Ovarian Cancer: Test and Symptoms

We all need to do more to eradicate ovarian cancer. It's difficult to detect, which means once it is detected, it's often very advanced. Therefore, the survival rate is lower than other cancers.

About 20,000 American women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer every year. Ninety percent are over age 40, and most of those, are over age 60.

We should be educated about the symptoms. When we experience the symptoms we must insist on biopsies. Unfortunately, sometimes doctors miss the opportunity to diagnose ovarian cancer early by assuming the symptoms are something less serious.

In fact a study conducted by the University of California Davis Cancer Center found that a full 25 percent of women with apparent signs of early stage ovarian cancer are not receiving biopsies to test for it.

Also, patients should ask for blood tests that can detect ovarian cancer even if they are not experiencing any symptoms at all.

The symptoms of Ovarian Cancer are:

- Heavy feeling in the pelvis
- Pain in the lower abdomen
- Bleeding from the vagina (especially after menopause)
- Weight gain or loss
- Abnormal periods
- Unexplained back pain that gets worse
- Gas, nausea,vomiting, or loss of appetite

As you can see, those symptoms are the same as other conditions , such as irritable bowel syndrome. In fact, oftentimes ovarian cancer is misdiagnosed as IBS.

There are some tests for ovarian cancer, but many doctors do not do them unless asked. Women age 50 and over are urged to get them.

They are the CA-125 blood test, a transvaginal ultrasound and a rectovaginal pelvic exam.

Anyone can get ovarian cancer, but you are at higher risk if you:

- Have a relative who's had it
- Had trouble conceiving children
- Never gave birth
- Have had a different type of cancer such as colorectal, uterine or breast cancer
- Have endometriosis
- Have an Eastern European Jewish background
- Are over age 40

There are some things that lower your risk for ovarian cancer, such as:

- Exercising often
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Eating a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables
- Taking birth control pills for more than 5 years
- Having a hysterectomy
- Having tubal ligation, also known as "having your tubes tied"

Hopefully by changing our behavior and taking advantage of testing, we can reduce the incidence of ovarian cancer and catch it earlier, thus improving survival rates.