Ovarian cancer refers to any cancerous growth that begins in the ovary. These cancer cells multiply quickly and can destroy healthy body tissues.
ovarian cancer is the 5th leading cause of cancer- related death among women in the United States.
Ovarian cancer is in stages and the stage should be looked out for during diagnosis.
- Localized- when it only affects the ovaries or fallopian tube and has not spread elsewhere.
- Region- when the ovarian cancer has spread to other places like the uterus.
- Distant- When the Ovarian cancer is present elsewhere in the body and now affects the use of drugs.
When Ovarian cancer is diagnosed early, the treatment can be more effective. However, Ovarian cancer is usually diagnosed at late stage. It is important to remain vigilant and aware of any kind of symptom.
Some symptoms of Ovarian cancer include:
- Bloating
- Frequent urination
- Unexpected vaginal bleeding
- Weight loss
- Lack of appetite
- Fatigue
- Indigestion
Ovarian cancer cells are in three types:
- Epithelia tumor – it forms in the layer of the tissue, outside of the ovaries. About 90% of ovarian cancer are epithelial tumor.
- Stromal tumor- it grows in the human-producing cells. About just 7% of Ovarian cancer are stromal.
- Germ cell tumors- they develop in the egg-producing cells and they are rare to find.
Risk factors of Ovarian cancer can be:
- Family history
- Women above 63 years
- Happy children later in life, or never having children
- Obesity
- Women with breast cancer
