Ovarian cancer is one of the leading types of cancer that women are affected by. It is a result of the excessive growth of abnormal cells in the ovaries. These abnormal cells turn cancerous and form a tumor. There are some prominent signs for this disease that one might see. A number of risk factors are also there that one should be aware of to prevent the condition of being affected by ovarian cancer.
Signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer
There are some early signs of having a cancerous growth in the ovary that should be observed if one begins to experience them. It is important to quickly seek medical supervision and have the tests done.
The leading signs are prolonged abdominal pain, eating difficulties, increase in the frequency of urination, and abnormal fullness of the abdomen.
In the later stages, the symptoms may advance and one might experience indigestion, constipation, severe back pain, irregular menstrual cycles, painful sexual coitus, heartburn, and so on.
One should consider visiting a doctor if they experience any of the above-mentioned symptoms for more than 3 days. Remember that only tests can prove the existence of cancerous cells in the body, and these symptoms can be triggers of some other infections too.
Risk factors of ovarian cancer
There are several risk factors because of which one is at high risk of getting ovarian cancer. The doctor should be made aware of these things when one goes for the screening:
- Family history
One is more likely to be affected by ovarian cancer if there is a family history of the disease. The condition is known as family cancer syndrome, and up to 10% of the total ovarian cancer patients are reported to have gotten this disease because of family background. - Genetic influences
The BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are related to ovarian cancer, and these are basically mutations that are responsible for ovarian cancer. - Prevailing breast cancer
The chances of getting affected by ovarian cancer can highly increase if there is prevailing breast cancer. The same inherited gene mutation of BRCA1 and BRCA2 can be the reasons for both breast and ovarian cancer.
The presence of the BRCA1 mutation can increase the risk of ovarian cancer by 30% in women, whereas it is alarmingly high at 70% for BRCA2. These mutations are also related to the cancers of other reproductive organs, such as fallopian tube cancer, cervical cancer, and so on. - Peutz-Jeghers syndrome
This is a rare genetic disease in which people develop tumors in certain parts of the digestive system. Women affected by this syndrome have the chances of developing cancerous tumors in the ovary. - Alcohol consumption
This is one of the main risk factors when it comes to ovarian cancer. Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to a hormonal imbalance in women, leading to anomalies in the cell division in the ovary. One must refrain from consuming excessive amounts of alcohol regularly to reduce the chances of ovarian cancer.
These are some signs and risk factors of ovarian cancer that one should know. One should consider consulting the doctor when they experience the symptoms.
