Six Sobering Statistics: What You Need to Know About Ovarian ...

By Dr. Emma Rossi

1 in 71. That?s each woman?s lifetime risk of developing ovarian cancer ? an aggressive, drug-resistant and deadly disease. Perhaps one of the biggest obstacles to curing this disease is the absence of screening tests, like a Pap smear or mammogram, to detect ovarian cancer at an early stage.

Without this test, it is imperative for each woman to be aware of her own personal risk and how to decrease it, as well as the often-overlooked symptoms of ovarian cancer. Below are six important things you should know about ovarian cancer.

1. A woman is diagnosed every 24 minutes. The American Cancer Society estimates more than 22,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2012. Another 15,000 will succumb to the disease.
2. Overall five-year survival is less than 50 percent. Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer death in women and is the deadliest of all gynecologic cancers. It is often referred to as a ?silent killer? because most cases are not caught until the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes or other organs, making it more difficult to treat. If caught early, survival rates are greater than 90 percent.
3. Nine in 10 cases are not genetic. Most ovarian cancers are caused by random changes ? or mutations ? in the cells on the surface of the ovaries. Only one in 10 ovarian cancers are caused by a genetic mutation that increases her likelihood of developing ovarian cancer, and often other cancers too such as breast cancer.
4. Only 15 percent of cases are diagnosed early.? Symptoms of ovarian cancer ? abdominal bloating, increased abdominal size, nausea, pelvic pain and pressure, changes in bowel habits, and difficulty eating ? overlap with many mild gastrointestinal conditions and are often dismissed as such. Make an appointment with your OB-GYN if these symptoms are new, coexist with other symptoms, occur almost daily (or about 20 times per month over two months), are persistent, or are more severe than expected.
5. Extra pounds increase risk by 80 percent. Obese women ? or approximately one third of women in the United States ? are more likely to develop ovarian cancer. Diets high in saturated fats can also increase your risk. Meat and dairy products, such as cream, butter and cheese, tend to contain high levels of saturated fats. Moderation is key.
6. Risk increases with the number of periods. Starting your period early in life or starting menopause late can increase your risk of developing ovarian cancer. This relationship has to do with how long your body is exposed to increased levels of estrogen. Interestingly, birth control pills taken for five or more years can lower your risk by about 50 percent.

Dr. Emma Rossi is a gynecologic oncologist at Indiana University Health and an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at IU School of Medicine. She specializes in the diagnosis and treatment ? including robotic surgery ? of ovarian, cervical and uterine cancers.

Source: http://hopeforwomenmag.com/hope-tv/health-wellness/six-sobering-statistics-what-you-need-to-know-about-ovarian-cancer

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