There are several factors that increase a person's risk of developing this disease. Women who give birth earlier in life are less likely to get this cancer. Additionally, the more children they have, the lower the risk will be. Women who have inherited BRCA1 or BRCA 2 gene mutation are at greater risk than those who have not. Women with personal or family history of ovarian and breast cancer should be more careful about their health since they are at greater risk of developing the disease. Age is another major risk factor; most deaths caused by this disease occur in women age 55 and older.

As with other types of cancer, ovarian cancer is indeed a very scary disease. However, it does not mean that it can't be cured. If the tumor is detected early, there is a 90 percent chance it will be cured. If the cancer is detected late and has already spread to other parts of the body, the chance of survival is lower and it can even lead to death. Hence, you need to know what the early symptoms of ovarian cancer are.

When the tumor is in its early states, it tends to show warning signs which are often mistaken for symptoms of other diseases such as digestive and bladder problems. These include abdominal pain, bloating, difficulty eating, and feeling full quickly. Additionally, sufferers may also experience other symptoms such as abnormal menstrual cycles, heavy feeling in pelvic area, swollen abdomen, back pain, digestive problems (such as lack of appetite, indigestion, constipation, nausea and vomiting, weight gain or loss), excessive hair growth, as well as increased urinary frequency.

These symptoms are likely to be persistent and they tend to worsen over time. If you have experienced any of these symptoms for more than a week, you need to seek medical attention immediately. Your doctor will be able to tell if they are indeed symptoms of ovarian cancer or if they indicate other diseases. If you do have ovarian cancer, your doctor should be able to determine the suitable treatment options based on the diagnosis.

By James Liuh