Ovarian Cancer
The ovaries are above the womb and are connected to it by the fallopian tubes. In the year 2000 there were 6,734 cases of ovarian cancer in the UK. Approximately 1 in 50 women will get ovarian cancer during her life.
In 2002, 4687 women died of ovarian cancer making it a more common cause of death than cervical or uterine cancer.
Risk Factors
Like most cancers the risk increases with age. Another risk factor is if you carry certain genes. Having children reduces the risk. Infertile women have a higher risk than childless women. Taking the contraceptive pill reduces the risk of ovarian cancer by at least a third, depending on how long it has been taken for.
Some research suggests that being overweight increases your risk of developing ovarian cancer.
Is ovarian cancer hereditary?
The presence of some genes which can run in families increases your risk of ovarian cancer. The BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes increases the risk of breast cancer and also ovarian cancer. The HNPCC gene increases the risk of colon cancer and also ovarian cancer. If you have a close relative (mother, sister or daughter) who has ovarian cancer, your risk increases by 4 times.
Screening
There is no reliable way of screening for ovarian cancer. However the CA125 blood test and vaginal ultrasound are being tested as possible methods of screening for ovarian cancer.
Symptoms
There are few symptoms of ovarian cancer. Normally it can cause pain in the abdomen, feeling bloated, fatigue, weight loss and problems urinating. However these symptoms can also be caused by a number of other illnesses and this makes it difficult to diagnose ovarian cancer by symptoms alone.
There are 2 main tests used to diagnose ovarian cancer:
- • An ultra-sound scan of the abdomen. This scan may be taken from inside the vagina.
- • Measuring the level of the CA125 marker in the blood.
If these tests are positive the patient is referred to a surgeon who will operate to see if the ovaries show any signs of cancer.
Treatment
The type of treatment used depends on how advanced the cancer is and also the age of the patient. Younger patients with early cancer are normally given limited surgery to preserve their fertility.
Older women with more advanced cancers willnormally have their ovaries and womb removed.
If the cancer has spread more tissues may need to be removed to cut out as much of the cancer as possible.