September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

Kacey Flores, PA-C, Physician Assistant, Coastal Gateway Health Center

September marks the beginning of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, a time to support current patients and educate the public on ovarian cancer.

What is Ovarian Cancer?

Ovarian cancer happens when normal cells in the ovary change into abnormal cells and multiply out of control. The ovaries are part of a woman’s reproductive system.

Ovarian cancer most commonly occurs between the ages of 50 and 65 but can happen at any age. Sometimes, ovarian cancer runs in families. Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer death in women in the United States.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of ovarian cancer can include abdominal bloating or fullness, stomach pain, feeling full, needing to urinate often, or feeling like you need to urinate urgently. These symptoms are common with other conditions besides ovarian cancer, but it is important to address any of these symptoms with your practitioner.

Most women with ovarian cancer have no symptoms. It is often found incidentally by imaging studies (such as an ultrasound) or during a pelvic examination. Unfortunately, it is frequently found in advanced stages due to lack of symptoms.

How is it diagnosed?

If your practitioner suspects ovarian cancer, they may order imaging tests to look for abnormal growths, blood tests, or surgery. The only way to know for sure if a person has ovarian cancer is for the ovary to be removed by a surgeon. While the surgery is going on, another doctor will usually look at cells from the ovary under a microscope to check for cancer.  After treatment, you will be checked occasionally to see if the cancer comes back. Follow-up tests usually include blood tests, exams, and imaging tests.

What are the risk factors?

Several risk factors may increase your likelihood for ovarian cancer. These include

being middle-aged or older, never having been pregnant, family history of ovarian cancer, being overweight, personal history of breast, uterine, or colon cancer, and having started menstrual periods at an early age (before age 12) or having gone through menopause at a late age (after age 52).

There is no known way to prevent ovarian cancer, but you may lower your risk by exercising, eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding tobacco products, limiting alcohol consumption, and breastfeeding for 1 year or more if you are able. Talk to your provider about your health history and other preventive strategies.

Don’t let another day go by without learning how to identify this condition. The life you save could be your own, or your mother’s!