Ovarian Cancer: What is it and What are the Symptoms?
I can’t believe September is almost over. This month has flown by! With September coming to an end so is Ovarian Cancer Awareness month. This is a cause I have been passionate it about for years because my mother was diagnosed with Stage 3C Ovarian Cancer when I was 13 years old. She later passed away when I was 18. Even while sick she was always passionate about educating everyone she met on what ovarian cancer is and the symptoms. I hope to continue that passion here with you. So, some of you might be wondering what is ovarian cancer? Am I at risk? What are the symptoms? Well here are some answers for you!
What is it?
Well to start with Ovarian Cancer is the cancer of the ovaries. Like other cancers it comes in stages and types. There are many different types of ovarian cancer but the most common are;
surface epithelium - cancer of the cells covering the outside lining of the ovaries
germ cells - cells that form eggs
stromal cells - cells that release hormones and connect to different structures of the ovaries.
The stages start at Stage 1 where the cancer is confined to one or both ovaries and goes to stage 4 where the cancer has spread beyond the abdomen and to other parts of the body. (National Ovarian Cancer Coalition)
Am I at risk?
According to the American Cancer Society 1 in 78 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in their lifetime. It is most likely in women ages 35 - 74 but can occur earlier or later in life. Some risk factors include;
family history of breast, ovarian, or colon cancer
increasing age
infertility
What are the symptoms?
The tricky thing about ovarian cancer is that its symptoms are so common. These symptoms include;
bloating
pelvic or abdominal pain
fatigue
heartburn
upset stomach
back pain
constipation
changes in your menstrual cycle
When you think about it what women doesn't have these symptoms? I have half of them right now. The key is knowing your body. If something feels off go get it check out. I hope that one day ovarian cancer will be a lot easier to detect in early stages but for now awareness and continued research is key to fighting this disease. If you are wondering how you can support ovarian cancer awareness click here to learn more!
** Disclaimer: I am not a doctor (yet) and this is not medical advice. This post is intended to share more about the disease in hopes of increasing awareness and was written with information I have learned from my involvement in the cause and help from the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition website)
