Ovarian Cancer is known as a silent killer, because it is often detected too late. It shows the importance of taking the steps to look after your health.
Ovarian Cancer is one of the hardest to treat cancers, because it moves so quickly through the body. There is no cure for it, and there aren’t all-healing remedies out there available for patients that contract it. Simply put, it is a disease that must be caught early, and treated as quickly as possible, to determine what course of action needs to be taken.
What is Ovarian Cancer?
Ovarian cancer is potentially life-threatening malignancies, which develop in one or both of the ovaries. The problems are created by not being able to diagnose that the malignancies exist, and thus it is hard to put the patient through treatment for the specific cancers, if the doctors don’t know that it is there.
Problems With Detection
With Ovarian Cancer, it must be caught early, and to do that, symptoms must be analyzed, and if they show concurrently with other symptoms, tests must be run.
When symptoms do occur, it is VERY important to not brush them off as something that happens everyday. It is important, VERY important, to listen to your body, and try to help it any way possible. Symptoms MUST be taken seriously, and seeing a doctor is the only way to insure that your symptoms are benign.
Potential Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer
*Fluid build-up around the abdomen, causing bloating, pain, pressure or/and discomfort.
*Shortness of breath, caused by fluid build-up in the lungs.
*Gas, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, or frequent urination, due to pressure on the bowels and bladder.
*Extreme loss of appetite, or the feeling of always being full, due to pressure on the stomach.
*Abnormal vaginal bleeding.
*Uncontrollable Fever.
*Back aches.
Separate, the symptoms may seem like nothing at all, but any combination could be something far worse then normal menstrual cycles. If symptoms ever persist, it needs to be checked out immediately.
The Cancer Itself
If Ovarian Cancer is not detected early, it works its way through the system very quickly. Radiation and Chemotherapy become the most viable options, and it becomes a battle against time.
Potential Prevention
Nothing is ever 100% sure to work, but there are studies which say that certain things can help to prevent Ovarian Cancer. Studies say that women who consume fish and vegetables had a lower risk for ovarian cancer. It is also suggested that foods high in specific chemicals called alpha carotene (carrots) and lycopene (tomatoes) may be specifically protective. Eating those foods can really help.
Most importantly all studies say DO NOT SMOKE!
What Else Needs To Be Done
There has to be a better way to determine and test if someone has Ovarian Cancer in the very early stages. Research must be done on the testing phases, and on drugs that can counter-act the cancer itself. More researchers are needed, and more people who are interested in dedicating time and effort to finding a cure for cancer are also always needed. Each of us can never do enough, so it becomes important to get others involved, and help others who may be at risk. Donate your time and money to helping with the goal of finding a cure, and we can stop the unneeded suffering.
I cannot stress how important it is for women to keep their yearly check-ups at their doctor’s office. The few moments of being uncomfortable are well worth the potential of saving your life. If you have questions, ask a doctor you trust, and never keep symptoms a secret from your doctor. Tell them everything, because they are there to try and help you. Likewise trust in your family if they think you should go. It could be the best decision you ever make.
