Finding Cancer Earlier
- Educate women about symptoms that may indicate cancer
- Identify women at risk and monitor them more closely
- Recommend preventive measures, such as taking oral contraceptives
Education
Read More- Feeling bloated or full
- Fatigue
- Pelvic or abdominal pain
- Back pain
- Pain during sex
- Constipation
- Upset stomach
- Swelling around the abdomen, weight loss
- Changes in a woman’s menstrual cycle, such as irregular or heavier bleeding
Another good strategy for finding as many cases of early ovarian cancer as possible is to identify the women who might be at increased risk of developing the disease, and then monitor them more closely.
"When I see someone for their annual physical, many times, they ask me, Barb, am I at higher risk for ovarian cancer? And my answer to that question is. . . I need to ask you more questions," says Dehn.
The first thing is to talk about family history. "So we talk about whether or not there’s anyone in the family who’s had breast cancer or ovarian cancer. But what many people might find surprising is that people with prostate cancer in their family history– that is, in the men in their family–may also be at higher risk for ovarian cancer.”
The gene mutations that have been linked with a greater risk of breast, ovarian, and prostate cancer are dubbed BRCA1 and BRCA2. And women who, because of a history of cancer in their family, suspect they might be carriers of this genetic mutation can be tested.
"But in addition to these better known mutations, women who have a family history of early colon cancer or the Lynch syndrome are also at higher risk," says Dehn, who says that there are multiple genes involved in ovarian cancer risk, and she always asks very detailed questions about family history to determine if a woman has a family history that may indicate a genetic risk. “Talk to you healthcare provider. Ask them if you need to have testing for the genetic mutations that might put you at higher risk for ovarian cancer," she urges.
Depending on the results, a session with a genetic counselor can help women decide how to proceed. Women who are considered high risk may be advised to go for more frequent physical checkups and perhaps even tests such as transvaginal ultrasounds or CA 125 blood tests. These tests are not recommended for the general population, but may be helpful for women at greater risk of developing ovarian cancer. In some cases, women may be counseled about prophylactic (preventive) surgery to remove the ovaries, uterus, and fallopian tubes. This surgery can dramatically reduce their risk of developing cancer.
General Preventive Measures
“You know what surprises a lot of women is that taking the birth control pill after age 40 can reduce their risk of developing ovarian cancer,” says Dehn. She adds that the preventive effect has not been as documented in women in their twenties and thirties, “but if you’re over 40 there’s a side benefit besides contraception to taking oral contraceptives. We don’t really know why, but we’ve seen that it reduces the risk of ovarian cancer.”
Other actions that may be preventive include using an IUD as contraception, breastfeeding, being pregnant before age 35, and some say avoiding the use of talcum powder in the groin area, although that’s somewhat controversial. But while these actions can lower the odds of developing ovarian cancer, none of them can definitely prevent it.
The best thing is for women to make sure that if they do develop ovarian cancer it’s caught as early as possible. And the way to do that is to go for general checkups, know the signs, and always advocate for themselves. Don’t wait longer than a couple of weeks if symptoms that might indicate cancer persist. And tell your doctor specifically that you want to be assessed for ovarian cancer. If your doctor doesn’t take your concerns seriously, consider getting another opinion. You know your own body best, and if something doesn’t seem right, be sure to have it properly evaluated.
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