Ovarian Cancer - A Frightening Diagnosis!
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INTRODUCTION: Approximately 15,280 women die every year in the United States from ovarian cancer. Despite this, the 5-year survival rate for ovarian cancer has improved significantly in the last 30 years. The prognosis of ovarian cancer is closely related to the stage at diagnosis. No approved screening method is available for ovarian cancer.
The Mayo Clinic has one of the largest ovarian cancer practices in the US, treating more than 1,200 people in 2006 who had a primary or secondary diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Mayo Clinic uses a large variety of imaging techniques to detect cancer of the ovaries, including PET scans, CT scans and MRIs.
WOMEN: Ovarian cancer is the 7th most common cancer in women in the US, with over 25,000 women newly diagnosed per annum with this disease. It is the 5th leading cause of cancer deaths in women and often does not result in symptoms until the cancer has metatasized extensively. Only about 20 percent of women are diagnosed early, when the disease may still be curable. Cancer of the ovaries usually happens in women past 50 years of age, but it can also affect younger women. About 90% of women who get the disease are older than 40 years of age, with the largest number being aged 55 years or older.
RISK: All women are at risk for ovarian cancer, but older women are more likely to get the disease than younger women. The precise cause of ovarian cancer is unknown, but several risk and contributing factors have been identified. Women who have been pregnant have a 50% decreased risk for developing ovarian cancer compared to women who have not. Oral contraceptive use decreases the risk of ovarian cancer. These factors support the theory that risk for ovarian cancer is related to ovulation and that conditions that suppress this ovulatory cycle play a protective role.
Genetic factors and Family history play an important role in the risk of developing ovarian cancer also. A history of breast cancer increases a woman’s risk of developing ovarian cancer. The lifetime risk for developing ovarian cancer is 1%. This compares to a 4-5% risk when 1 first-degree family member is affected, rising to 7% when 2 relatives are affected.
DISEASE: Early stages of the disease causes minimal, nonspecific, or no symptoms. The disease is rare in patients younger than 40 years, after which the incidence rises. Based on the surgical staging, women are classified as having limited disease (stage I and II) or advanced disease (stage III and IV). Females with limited disease are classified as having low or high risk for recurrence based on the following: Low risk for recurrence includes the following; Grade 1 or 2 disease, No tumor on the outer surface of the ovary, Negative peritoneal cytology, No ascites, Tumor growth confined to the ovaries.
High risk for recurrence includes the following, Grade 3 disease, Preoperative rupture of the capsule, Tumor on the external surface of the ovary, Positive peritoneal cytology, Ascites Tumor growth outside of the ovary, Clear cell tumors, Surgical stage II for postoperative treatment. chemotherapy is indicated in all patients with ovarian cancer except those patients with surgical-pathological stage I disease with low-risk characteristics.
SYMPTOMS: can include a Heavy feeling in pelvis, Pain in lower abdomen, vaginal bleeding, Weight gain or loss, Abnormal periods, Back pain for unknown reasons that gets worse, Gas, Nausea, Vomiting, or Decreased appetite. Symptoms may be caused by something other than cancer, but the only way to know for sure is to see your doctor, nurse, or other health care professional.
Traditionally, it was believed that ovarian cancer does not produce any characteristic symptoms until the tumor is widespread, and that early symptoms of ovarian cancer were not recognizable. However, in June 2007, the American Cancer Society, along with other medical societies including the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation and the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists, released a consensus statement about possible early symptoms of ovarian cancer. This statement was based on research suggesting that some of the early symptoms of ovarian cancer can, in fact, be recognized.
TREATMENT: Treatment is usually surgery followed by treatment with chemotherapy drugs. There are also many combinations of these treatment methods and it is often worthwhile to get a second opinion about treatment before entering into a specific program. The greater the knowledge you have, the easier it is to make decisions about your personal treatment plan. Arlene Dunlop is a breast and ovarian cancer survivor whose treatments have kept her well and out enjoying life.
Conclusion: Ovarian cancer actually represents a group of different tumors that arise from diverse types of tissue contained within the ovary. Ovarian cancer can invade, shed, or spread to other organs. A malignant ovarian tumor can grow and invade organs next to the ovaries, such as the fallopian tubes and uterus. Ovarian cancer often causes signs and symptoms, so it is important to pay attention to your body and know what is normal for you.
Ovarian cancer most often appears in women who are older than 60 (about 50 percent of patients are over age 65), although it may occur in younger females who have a family history of the disease. Cancer of the ovaries is the most common cause of cancer death from gynecologic tumors in the US. Ovarian cancer is diagnosed in about 23,000 female in the United States per year. Cancer of the ovaries is a frightening diagnosis, but coming to it with knowledge and information helps a great deal. The sooner ovarian cancer is found and treated, the greater the chance for recovery.
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What if PMS and IBS and ovarian cancer had the same cause? In my opinion it is ‘blunt force trauma’ from sleep apnea. When a person has an apnea the diaphragm makes multiple efforts at 10 to 15 times normal effort in the attempt to overcome the apnea. The diaphragm is not biased, the trauma is inflicted upon all abdominal organs. The symptoms of IBS and PMS should be an indicator that the sleep apnea should be treated and tests for ovarian cancer should be made. That is the way I see it.
Diagnosing sleep apnea is not easy, especially if you don’t fit the sleep apnea patient profile: “Older overweight men and women after menopause”.
Herr JR. Medical literature implies continuous positive airway pressure might be appropriate treatment for irritable bowel syndrome. Chest. 2002 Sep;122(3):1107.
Herr JR. Is sleep disorder treatment appropriate for premenstrual syndrome? Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2003 Jan;82(1):99