Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is one of the deadliest "women's cancers". While there is nothing unusually aggressive about ovarian malignancy, nor are the ovaries particularly close to any especially vital organs, the basic difficulty of accurately diagnosing ovarian cancer means it is rarely caught until a late stage of the disease. While breast cancer is often diagnosed when it is still limited to a small portion of one breast, and cervical cancer can often be 'caught' before it even becomes full-blown cancer, ovarian cancer is often asymptomatic in the early stages, and the symptoms later on are easily confused with the symptoms of other, more benign, issues.

Any woman who experiences a 'cluster' of the following symptoms, lasting two or more weeks in duration, should schedule a pelvic exam with her gynaecologist, specifically mentioning concern about ovarian cancer as something the doctor should look into:

General Symptoms:

• a feeling of 'heaviness' or 'fullness' in the abdomen
• unexplained vaginal bleeding
• sudden, unusual weight gain or weight loss
• abnormal menstrual cycles (especially if a new development)
• chronic, worsening back pain, for no apparent reason
• abdominal bloating, not related to monthly cycle

Gastrointestinal symptoms:

• lower abdominal discomfort
• sudden/unexplained increased gas
• increased indigestion, nausea and vomiting
• unusual lack of appetite/unable to eat a lot
• unexplained bloating

Other possible symptoms:

• more frequent urination than usual
• sudden excessive hair growth

Because ovarian cancer can be so hard to diagnose in the early stages, it is important to test for as many known risk factors as possible if you have any family history of ovarian cancer whatsoever. Genetic screening for mutations of the BRCA1 or the BRCA2 gene is one option, as abnormalities in these two genes are linked to both ovarian and breast cancer. Also, a family history of uterine cancer, colon cancer, or other cancer of the gastrointestinal tract may also indicate strong genetic risk factors for ovarian cancer.

While genetic screening is relatively expensive and sometimes difficult to obtain, the American Cancer Society funded a study at a US university showing a correlation between high levels of lysophospholipid fatty acids and later development of ovarian cancer. A simple blood test can measure your lysophospholipid levels, and it proved 93% effective in predicting ovarian cancer (less than 4% false positives), so it's worthwhile to request the blood test from your doctor if you are concerned.

Such screening methods may one day prove as effective in predicting ovarian cancer as the Pap smear has proven in preventing cervical cancer. However, until these tests become a routine part of medical care for women, you must take responsibility for your own preventative care, and request testing if you feel you might be at risk.

If you find you are in a high-risk group, you may want to consider a double oophorectomy (having both ovaries removed) when you are no longer interested in bearing children. While the possible risks associated with hormone replacement therapy are nothing to dismiss, it is much easier to manage than it is to reliably detect ovarian cancer in its early, easy to treat stages.

Ovarian Cancer Links

UK Department of Health