| How prevalent is ovarian cancer?
Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of new cancer
cases, and accounts for 4 per cent of all cancers in women. In women age
35-74, ovarian cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer related deaths.
An estimated one woman of age 55 will develop ovarian cancer during her
lifetime. No reliable statistics is available for India, however, the
American Cancer Society estimates that each year approximately 25,500
new cases of ovarian cancer are diagnosed and 14,500 women die of ovarian
cancer.
What is the general outlook for women diagnosed with
ovarian cancer?
Because each woman diagnosed with ovarian cancer has
a different profile, it is impossible to give a general prognosis. If
diagnosed and treated early, when the cancer is confined to the ovary,
the 5-year survival rate approaches 93 percent (78-98 percent depending
upon tumor type, stage, and grade). Unfortunately, due to ovarian cancer’s
“quiet” symptoms, only 24 percent of all cases are found at this early
stage. Because many ovarian cancers are not detected early, the overall
5-year survival rate for women with ovarian cancer is only between 35
percent and 47 percent, depending upon the type of tumor.
Risk factors, other than family history,
linked to ovarian cancer
While the presence of one or more risk factors may increase
a woman's chance of getting ovarian cancer, it does not necessarily mean
that she will. A woman should be extra vigilant in looking for early symptoms,
however, if she has any of these risk factors:
-
Personal history of Breast, Endometrial, or Colon
cancer;
-
Uninterrupted ovulation (infertility, never used
birth control pills, or no pregnancies);
-
Increasing age.
Some of the symptoms or potential
signs of ovarian cancer
While the symptoms of ovarian cancer (particularly in
the early stages) are often not acute or intense, they are not always
silent if you know what to look for. Some symptoms of ovarian cancer include:
Pelvic or abdominal pain or discomfort;
Vague, but persistent gastrointestinal upsets such
as gas, nausea and indigestion;
Frequency and/or urgency of urination in absence
of an infection;
Unexplained changes in bowel habits;
Unexplained weight gain or weight loss, particularly
weight gain in the abdominal region;
Pelvic and/or abdominal swelling, bloating, and/or
feeling of fullness;
Pain during intercourse;
Ongoing fatigue;
Abnormal postmenopausal bleeding (this symptom is
rare).
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Chemotherapy
