20,000 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2022. Here's how to protect yourself

Meritus Health
·3 min read
4

It’s September. As the seasons begin to change, this month rings in a time to raise awareness of the cancer that ranks fifth in cancer-related deaths among women.

In 2022, nearly 20,000 women in the U.S. are expected to receive an ovarian cancer diagnosis. And more than 12,000 (or 1 in 108) will die from it, according to the American Cancer Society.

“This is a cancer that mainly develops in older women. About half who are diagnosed are 63 or older,” said Dr. Neil Rosenshein, gynecologic oncologist and medical director of the Meritus Gynecologic Oncology Center.

“If something doesn’t seem right, don’t hesitate to discuss your symptoms with your doctor. Often, the sooner you discuss the problem, the sooner you can get treatment and find a solution,” he said.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ovarian cancer causes more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system.

More:Education Department reviewing Heritage Academy's response to sexual misconduct complaint

Tests, screenings and regular check-ups are designed to find problems early, which provides the best opportunity for making an ovarian cancer diagnosis easier to treat.

Early detection can increase your chances of a better outcome if cancer is diagnosed. The main types of gynecologic cancer — cervical, endometrial, ovarian, uterine, vaginal and vulvar — can produce a variety of symptoms that range from none at all to severe problems.

Talk to your doctor if you have any of the following symptoms:

  • Post-menopausal spotting or bleeding

  • Unusual discharge

  • Pelvic pain or pressure

  • Itching or burning of the outer genital organs

  • Sores, warts or rashes

  • Abdominal pressure, pain or bloating

  • Feelings of fullness n Increased abdominal girth

  • Back pain

  • Persistent nausea or indigestion

  • Changes in bowel or bladder habits such as frequent urination, irritable bowel syndrome or constipation

To diagnose ovarian cancer, doctors perform lab tests and radiologic examinations such as a CT scan and ultrasound. If fluid in the abdomen is detected, it is removed for evaluation and if cancer is found, the surgeon performs an aggressive surgical removal of the tumor.

Beating the disease depends on its stage, the tumor type and the surgery. That’s why it’s important for the procedure to be done by a gynecologic oncologist.

Meritus Health’s John R. Marsh Cancer Center offers a high-risk assessment program for women who are thought to be at risk for breast and ovarian cancers. Genetic testing can help detect mutations such as the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, that place women at a higher risk for ovarian cancer.

There is no proven method to screen women for ovarian cancer who show no signs of the disease or who are at average risk. Rosenshein encourages all women to be vigilant.

“Be aware of your body and inform your doctor if you experience bloating, abdominal or pelvic pain or feeling full quickly,” he said.

As September marks Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, considering honoring a loved one by supporting the Meritus Healthcare Foundation’s Colors of Cancer campaign. The initiative honors patients and families impacted by all forms of cancer. Flags in a myriad of colors will be displayed on the front lawn of Meritus Medical Center.

For more information on the Colors of Cancer campaign, or gynecologic oncology services, go to MeritusHealth.com.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Ovarian is fifth in cancer-related deaths among women