Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer death in women. Each year, approximately 23,000 American women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and more than 15,000 women will die from it.
When detected and treated in it's early stages – before it has spread outside the ovary – the five-year survival rate is 92 percent. However, the majority of cases are not diagnosed until the disease is more widespread. Ovarian cancer often has no obvious symptoms until late in its development. Sometimes the symptoms are confused with other diseases.
Signs and Symptoms
Ovarian cancer is hard to detect early. Many times, women with ovarian cancer have no symptoms or just mild symptoms until the disease is in an advanced stage. According to the National Cancer Institute, some possible indicators of ovarian cancer include:
- General abdominal discomfort and/or pain (gas, indigestion, pressure, swelling, bloating, cramps)
- Nausea, diarrhea, constipation, or frequent urination
- Loss of appetite
- Feeling of fullness even after a light meal
- Weight gain or loss with no known reason
- Abnormal bleeding from the vagina
These symptoms may be caused by ovarian cancer or by other, less serious conditions. It is important to check with a doctor about any of these symptoms.
Medical Tests
Your doctor will evaluate your medical history, perform a physical exam, and order diagnostic tests. Several diagnostic tools are available to determine the presence of ovarian cancer:
Pelvic Exam – Your doctor will feel your uterus, vagina, ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder, and rectum to see if there is any abnormality in shape or size. This is different from a Pap test, which is a reliable way to check for cervical cancer but not ovarian cancer.
Ultrasound – High-frequency sound waves are used to give your doctor a view of your internal organs – in this case, your ovaries. Healthy tissues, cysts, and tumors look different.
Blood Test – The level of CA-125 is measured. This tumor marker is often found in higher-than-normal levels in the blood of women with ovarian cancer.
Lower Gastro-Intestinal Series – A series of x-rays are taken of your colon and rectum after you have received an enema containing barium. The barium outlines the colon and rectum, making tumors and other abnormalities easier to spot.
CT Scan – A computer linked to an x-ray machine produces a series of detailed pictures of your internal organs.
Biopsy – This is a surgical procedure. A surgeon makes a small incision on your abdomen and removes a small amount of tissue from the abnormal area. If, after being examined under a microscope, cancer is suspected, the surgeon will remove your entire ovary.
More Screening Tools on the Way
Advances in the detection or treatment of ovarian cancer have improved the ovarian cancer survival rate. Nearly 80 percent of women with ovarian cancer survive at least one year – with over half surviving for five years of more.
Scientists continue to study ways to detect ovarian cancer before symptoms develop. A large-scale study known as the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial is still evaluating the usefulness of CA-125 and transvaginal ultrasound for ovarian cancer screening.
Researchers at the National Cancer Institute and the Food and Drug Administration are working to develop a new type of blood test that may be able to diagnose ovarian cancer in not only the later stages, but in the early stages as well. |
