer need this type of care. Since ovarian cancer strikes later in life, it shows that these examinations are important, no matter what age you are.

Testing

In order to diagnose ovarian cancer, your doctor would send you for various tests from blood tests to imaging (ultrasounds, magnetic resonance imaging). If your doctor continues to suspect ovarian cancer, then you may have to undergo a biopsy to have sample of the ovary tissue sent for testing.

Treatment

If caught early enough, removal of the ovaries, called an oopherectomy, can get rid of all the cancer. Some women also require removal of the uterus, a hysterectomy. Chemotherapy may also be needed.

Survival rate

Survival rate for early ovarian cancer is good. The American Cancer Society reports early ovarian cancer to have a survival rate of 93%. Unfortunately, only about 20% of ovarian cancer is diagnosed early. For late, more advanced ovarian cancer, the survival rate hovers around 30%.

Risks and prevention

Although doctors don’t know what causes ovarian cancer or how to prevent it, they do know that some women have a higher risk of devloping it. These include women who:

• have a family history of ovarian cancer
• are older
• have never had a child
• take some types of hormone replacement therapy

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Part of the Let’s Talk About… Series

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Post from: Blisstree

Let’s Talk About…Ovarian Cancer

If a woman develops ovarian cancer in her child-bearing years and hasn’t had children, a big concern often becomes preserving fertility because treatment is usually a hysterectomy and oopherectomy – removal of the uterus and ovaries.

Researchers from New York looked at data involving women under the age of 50 years who were diagnosed with stage I ovarian cancer between 1988 and 2004. The first analysis involved women who had either one or both ovaries removed, and the second looked at women who had hysterectomy versus not having one

According to a press release issued by the American Cancer Society,

For their first analysis, the researchers identified 1,186 ovarian cancer patients. While most had both ovaries removed, about one in three (36 percent) had one ovary conserved. They found those in whom one ovary was saved had similar survival for up to at least five years.

To examine the effect of uterine preservation, the investigators studied a total of 2,911 women. While most of the women underwent hysterectomy, about one in four (23 percent) had uterine preservation. Uterine preservation also had no effect on survival.

This is good news for women who would like to try to preserve their fertility.

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Photo courtesy of PhotoXpress.com

Post from: Blisstree

Ovarian Cancer, Young Women & Fertility

The peritoneal is the lining of the inside wall of the abdomen. It also covers the uterus, bladder and rectum. According to UCSF Medical Center, the symptoms for peritoneal cancer are also very similar to those for ovarian cancer: abdominal discomfort and pain, feeling full even after a light meal, weight gain or loss with no explanation, and abnormal bleeding.

I came across this topic about the possibilities of ovarian cancer after hysterectomy while reading a recent Q&A at Mayo Clinic, a source used for this post.

If you have questions about your risk and whether Pap tests or other tests should be continued after a hysterectomy, it’s best to discuss your individual case with your doctor.

(Image via stock.xchng)

Post from: Blisstree

Ovarian Cancer After Hysterectomy?

I should have prefaced that with a little tidbit about me, well actually it is one of those TMI (too much information), but necessary in the story. I had to have a complete hysterectomy after the birth of my third daughter, so all of it is gone in there. The specifics are too much to go into on this post, it is for another time, but the point is that I do not get a monthly cycle anymore.

I am one of those people that believes that you still feel all the signs and symptoms of a period, and you will never convince me otherwise. Whether it is physical or emotional I could tell you the date without a calendar and just listening to my body. With that being said, my blood sugars took a drastic dip this past weekend, they were in the toilet with no rhyme or reason. And it would have totally been my monthly cycle time.

So, is it related? When I woke this AM to the highest blood sugar in the past week or so, I realized that I was not so “hormonal” anymore. I know in menopause, women’s blood sugars can fluctuate on the low side, but I should be done menopause by my labs. Who knows, maybe it is just some far reach to wrap my brain around this whole up and down thing.

I still have another 5 weeks till I see the endocrinologist. I will keep on keepin’ track of my blood sugars, diet, exercise and body changes. Ugh, it is frustrating though having to wait and watch while my body doesn’t want to cooperate. Not that it is horrible by any means, many have it way worse of then me. It is not the end of the world, just annoying and worrisome.

Post from: Blisstree

Could Hormonal Changes Be Affecting My Blood Sugar?