Screening for ovarian cancer is often too late. To treat the disease as soon as possible, it is important to pay attention to certain seemingly harmless symptoms.
THE ovarian cancer is much less “publicized” than breast cancer, or that of the uterus. Prevention campaigns are less numerous than for other cancers such as lung or breast, and very rare “spontaneous” screenings. However, if it is “only” the 4th cause of death from cancer in women, it takes an average of 3500 women each year according to figures from Publichealth.fr. It’s a female cancer with a relatively high mortality rate. A mortality rate which increases with the age of the patient and particularly after 60 years.
If the death rate from ovarian cancer is high, it is generally diagnosed at an advanced stage. The cancerous tumor(s) have then spread to other organs in the abdomen, and the treatment is heavier, more complicated, and its outcome more uncertain. Often in question, theabsence of symptoms before the stage of the cancer is advanced. According to gynecologist Susanna Unsworth, there are several subtle symptoms that may be a warning sign of ovarian cancer and to which we must be vigilant.
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Ovarian cancer: the subtle symptoms to watch out for
The first symptom is long bloating: if bloating appears suddenly, and lasts, despite food rebalancing and targeted drug treatment. It is also necessary to pay attention to a sudden and unexplained pain in the pelvis, in the abdomen or in the lower back. Finally, if the how often you will urinate suddenly accelerates, forcing you to get up at night, without you drinking more liquid, this is also something to watch out for. Other symptoms may also occur: vaginal bleeding, sudden weight loss, disturbed digestion, and irregular transit.
Of course, experiencing one or more of these symptoms does not mean that you have ovarian cancer. But it’s important togo see your GP or gynecologist to talk about it and possibly carry out an adequate check.
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Ovarian cancer: factors that can increase the risk
Many of the symptoms mentioned above can result from another disease such as irritable bowel syndrome for example, and go “unnoticed”. Complementary examinations could therefore be prescribed for you by your doctor, blood taken or Pelvic ultrasound.
Although it is more common in women over the age of 50 than in young women, there are several factors that can increase the risk of having ovarian cancer, according to the interview with the gynecologist given to our colleagues at Mirror. THE smoking is an additional risk factoras well as endometriosis, and different forms of diabetes.