February is ovarian cancer awareness month.
Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month is held each year in Australia to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer, to share the stories of real women affected by the disease, to highlight the risk factors for ovarian cancer and educate Australians on ovarian cancer diagnosis and treatment. To find out how your workplace can participate, click here – https://www.ovariancancer.net.au/page/69/get-involved
Signs and Symptoms:
According to Ovarian Cancer Australia (2022), there is no early detection test for ovarian cancer, so all women need to be aware of the symptoms. The most commonly reported symptoms include:
- Increased abdominal size or persistent abdominal bloating;
- Abdominal or pelvic (lower tummy) pain;
- Feeling full after eating a small amount;
- Needing to urinate often and urgently;
Other symptoms include:
- Changes in bowel habits;
- Unexplained weight gain or loss;
- Excessive fatigue;
- Lower back pain;
- Indigestion or nausea;
- Bleeding after menopause or inbetween periods;
- Pain during intercourse or bleeding afterwards;
It is important to note that symptoms mentioned can be caused by other, less serious medical conditions, however if you are experiencing any of these symptoms which are persistent or troublesome, you should always seek medical advice.
Real Stories – https://www.ovariancancer.net.au/page/90/woman-with-ovarian-cancer
Risk Factors:
As per www.cancer.org (2022) – a risk factor is anything that increases your chance of getting a disease like cancer. Factors that increase your risk of ovarian cancer include:
- Getting older – most develop after menopause;
- Being overweight or obese;
- Having children later or never having a full-term pregnancy;
- Taking hormone therapy after menopause;
- Having a family histipry of ovarian cancer, breast cancer or colorectal cancer;
- Endometriosis;
- Having had breast cancer;
- Smoking;
Diagnosis:
According to The Cancer Council (2022), there is currently no effective screening test for ovarian cancer.
You should always consult with your GP if you are concerned about your body. If your doctor suspects you have ovarian cancer, you may have various tests to determine.
Treatment:
This will depend on the type of ovarian cancer you have, the stage of cancer, your general health and fitness, your doctor’s recommendations and whether you wish to have children.