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"What are the common symptoms to ovarian cancer that we must watch out for?"

 
Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading type of cancer among females with increasing incidence in women in their 40s according the Philippine statistics compiled by our Department of Health. Ovarian cancer is quite difficult to detect in the early stages unlike cervical cancer. Hence the case mortality (risk of dying for every case detected) is higher for it even in developed countries like the United States where only one out of five cases are detected early enough to achieve successful treatment (93 per cent survival rate in five years), as observed by the American Cancer Society in 2007.
 
By the time the dreaded symptoms of ovarian cancer are felt, such as abdominal enlargement either due to the tumor or to the fluid within the abdominal cavity produced by the tumor, the cancer is already in the advanced stages.
 
A yearly pelvic exam helps early detection of the tumor. This can be performed by the health provider after a pap smear is performed. A pelvic ultrasound (transvaginal preferably for greater accuracy) can be added if additional funds are available to detect ovarian enlargement or masses not felt by the examiner. The latter is especially more important among women who are overweight or obese, thus making examination difficult. It is also indicated for women who have symptoms such as nearly a month’s persistence of pelvic pain, feeling full or bloated, and/or a frequently urgent need to urinate.

 

'The mortality rate for ovarian cancer is higher than cervical cancer because it is more diffcult to detect'

 
Women at higher risk of having ovarian cancer should visit their health provider annually—these are women above 40, those who have never had children or those who have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer. Blood markers may be requested, such as CA-125. The interpretation of such results, however, should be done by the health provider since there are many conditions that may cause an elevation of CA-125 apart from ovarian cancers alone.
 
Surgery and chemotherapy are the mainstays in the treatment of ovarian cancers. The success of the treatment will depend on the staging of the cancer. It is not known for sure how we can prevent this type of cancer but it will help immensely if we are able to detect it early.