Ovarian Cancer… The Silent Killer

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, just as next month shall be Breast Cancer Awareness Month. However, unlike breast cancer, there is no such thing as a screening test for ovarian cancer and unfortunately, there are minimal early signs and symptoms. Ovarian cancer is often called a silent killer since the symptoms that may appear are frequently within the later stages of the cancer; and even when these symptoms do appear, many ladies are unaware of the danger and may easily mistake them for harmless conditions. Ovarian cancer awareness and education are extremely necessary and should be a top priority!

Ovarian Cancer Facts

• Ovarian cancer is the second commonest style of cancer of the feminine reproductive organs. More women die from ovarian cancer than from cervical and uterine cancers combined.
• Ovarian cancer accounts for under 3% of all cancers in women, but it surely causes more deaths every year than some other cancer of the feminine reproductive system (CDC, 2017).
• 1 in 78 women shall be diagnosed with ovarian cancer, with 70% of the disease being diagnosed at a complicated stage (American Cancer Society, 2019).
• Ovarian cancer often presents at a more advanced stage and has the next reoccurrence rate and poorer survival rates than other sorts of cancer.
• THERE IS NO TEST FOR EARLY DETECTION OF OVARIAN CANCER.
• The cause just isn’t clear, but certain aspects may increase a lady’s risk of ovarian cancer.

Signs and symptoms

One of the primary reasons ovarian cancer is so deadly is that it rarely causes any symptoms in its early stages. By the time symptoms do appear, the cancer is generally more advanced, making it harder to treat. Many women can have some symptoms but mistake them for “normal.” Every woman, especially those that are middle-aged or older, needs to be often informed in regards to the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer:

• Irregular vaginal bleeding
• Pain or pressure within the pelvic area
• Abdominal or back pain
• Flatulence
• Feeling full quickly or having difficulty eating
• Changing bathroom habits

Awareness is vital! Women should be often informed in regards to the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer; hopefully this may result in early detection and treatment! So, while all of us recognize pink in October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, let’s be sure we spend September wearing turquoise and raising awareness and education about ovarian cancer. Perhaps this silent killer will turn out to be more of a whisper!

American Cancer Society. (2019). Key Ovarian Cancer Statistics. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.org/cancer/ovarian-cancer/about/key-statistics.html

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. (2017). Epidemiology of Ovarian Cancer within the United States Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/gynecologic/provider-education/ovarian/epidemiology.htm

Slatnik, C. & Duff, E. (2015). Ovarian cancer: ensuring early diagnosis. The Nurse Practitioner, 40(9). doi: 10.1097/01.NPR.0000450742.00077.a2

National Comprehensive Cancer Network. (2019). Ovarian cancer, including fallopian tube cancer and first peritoneal cancer, version 1.2019. Retrieved from https://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/pdf/ovarian.pdf