Highest rate of women suffering from ovarian cancer arefrom Europe, especially in the regions of Eastern and Northern Europe. In 2012 this number reached a milestone of 65 000 patients, making this disease the sixth most common cancer among women in Europe. About 250,000 women a year get sick from the cancer.
Because of the late detection of this cancer, only 50% of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer survive five years after being diagnosed. This is because the cancer is in a advanced stage. If the cancer is detected early, this percentage can be increased to 95%.
Age does not play any role with this cancer because it can develop among women of all ages, but is most likely to occur in women that are 50 or older. More than 50% of the infected cases are women aged 65 and older. The highest incidence of ovarian cancer is in the industrialized countries. African – American and Asian women are at lower risk than women with white skin.
The risk of developing the disease increases with the age. Ovarian cancer is the second most common gynecologic cancer and the fifth most common cancer among American women. Representing 4% of all cancers that affect women. However, the mortality rate for ovarian cancer is higher than for any other cancer that affects women, because of its late detection.
Symptoms and signs
Usually there are early signs of the disease. Ovarian cancer is often referred to as the silent killer, because women are either not aware of what they have, or the symptoms are not precisely diagnosed until the disease is advanced.
The following symptoms are considered as the main warning signs of ovarian cancer, but there can be many other reasons.
- Pelvic pressure or frequent urination
- Digestive symptoms such as gas, indigestion, constipation or a feeling of fullness after a light meal, bloating, cramping, and abdominal discomfort.
- Unexplained changes in bowel
- Abdominal pain or swelling
- nausea or vomiting
- Loss of appetite (anorexia)
- Unexplained weight loss or weight gain
- pain during intercourse
- Fatigue
- Vaginal bleeding in post-menopausal women
Causes
Until now the science hasn’t found the real causes of ovarian cancer, but several factors are known to increase the chances of developing the disease. Ovarian cancer is more likely to develop in these groups of women:
- White women, especially in Northern Europe
- Women who have never been pregnant or had children
- Women over 50. Half of the diagnosed cases are women over 65.
- Women who had breast cancer
- Women who have a family history of breast, ovarian, endometrial (uterus), prostate or colon cancer
- Women with genetic mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2. (Not all women with these genetic mutations of breast cancer will develop ovarian cancer)
- Women who have a first-degree relative (mother, daughter, sister) diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
Diagnosis
There are no tests that can reliably show if a woman has an early-stage of ovarian cancer. Some diagnostic procedures include a thorough diagnosticlaparoscopy, bimanual pelvic examination and variousx-rayprocedures.
The only thing that can be done is an ultrasound of the abdomen and the lower pelvic region or a transvaginal probe. CA-125 blood test is used to determine the level of CA-125, a tumor marker.Low GI series or barium enema involve series of X-rays to highlight the other organs.
The awareness among women and their gynecologists must be on a high level, because this is more than necessary, to have regular checkups, especially in cases of bloating where the cancer can be detected and diagnosedin an early stage when it can be actually cured.
Regular checkups must be done if you have family history with this disease because you are at high risk. Although it hasn’t been proven, when it comes to treating menopausal symptoms, women are advised to take the smallest dose of hormone replacement therapy in the shortest period possible.
Treating
There are various treatments for this disease. specialists usually advice women diagnosed with ovarian cancer to do a surgery, which involves removal of the uterus, ovaries,tubes and omentum. If the cancer has metastasized, the surgery may include removing of other tissues in the abdomen and pelvis, as well as parts of the colon.
Specialists explain that the recurrence of cancer after surgery can be stopped with chemotherapy. Chemotherapycan be helpful also to reduce the cancer before surgery, especially in advanced stages, and if the disease has reoccurred.
Most treatments are based on platinum agents, and there are many target-therapies. Specialists from many countries practice the treatment with the antibodies that are slowing the blood flow to the cancer. Chemotherapy can be inserted directly into the abdomen. Many researches have been conducted on this topic and have confirmed the positive effect of this hyperthermic peritoneal chemotherapy during surgery.
Radiotherapy is rarely used for ovarian cancer, only in the late stage of the disease in order to reduce pain and bleeding.