The cancer that begins in the female organs such as ovaries is called as ovarian cancer. And it is no more a silent killer, doctors and specialists say it does have symptoms but they are non-specific. So many people do not take it seriously and only realise when the cancer spreads, reaches to the advanced state. One should never ignore and be attentive to ongoing abnormalities like:
- Severe bloating
- Pelvic or abdominal pain
- Difficulty in eating or feeling full quickly
- Frequent urine urging
- Breast tenderness
- Vaginal secretions
- Enlarging abdominal mass
- Facial hair growth in prepubertal girls
See the doctor, if you have those unusual symptoms more than 12 times in a month. Dr. Neelima Mantri is the Best Lady Gynaecologist in Mumbai and also for infertility treatment, consult her for special care and a complete understanding of the cancer.
Causes of Ovarian Cancer:
The exact causes of the cancer are not known, but it is higher in women who has one or more ovarian risk factors. Let us learn what are those risk factors behind ovarian cancer.
Age: It is the key factor and most women who are found with the cancer are at menopause state. However, woman in their 40s and 50s have also been diagnosed with the disease. But some studies proved that some types of ovarian cancer are more common in teens and young women than in older women.
Inheritance: Over 20 to 25 percent of diagnosed women have the tendency to develop the disease. But there is no scientifically proven evidence that cervical cancer is inherited. An abnormal gene that leads to cancer can be inherited, but not the cancer itself.
Reproductive system: Women who are pregnant and conceived the baby before 26 years of age are less likely to get effected than others. Women who have their first full term pregnancy after 35 years of age have higher risk of ovarian cancer. Breastfeeding may lower the risk even further.
Obesity: Over weight gain has been the problem for many health complications. It is found to be a risk factor for a number of different cancers, including breast, colon, esophagus, pancreas, ovaries. It is not the primary factor but one of them. Obesity increases the estrogen levels which leads to breast and ovarian cancers. A study on 94,525 U.S. women found that an association between obesity and increased risk for ovarian cancer.
Talcum Powder: Yes, you have read it right! Have you ever been told if talcum powder is directly applied to genital area or sanitary napkins may be cancer-causing? Before 1970’s, talcum powder was manufactured with cancer-causing component called asbestos; some companies continued using them for many years.
Besides these, there are many factors like birth control, tubal ligation, fertility drugs, diet, smoking and alcohol use.
In the bottom-line, risk factors don’t tell us everything and do not mean that you will get the cancer. Even if a woman is suffering from ovarian cancer, it is not easy to tell which factor is contributed to the cancer. Fortunately, ovarian cancer is relatively rare but it is deadly. There are medical treatments and curable and symptoms to identify them.
