Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is a cancer that starts in the female reproductive glands, called the ovaries, where the ova (eggs) are produced. Ovarian cancer is the fifth most common type of cancer and is the leading cause of death in female reproductive cancers. The more children a woman has could decrease her risk of developing ovarian cancer. Women with either a personal or family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer also have a higher risk for ovarian cancer.

About Ovarian Cancer

Symptoms for ovarian cancer are often unclear. Usually, they can be attributed to almost anything, not necessarily cancer. In many cases, by the time it is diagnosed, the cancer has usually spread beyond the ovaries. The National Center for Biotechnology Information advises that women who suffer from these symptoms on a daily basis seek medical attention:

Bloating
Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly
Pelvic or abdominal pain
Abnormal menstrual cycles
Constipation
Increased gas
Indigestion
Lack of appetite
Nausea and vomiting
Sense of pelvic heaviness
Swollen abdomen or belly
Unexplained back pain that worsens over time
Vaginal bleeding
Vague lower abdominal discomfort
Weight gain or loss
Excessive hair growth
Increased urinary frequency or urgency

Ovarian cancer is usually treated with surgery at all stages, followed by chemotherapy. Chemo is also used if the cancer returns. Surgery may involve one or more of the following:

Examination, biopsy, or removal of the lymph nodes and other tissues in the pelvis and abdomen
Partial or complete removal of the omentum, the fatty layer that covers and pads organs in the abdomen
Removal of both ovaries and fallopian tubes (bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy)
Removal of the uterus (total hysterectomy)

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