Ovarian cancer is treatable when recognized early before it begins to spread beyond the ovaries. However, the signs can be a bit deceptive, making about 9 out of 10 people not notice any discernible signs within the early stages. Yet, there are a few unobtrusive side effects you ought to be concerned about.
What are the risk factors to consider with ovarian cancer?
With most types of cancers, there is barely a way of knowing if one is vulnerable to getting the illness. However, some factors increase the chances of getting ovarian cancer.
Age Factor: In most cases and for everyone, age has a significant role to play in the body as one age. Middle-aged or older ladies are at risk of the illness. Additionally, if there is a close family member who has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer and any history of endometriosis, there is a high chance of its occurrence.
Ethnicity
Women of Eastern and European origin should be mindful. For the average Nigerian woman, ovarian cancer isn’t strange to women of this region. It is said to be the 6th most popular kind of cancer and the 2nd most widespread gynaecological cancer.
In 2021, Global Cancer Incidence Mortality And Prevalence (GLOBOCAN) estimated that there will be 313,959 new diagnoses of ovarian cancer worldwide. Ovarian cancer is on the rise in some West African countries and genetics, environmental and reproductive factors are somewhat influencing it. Studies carried out by scientists have predicted an exponential rise of ovarian cancer in the year 2040 in Africa and the Caribbean. This, therefore, calls for a health care boost towards the prediction to save lives.
Unfortunately, the awareness of ovarian cancer among Nigerian women is poor. A result of poor awareness and poorly equipped facilities is the lower chance of survival. Hence, women and girls need to be educated on all that concerns ovarian cancer and their health.
Warning Signs Of Ovarian Cancer
One of the many early signs of ovarian cancer may appear like those of common health conditions such as urinary tract infections or irritable bowel syndrome. In that case, one is likely to be dismissive of such symptoms without taking a trip to the doctor.
This stalling delays treatment and increases the chances of it spreading to other parts of the body. When this happens and sadly does in a large percentage of cases, it diminishes the survival rate in patients.
Some other symptoms that can go unnoticed include:
Are you on your period and bloating is usually an obvious sign?
Bloating can as well happen due to a type of food eaten. Where bloating becomes worrisome is in its persistence. Bloating could be a sign of ovarian cancer and should be reported to a medical professional.
Abdominal and pelvic pain: This is one of such symptoms that is usually linked among most patients which they say is similar to having menstrual cramps. If this lingers, then extra medical attention should be given to it.
Have you noticed a new pattern recently? This pertains to feeling like the bladder is full even after urinating or a burning feeling that is experienced while urinating. There is a routine change in bathroom usage that is accompanied by frequent urination, a sudden increase in constipation and diarrhoea.
More subtle signs that your body speak to you that something might be wrong that are taken into consideration are loss of appetite, ingestion, back pain, pain during sex and change in the menstrual cycle. Do they sound familiar? Have they been persistent? Why not try talking to a healthcare practitioner.
Measures To Take
Some measures can limit the chances of ovarian cancer and they include taking birth control pills, removal of the fallopian tube, tubal ligation, removal of the fallopian tubes and ovaries and pregnancy.
Other cases of individuals likely to have ovarian cancer are people who have had other types of cancers such as breast, colorectal or uterine cancer. But thanks to science, there are modern treatments found to recoil tumours in ovarian cancer patients. This basic blood test may spare you from ovarian cancer and some other forms of cancer.
Note that close similarity with many other conditions often leads to the wrong diagnosis. Hence, ask all your questions at the doctors’ office.
