Ovarian Cancer

Description:

Ovarian cancer develops in the ovaries, the female reproductive organs responsible for producing eggs and hormones. It often goes undetected until it has spread within the pelvis and abdomen.

Symptoms:

Bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, urinary urgency or frequency, changes in bowel habits, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, back pain.

Risk Factors:

Age (risk increases with age, especially after menopause), family history of ovarian, breast, or colorectal cancer, inherited genetic mutations (BRCA1 and BRCA2), personal history of breast, ovarian, or endometrial cancer, infertility treatment with fertility drugs, hormone replacement therapy.

Prevention:

Oral contraceptives (birth control pills), tubal ligation, hysterectomy, risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (surgical removal of ovaries and fallopian tubes), maintaining a healthy weight, breastfeeding, regular exercise.

Treatment Options:

Surgery (total hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy), chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, hormone therapy, clinical trials.

Support Resources:

Ovarian cancer support groups, ovarian cancer awareness organizations (National Ovarian Cancer Coalition), genetic counseling services, fertility preservation options, survivorship programs, online communities (Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance).