Maxwell Adeyemi

OVARIAN cancer can be very stealthy in its “attack” on women. Notwithstanding this fact, ovarian cancer gives signs and shows symptoms which most people clearly miss until it is too late.

Evidence suggests that this cancer begins in the fallopian tubes and moves to the ovaries, the twin organs that produce a woman’s eggs and the main source of the female hormones, estrogen and progesterone.

Ovarian cancer symptoms

The symptoms of the disease include: bloating or pressure in the belly; pain in the abdomen or pelvis, feeling full too quickly during meals and urinating more frequently.

These symptoms can be caused by many conditions that are not cancer. If they occur persistently for more than a few weeks, seek a medical opinion.

Major predisposing risk factors

Family history: A woman’s odds of developing ovarian cancer are higher if a close relative has had cancer of the ovaries, breast, or colon. Researchers believe that inherited genetic changes account for ten per cent of ovarian cancers. This includes the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations, which are linked to breast cancer. Women with a strong family history should talk with a doctor to see whether closer medical follow-up could be helpful.

Age: The strongest risk factor for ovarian cancer is age. It’s most likely to develop after a woman goes through menopause. Using postmenopausal hormone therapy may increase the risk. The link seems strongest in women who take estrogen without progesterone for at least five to ten years.

Obesity: Obese women have a higher risk of getting ovarian cancer than other women. And the death rates for ovarian cancer are higher for obese women too, compared with non-obese women. The heaviest women appear to have the greatest risk.

Ovarian cancer screening tests

There is no easy or reliable way to test for ovarian cancer if a woman has no symptoms. However, there are two ways to screen for ovarian cancer during a routine gynaecologic exam.

1. One is a blood test for elevated levels of a protein called CA-125.

2. The other is an ultrasound of the ovaries. Unfortunately, neither technique has been shown to save lives when used in women of average risk. For this reason, screening is only recommended for women with strong risk factors.

Diagnosing ovarian cancer

Imaging tests, such as ultrasound or CT scans, can help reveal an ovarian mass. But these scans cannot determine whether the abnormality is cancer. If cancer is suspected, the next step is usually surgery to remove suspicious tissues.

A sample is then sent to the laboratory for further examination. This is called a biopsy which indicates the stage of the cancer.

Stages of ovarian cancer

The initial surgery for ovarian cancer also helps determine how far the cancer has spread, described by the following stages:

Stage I: Confined to one or both ovaries

Stage II: Spread to the uterus or other nearby organs

Stage III: Spread to the lymph nodes or abdominal lining

Stage IV: Spread to distant organs, such as the lungs or liver

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