Ovarian Cancer Chest Pain
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Can Ovarian Cancer Be Prevented
The majority of women have at least one risk factor or two for ovarian cancer. These common factors generally only slightly increase your risk. Risk factors havent helped prevent most cancer cases as of now. There are some ways you can reduce your risk for epithelial ovarian cancer. There is little known about lowering the risk of stromal tumors or germ cell problems in the ovaries. The following discussion is of epithelial ovarian cancer, specifically.
Some strategies may only provide a minor reduction, while others are more helpful. Some may be easy to try, while others involve surgery. If you are worried about ovarian cancer, you should speak with your doctor, so they can help you develop a plan.
Oral Contraceptives
Taking birth control pills, or oral contraceptives can lower the risk of ovarian cancer, particularly for those who use them for several years. Those who used birth control pills for five or more years saw as much as a fifty percent decrease in risk of ovarian cancer compared to those who didnt take the pill for so long. Its important to think about the side effects and risk of birth control pills if youre considering using them. It should be discussed with your doctor to see if it is right for you.
Gynecologic Surgery
A hysterectomy or even tubal ligation can risk your chance of ovarian cancer. Generally, doctors agree these procedures should be reserved for medical reasons other than prevention of cancer.
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How Is Ovarian Cancer Staged
Staging is a way of labeling how far your cancer has spread. When your provider stages cancer, several factors are considered, including:
- Which organs are impacted by the cancerous cells. Your provider will want to determine if the cancer is in one ovary, both, or in if its spread to other nearby organs in the pelvis, abdomen or elsewhere.
- Cancerous cells have a few ways that they can spread throughout your body. Ovarian cancer can spread directly through the pelvis and abdomen, through the lymph nodes, or through blood vessels.
There are four stages to ovarian cancer. The least severe is the lowest number. The more serious the condition, the higher the number.
Staging is important because it will help your healthcare provider craft a treatment plan for you. Your healthcare provider will discuss this plan with you and talk about the best types of treatment for you.
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Wednesday 11 April 2018
Sandra Fenton was 67 when she was diagnosed with stage four ovarian cancer. Looking back, she realised shed been experiencing symptoms for some time.
She had excuses for tiredness and lethargy: she was busy preparing to move from New Zealand back to Australia to help look after her grandchildren.
She says, I was working 10 hour shifts and preparing to move. I was tired, but I was working so much.
It made sense: even her doctor at the time agreed that this was probably the case.
She also had lower pelvic pain, but nothing extreme.
It was more of a niggle, Sandra says. I didnt realise it was a symptom.
While it seems logical to expect a disease as serious as cancer to cause serious pain, in Sandras case, the twinge in her stomach was easy to dismiss.
After arriving back in Australia, Sandra still didnt feel quite right, but put it down to the stress of the move and adjusting from the cool New Zealand climate to the hot and humid end of an Ipswich summer.
I felt lethargic, I became withdrawn, but I put it down to the heat. I used to love dancing, but instead I stayed home in my room. I had horrendous night sweats, but I thought it was because I was still going through the change.
It wasnt until one morning in January when she woke up with an extremely bloated stomach that Sandra knew something was very wrong.
But, after enduring a long period of treatment first chemotherapy and then surgery Sandra made it through and is now happily cancer free.
Very Worried That I Could Have Ovarian Cancer
Hi everyone. I’ve been feeling very worried and was hoping for any advice anyone could offer, or even just a bit of understanding.
I went to my gp a few weeks before Christmas because of pelvic pain that had been going on for a week or so. Every single morning when I wake up I have a horrible burning pain in the same place on my right side. This eases once I’m up as moving around but comes back during the day, especially if I’m sitting down. It also spreads lower down and to my lower back too. This has been happening for around 4 or 5 weeks now.
My GP referred me to a gynaecologist who didn’t do anything except say that it won’t be cancer because I had a clear smear in February, which I thought was an odd thing to say because ovarian cancer wouldn’t be detected with a smear. He referred me for an ultrasound scan.
I went back to my gp because I was so worried and he felt my tummy and said he couldn’t feel anything but it sounded from where I was pointing to that it was something to do with my ovaries, maybe a cyst.
My appointment for my ultrasound is 23rd January which seems forever away. I’m getting really worried and I just wanted to know what is going on.
Ive also had breast pain and nausea, to the point where I thought I must be pregnant! But I’m definitely not.
I just feel very worried and the wait seems so long. I have had no other test or examinations except for the gp I saw recently feeling my tummy and doing a urine test
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How Is Ovarian Cancer Treated
The goal in treating cancer is to remove as much, if not all, cancer from your body as possible. If you have ovarian cancer, this most often involves the removal of your reproductive organs and any organ that has cancer on it, including segments of the intestine and the omentum a fatty material covering the intestines.
Surgical removal of ovarian cancer can be done through a procedure called a laparoscopy or during a laparotomy. A laparotomy is a procedure where the doctor opens the abdomen using a larger incision and is able to remove the ovaries. Other organs where the cancer may have spread can also be removed during this procedure.
Your healthcare provider may recommend chemotherapy either before or after surgery depending upon multiple factors including the extent of your cancer at the time of diagnosis. Chemotherapy are drugs designed to target and kill cancerous cells.
After ovarian cancer has been treated, your healthcare provider will want to regularly see you for observation. You may have routine appointments to check and make sure the cancer hasnt returned over time. During these appointments, your provider may go through any possible symptoms and do an exam. Be mindful of any symptoms you may be having and tell your provider about them. Sometimes, your provider may order imaging tests, typically a CT scan.
Broadcaster Sarah Green Raises Awareness For Ovarian Cancer
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Ovarian cancer is one of the most common cancers to be diagnosed in women, but it’s rarely spotted in its earlier stages. You may be at risk of the disease if you develop an unusual skin rash.
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What Are The Most Common Symptoms Of Ovarian Cancer
The symptoms of ovarian cancer are typically vague and early-stage ovarian cancer has no symptoms. This means that ovarian cancer often goes undiagnosed until its later stages, when the cancer is more likely to have spread.
Common symptoms of ovarian cancer include:
- Unexplained and frequent bloating
- Menstrual changes
- Weight loss
When ovarian cancer recurs, symptoms are the same as those above. If you have a history of ovarian cancer and are experiencing any of the symptoms noted, contact your healthcare provider immediately.
Signs Of Ovarian Cancer You Could Be Missing
– September 19, 2018
Ovarian cancer is known as the silent killer.
Early stages of the disease often cause no symptoms and the cancer has usually spread by the time it is diagnosed. When the disease is finally detected, it is often difficult to treat.
Ovarian cancer causes more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system.
The American Cancer Society estimates more than 22,000 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer and more than 14,000 women will die in the United States this year.
Women are likely to have symptoms if the disease has spread. They include:
Gynecological oncologist Dr. Mitchel Hoffman says these symptoms are also commonly caused by non-cancerous diseases or other conditions. When they are caused by ovarian cancer, they tend to be persistent and occur more often than normal or are more severe. You should see a doctor if you have these symptoms more than 12 times a month.
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What Is Brca1 Or Brca2
Normally, BRCA1 and BRCA2 are tumor suppressor genes that halt abnormal cell growth in the ovaries. If 1 of these genes mutates, it can increase your risk of developing cancer. You have a 50% chance of inheriting the BRCA gene mutation if 1 of your parents has it.
Women with a mutation in either their BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes have 10-to-30 times increased risk of ovarian cancer. BRCA1 increases the chance of ovarian cancer even more than BRCA2.
Genetic testing for BRCA1 or BRCA2 gives you information about your predisposition of developing ovarian cancer. While it sounds rare, 1 in every 500 women in the United States has a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation.
When To Seek Medical Help
Most abdominal pain and breast tenderness symptoms will subside after a menstrual period or with time. However, you should see a doctor if your symptoms last consistently for two weeks or if your abdominal pain increases or affects your ability to eat and drink. It is important to seek medical attention immediately if these symptoms are accompanied by fever.
Make an appointment to see your physician if you also have the following symptoms:
- menstrual cramps that disrupt your life for multiple days
- bloody or brown discharge from your nipple
- changing lumps in your breast tissue
- inability to sleep or perform daily tasks due to your symptoms
- loss of control over bladder or bowel movements
- one-sided lumps in your breast tissue
- positive home pregnancy test
Your physician may recommend tests, such as a mammogram or ultrasound, to evaluate abnormalities in breast tissue.
This information is a summary. Seek medical attention if you suspect you need urgent care.
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Ovulation And Ovarian Cancer
A woman’s risk of ovarian cancer seems to increase with the number of times over her life that she ovulates.
During ovulation, an egg is released from an ovary and swept into a fallopian tube and recent research suggests that the fluid released from the ovary along with the egg contains growth factors and other molecules that damage the DNA of the nearby fallopian tube cells, said Dr. Ronny Drapkin, an assistant professor of pathology at Harvard Medical School. Furthermore, the evidence shows that the deadliest ovarian cancers, called high-grade serous cancers, actually begin when the cells at the ends of the fallopian tubes, not cells in the ovaries themselves, turn cancerous.
These findings explain the long-held observation that anything that lowers the number of times a woman ovulates also lowers her ovarian cancer risk, Drapkin said. Pregnancy, breast-feeding and birth control pills all temporarily halt ovulation, and studies have linked all of those factors to a decreased risk of ovarian cancer.
Visit Your Ob Gyn Doctor To Discuss Your Ovarian Cyst Symptoms
If you suspect you are suffering from symptoms of ovarian cyst or similar issues, contact your OB GYN doctor to discuss the signs in detail. Your physician will evaluate your overall health and pinpoint the cause of your ovarian cyst symptoms. Schedule an appointment at The Womans Clinic by contacting us at 664-4131.
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Ovarian Cancer Side Effects And Symptoms
Ovarian cancer can be a deadly cancer as its generally hard to detect it early. It is usually detected in later stages when there is no cure for it. In the past, ovarian cancer was called the silent killer because many women didnt experience any signs or symptoms until the disease had spread to other organs.
The symptoms of ovarian cancer are very common and similar to many other illnesses which tend to come and go on their own. Therefore, distinguishing the symptoms of ovarian cancer from other women problems is very difficult, and its easy to overlook the early symptoms of ovarian cancer by women.
While the symptoms of ovarian cancer can be hard to notice and differentiate from other conditions, but ovarian cancer isnt completely silent. Most women feel changes such as bloating, changed in bowel movements, an increased urge to urinate. One of the most common sign of an ovarian cancer is pain. Women usually feel pain in the stomach, side, or in the back.
Some of the early symptoms and warning signs of ovarian cancer may include:
- Pressure and pain in the abdomen
- abnormal bloating and fullness after eating
- difficulty eating
- Increase and more frequent urination
- An increased urge to urinate
Ovarian cancer can also show some other symptoms in the later stages, such as:
- fatigue
- dermatomyositis
How Can You Detect Ovarian Cancer Early
If you are BRCA positive, you should see a gynecologist and have regular pelvic exams. Its critical to see your healthcare provider regularly.
If you are symptomatic or at increased risk for ovarian cancer, there are some tests that your healthcare provider may order:
- The CA-125 blood test looks for blood protein that increases in people with cancer. If it is elevated, dont worry it is not specific for ovarian cancer. It can grow with other conditions like endometriosis, pregnancy, fibroids, pancreatitis, ovarian cysts, liver cirrhosis and your menses.
- A transvaginal ultrasound is a pelvic ultrasound where an oblong probe is inserted into your vagina to examine your ovaries and surrounding tissue. A TVUS is the first-line of imaging for possible pelvic issues.
- Other imaging options may include computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging.
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How Are Abdominal Pain And Breast Tenderness Treated
Treatments for abdominal pain and breast tenderness will address the underlying causes. If you are taking birth control medications or hormones, your physician may recommend adjusting the hormone dosages to reduce breast tenderness. It is beneficial to have a well-fitting bra without an underwire. This can be worn when needed to help reduce breast tenderness, especially right before your period starts.
Stage 2 Ovarian Cancer
By | Submitted On January 13, 2008
I had never given a thought to ovarian cancer, and why would I? When it comes to gynecological cancers you hear about breast cancer all the time but you never hear much at all about ovarian cancer. I probably heard the words before at some point but until I was diagnosed with stage 2 ovarian cancer I was pretty ignorant of signs and symptoms and had no idea what to look for.
As it turned out, I had probably been having early warning signs for some time, possibly years, but I attributed them all as just regular old signs of getting a little older and entering that time in life where different things start to bother you or basically fall apart, kind of like a car that is reaching the end of your warranty. You know how that goes, your warranty runs out and you’re in the repair shop every other week.
So I had been having typical symptoms such as indigestion , bloating, change in menstrual periods , and some pelvic pain right AFTER my periods. It was really a strange symptom I thought because it wasn’t right along with that time of the month but a few days after. But then it would go away and I would just figure, you know, getting older, etc.
But there was good news hidden inside all of the bad, and that was that I ONLY had stage 2 ovarian cancer and not a later stage which is most often diagnosed .
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Symptoms Of Ovarian Cancer
Early symptoms are subtle and mimic other benign common conditions, says Dr. Tarrik Zaid, gynecologic oncologist at Houston Methodist Cancer Center. But if you experience any of these for several weeks, a thorough work-up with your doctor may be needed to determine the underlying cause and to rule out the rare possibility of ovarian cancer.”
- Shortness of breath
- Pelvic, abdominal or lower back pain
- Painful intercourse
- Difficulty eating or getting full quickly
Early detection improves prognosis and cure rates, says Dr. Zaid. Unfortunately, however, most women present at an advanced stage due to the vague symptoms.
Early Warning Signs Of Ovarian Cancer
In most cases, ovarian cancer isnt diagnosed until its progressed to an advanced stage. In fact, according to the American Cancer Society, only about 20 percent of cases are diagnosed at an early stage. Typically, this is because ovarian cancer symptoms either arent noticeable in the early stages of the disease or they mimic common stomach and digestive issues that are often mistaken for minor ailments.
Women are more likely to experience symptoms once the disease has spread beyond the ovaries, typically to the lymph nodes outside the abdomen, the skin, the liver, the spleen, the fluid around the lungs, the intestines or the brain.
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