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Ovarian Cancer Survival: the Importance of Early Detection

Thursday, December 3, 2009 6:13:00 AM Posted by Cancer Centers

Buried in the basin, the ovaries are difficult to examine. Thus, cancers affecting them are often discovered late. If improvements are to provide treatment, the prognosis remains closely linked to early care.

Ovarian cancer is the fifth largest female cancers in US, with 4 000 new cases per year. But his prognosis remains very bleak as it is often discovered at a late stage. Panorama from an unknown disease.

Ovarian cancer is relatively uncommon. All too often discovered at a late stage, this cancer is difficult to treat. As it is detected late, ovarian cancer has a fairly bleak prognosis. Each year, 3 800 american die from that cancer. The survival rate of ovarian cancer is just over 30% in 5 years, while for breast cancer, it is about 75%.

Few women are genetically predisposed to ovarian cancer. Genetic factors were responsible for 5 to 10% of cancers of the ovary. Between 160 and 320 women are suffering from a hereditary cancer of the ovary annually. Family mutations of certain genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2 rarely, are known to predispose strongly to this cancer, with an earlier age (before age 50). Alteration of these genes is also responsible for predisposition to breast cancer.

Without benefitiating from screening test, ovarian cancer has long been nicknamed the silent killer because symptoms are supposed to appear at an advanced stage of the disease. Early detection is an incredible challenge: 70 to 90% of women with ovarian cancer detected at a primary stage are still alive five years after diagnosis against only 20 to 30% of those whose cancer was diagnosed at an advanced stage. And unfortunately, the second scenario is more often met ... Some figures show awareness of this scourge, female: 4 488 new cases and 3 508 deaths directly linked to the disease in the year 2006.

Characteristic symptoms: Beware of the trio!
Researchers have followed 1 408 women who were asked to complete an anonymous questionnaire about symptoms experienced with the previous year. Among the proposed events can include pelvic pain, abdominal, low back pain, the urge to urinate, constipation, weight loss, unexplained, and so on. The severity, duration and frequency of these signs were also informed. The same procedure was conducted on 128 women awaiting surgery for pelvic tumors, including ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer is no longer the silent undetectable killer . Even women with cancer at preliminary stages have signs. The diagnosis of ovarian cancer is based on clinical examination, gynecological and a determination of tumor marker, supplemented by medical imaging examinations, including pelvic ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging. But only the surgical exploration allows a complete diagnosis of the local extension of ovarian cancer.

Ovarian Cancer: 7 Early Warning Signs
Ovarian cancer is often called "The Silent Killer" because the symptoms
are so nonspecific and are often blamed on something else. Thus it is possible to have been experiencing early warning signs of this disease for years and not realize anything is seriously wrong. This is very understandable, as the symptoms, if they are seen at all, most often seem benign at first. Cancer is a scary word and most people would prefer to just assume everything is fine and hope whatever is bothering them simply "goes away." However, consider that ovarian cancer statistics show that 70% to 80% of diagnoses are made in late stages when the prognosis is not so good.

To give yourself the best chance at long-term survival and even a complete cure, these are 7 of the symptoms to watch out for:
1. Persistent indigestion.
2. Bloating, feeling of fullness, tightness of clothes.
3. Painful intercourse, or dyspareunia.
4. Pelvic discomfort or pain.
5. Unexplained weight loss or weight gain.
6. Leg pain.
7. Change in character of menstrual periods.

Clearly, some or even most of these symptoms are common enough and could be problematic for women on occasion and most of the time it really is just overindulgence at the local Mexican eatery, too much Turkey dinner, that time of the month, or a strained leg muscle. However, if you experience any of these symptoms consistently on a regular basis it is possible they could be early warning signs of ovarian cancer so have your doctor check you out for peace of mind. Remember, your best chance is an early diagnosis.



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