I had never given a thought to ovarian cancer, and why would I? When it comes to gynecological cancers you hear about breast cancer all the time but you never hear much at all about ovarian cancer. I probably heard the words before at some point but until I was diagnosed with stage 2 ovarian cancer I was pretty ignorant of signs and symptoms and had no idea what to look for.

As it turned out, I had probably been having early warning signs for some time, possibly years, but I attributed them all as just regular old signs of getting a little older and entering that time in life where different things start to bother you or basically fall apart, kind of like a car that is reaching the end of your warranty. You know how that goes, your warranty runs out and you’re in the repair shop every other week.

So I had been having typical symptoms such as indigestion (never had that before), bloating, change in menstrual periods (heavier), and some pelvic pain right AFTER my periods. It was really a strange symptom I thought because it wasn’t right along with that time of the month but a few days after. But then it would go away and I would just figure, you know, getting older, etc.

But then I started having this annoying leg pain. It was sort of a radiating pain, so I figured it must be something to do with a nerve. Sciatica? I didn’t think so because it didn’t follow the usual M.O. for that type of nerve pain. Maybe a muscle strain? Fibroids? Yes, that was it, I decided, fibroids. I researched all the symptoms and everything added up! A huge fibroid must be pressing on my sciatic nerve and causing this intolerably aggravating leg pain. I made an appointment with my gynecologist and she agreed, yes, that must be it.

She sent me for an ultrasound where a large mass was seen, so I was immediately sent to a gynecologic oncologist. This is the best person for ANY type of GYN problems that are out of the norm because these doctors are very specialized, but it is very scary to be sitting in the oncologist’s office wondering if you may have cancer. As soon as I had my exam, my doctor scheduled surgery, and soon! My surgery was done 6 days later and the diagnoses was stage 2 ovarian cancer. I was then scheduled to begin chemotherapy. I did not want to hear this! All I could think of was losing my hair. In the grand scheme of things this is such a small thing, but believe me, when you are faced this it just seems so awful and dreadful.

But there was good news hidden inside all of the bad, and that was that I ONLY had stage 2 ovarian cancer and not a later stage which is most often diagnosed (due to the fact that no one realizes they are having any symptoms to be worried about).

I am happy to say I made it through it all and am now cancer free. I do believe though that if I had not had the leg pain I would NOT have gone to the doctor anytime soon, probably not for quite some time, as my symptoms were just so nonspecific and seemingly very benign, and my disease may have gone unnoticed and kept growing. So please do heed your body’s communication with you and if you have anything going on that seems really out of the ordinary, have it checked out by a doctor.

Every year in the U.S, over 21,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer and around 15,000 women die of the disease. Those are staggering statistics and yet the numbers seem to be rising from year to year, sadly, because women are not properly educated on how to diagnose ovarian cancer warning signs.

The rest of this article is taken from a post I wrote recently for my blog. I received positive feedback on the content because the facts are taken primarily from Mayo Clinic and a study done by the American Cancer Society – both of which are very credible sources of information. So I decided I wanted to share it with the EzineArticles readers.

The blog post is as follows:

The ovarian cancer warning signs can be difficult to detect in the early stages because some of the most common symptoms like indigestion and abdominal swelling can be indicative of a number of other medical conditions.

In order to avoid a misdiagnosis, keep this simple rule in mind:

If the symptoms or signs are constant and only seem to get worse, then talk to your doctor immediately.

According to Mayoclinic, recent studies show that women with ovarian cancer are more likely compared with other women to consistently experience the following symptoms:

• Abdominal pressure, fullness, swelling or bloating
• Urinary urgency
• Pelvic discomfort or pain

Other warning signs can manifest themselves in the following forms:

• Constant indigestion, gas or nausea
• Unexplained changes in bowel habits, like constipation
• Changes in bladder habits, including a frequent need to urinate
• Loss of appetite or quickly feeling full
• Increased abdominal girth or clothes fitting tighter around your waist
• Pain during intercourse (dyspareunia)
• A consistent lack of energy
• Low back pain
• Changes in menstruation

The American Cancer Society reports that almost 90% of the women in a conducted study who were diagnosed in early stages said that they experienced one or more symptoms like abdominal pain, bloating, pelvic pain or back pain. However, only 3% of women diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer did not report any symptoms.

In addition, 55% of the total number of women studied made an accurate diagnosis within two months after their symptoms appeared. Sadly, it took three to six months for 19% of the women, and more than a year for 11% of the women to realize that they indeed had ovarian cancer signs. In short, the longer the diagnosis took, the more advanced the cancer became.

In some instances, women with symptoms delayed their diagnosis by waiting an average of two to three months before talking to their doctors, with 22% of the women surveyed saying they ignored their symptoms, most because they were unaware their symptoms could be due to cancer.

How To Avoid A Delayed Diagnoses

They say that prevention is better than cure, and the easiest thing you can do to avoid a delayed diagnoses is to take an annual pelvic exam. Not only will this confirm the common symptoms that in often times lead to a misdiagnosis and validate your ovarian cancer warning signs, but it will also place you in a mindset that will help you live longer.

Cancer survival rate statistics and life expectancies are very misleading and quite inappropriate for several reasons. Certain types of cancer stats, like ovarian cancer for example, are even more absurd than many others.

One problem is they are a glimpse into the rear view mirror. They can not account for all the advances in modern medicine. If you think about it, all of these statistics show the mortality rates of ovarian cancer sufferers in the past. Anyone who died from the disease, did not have access to the most modern treatments of today. Cancer is a field with millions of rich world sufferers. World governments and large health corporations are pouring money into research for political and economic reasons. There is accelerated growth in knowledge.

A second concern is that ovarian cancer is not as common as some other ones. The statistics are less relevant than lung cancer due to the fact that there is less data to start with.

Each cancer is different in nature. Even if the doctor tells you are in stage 4, there is still a lot of difference amongst members in that group. Not all stage 4 people are really the same. It is just a simple way to give you a rough idea of which boat you are in.

Another issue with the stats is that they do not differentiate between people who are in different emotional states. There is some evidence that a positive outlook can add years to a patient’s life. Mind/body medicine is becoming even more mainstream in the west. A negative outlook can cause a patient to almost kill themselves because this traumatic diagnoses causes the body to release large amounts of cortisol, a damaging stress hormone.

Ovarian cancer presents a real risk to all women. Around 20,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. Unfortunately many of the symptoms go unnoticed, so it is important to know the 5 most common symptoms of ovarian cancer.

What makes ovarian cancer frightening is that many of the symptoms do not manifest until the later stages. One of the most common symptom is frequent bloating. This often goes overlooked because of the normal bloat that comes with a woman’s monthly cycle.

Other notable symptoms include pain in your belly region, particularly around the pelvis region. People also experience difficulty eating and tend to feel full quickly. In addition, many women experience urinary problems. These can include urgency and frequency.

Make sure you are watching your menstrual cycle closely. Changes in your cycle can also be a symptom of ovarian cancer. These can include both an increase in bleeding and the stoppage of bleeding all together.

If you have three or more of these symptoms, daily for two weeks, it is important to see your physician. The symptoms typically start suddenly and feel much different from your normal menstrual or stomach troubles. They also happen each day and do not go away with medicine and time.

Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause for deaths among women. Over 100,000 women die each year from the disease. Therefore, it is very important that you listen to your body. If something does not seem right, visit your physician. Early detection is the key.

Ovarian cancer is a disease that affects the female reproductive organs. It starts when the process of cell division goes wrong in the ovaries and they start to multiply in a rapid and out of control way. This leads to a cancerous growth which then causes a tumour to form. It is not known exactly what causes this type of cancer but age, ovulation and family history are all thought to have an influence. If a tumour does form it often starts to press on the surrounding cells causing pain, discomfort and other undesirable symptoms in these areas. In this article I will be discussing three of these ovarian cancer symptoms in greater detail.

1) BLOATING OF THE STOMACH:- If you contract ovary cancer and the tumour grows large enough it may cause the stomach to physically bloat. Whilst bloating is not necessarily a sign of ovarian cancer it is a cause for concern if it cannot be explained. Therefore, if you notice that your stomach has become bloated and can think of no logical reason why go see your doctor straight away. They will be able to perform some tests and let you know what is causing your stomach to swell.

2) IRREGULAR PERIODS:- Normally the ovaries release an egg once a month. If this egg is not fertilised it passes out of the body during a woman’s monthly period. However, if a cancerous tumour has developed it may block the ovaries making it difficult for eggs to be released. This may then have an impact on your periods. Therefore, if your periods seem to change for no apparent reason go see your doctor right away. Again there are many factors that can cause your periods to be irregular but your doctor will be able to let you know if it is related to ovarian cancer.

3) PAIN IN YOUR LOWER ABDOMEN OR SIDES:- If the tumour gets big enough it can start to place pressure on the ovaries. This can lead to pain in your lower abdomen or sides. Many women confuse these symptoms with PMS pains. However, if you start to experience them when you are not currently on your period you should go see your doctor immediately. The pains may not be related to ovarian cancer but your doctor will be able to perform the tests and let you know for sure.

I hope this article has given you a better insight in to some of the potential warning signs for ovarian cancer. Whilst your first instinct may be to brush these symptoms of as the result PMS, you should step back and think for a second before doing this. If there is no logical reason behind these symptoms then the chances are something is not right. They may be nothing to do with ovary cancer but it is far better to see your doctor and get a conclusive, professional opinion on the matter.

Whilst every intention has been made to make this article accurate and informative, it is intended for general information only. Ovarian cancer is a very serious, life threatening condition and you should discuss any concerns, treatments or lifestyle changes fully with your doctor.

Ovarian cancer is an especially deadly form of cancer because it often goes undetected until it spreads to a vital organ and disrupts the organ’s functioning. Thus, it earned the name “silent killer.” While an estimated 13,580 women have passed away in 2010 due to cervical cancer, this number is gradually decreasing. Doctors and researchers believe that the increasing use of oral contraceptives plays a role in ovarian cancer’s decrease.

Ovarian cancer can begin with three different tumor types on and around the ovary. These small, almond-shaped organs can mutate and develop tumors in the epithelium, which is the thin layer of tissue that covers the ovaries. This accounts for 85-90% of ovarian cancer cases. Two rarer forms of tumors begin in the actual egg-producing cells, or germ cells, as well as the supportive and hormone-producing tissue, called stromal tumors.

From here, ovarian cancer can spread in two different ways. It can leach into nearby tissue, such as the pelvis, cervix, and lower digestive system. Additionally, pieces of the tumor can break off and spread through the circulatory and lymph systems. From here, the tumors can anchor themselves anywhere in the body and begin to grow again.

In a study conducted by the Harvard Medical School, researchers found that even using oral contraceptives for one year decreased a woman’s risk of developing ovarian cancer by 10-12%. After five years of using oral birth control, the risk dropped by half. At first, doctors found that this reduction in cancer rates occurred no matter the hormone in the oral contraceptive. However, a more in-depth study found that a higher level of progestin decreased the cancer risk better than low-progestin pills.

While many women turn to oral contraceptives solely to prevent unwanted pregnancy, it also has the proven benefit of protecting you from ovarian cancer as well. Frustratingly, though, not all birth control pills are created equally. Some, such as YAZ, Yasmin, and Ocella, have been linked to devastating side effects such as stroke and heart attack.

The Ovarian Cancer Alliance of Florida (OCAF) held their annual Teal Magnolia Luncheon fundraiser this weekend in Central Florida.

During the event, I had the honor of sitting next to a woman who had lost her 28 year old daughter to ovarian cancer several years ago. Even though I treated cancer patients for 12 years, I was still struck by the young age of her daughter. Heartbreaking!

According to the National Cancer Institute, the Definition of ovarian cancer is: Cancer that forms in tissues of the ovary (one of a pair of female reproductive glands in which the ova, or eggs, are formed). Most ovarian cancers are either ovarian epithelial carcinomas (cancer that begins in the cells on the surface of the ovary) or malignant germ cell tumors (cancer that begins in egg cells).

Estimated new cases and deaths from ovarian cancer in the United States in 2009:

• New cases: 21,550
• Deaths: 14,600

There is no test for Ovarian Cancer. A pap smear does NOT test for this type of cancer!! This makes it difficult to diagnose, so a woman must pay attention to her body and have any symptoms checked out.

Please take a moment to review the symptoms of Ovarian Cancer as provided by OCAF:

- Bloating
- Pelvic or abdominal pain
- Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly
- Urinary symptoms (urgency or frequency)

See your doctor, preferably a gynecologist, if these symptoms are unusual for you and occur almost daily for more than a few weeks.

Experts suggest a combination pelvic/rectal exam, a transvaginal sonogram and a CA125 blood test.

If ovarian cancer is suspected, medical experts suggest seeking a second opinion with a gynecologic oncologist before surgery is performed.

Cancer of the ovary is not an “old lady” disease. This cancer affects women of all ages. In 2003-2007, the median age was 63 however there were cases involving women under age 20 and over age 85. Because of the difficulty in diagnosing this cancer, it is often in an advanced stage before it is detected. This has earned it the nickname “the silent killer”.

If diagnosed while it is localized, there is over a 93% five year survival rate. That is why it is so important to know the symptoms and pay attention to what your body is telling you!

Be your own advocate. Listen to your body. If you suspect anything out of the ordinary, take control and go get checked! You owe it to yourself and those that love you.

The course of treatment for ovarian cancer is normally determined by the stage of the disease. We here classify the stages from I to IV based on the cancer’s specific characteristics, and find out which course is suitable for which stage.

By stage I, we mean the cancer is confined to a single ovary (stage IA) or both ovaries (stage IB). In stage IC, one or both ovaries can be affected, but the tumors are on the surface, or the capsule is ruptured, or tumor cells are found in abdominal fluid.

Treatment for patients with stage IA and IB includes surgical removal of the uterus and both ovaries and fallopian tubes, partial removal of the omentum, and surgical staging of the lymph nodes and other tissues in the pelvis and abdomen. Patients with stage IA or B disease may not require further therapy after surgery. Higher risk patients with stage IC are generally treated with platinum-based chemotherapy to prevent a relapse.

Stage II means the cancer has spread to the uterus or fallopian tubes (stage IIA), or other areas within the pelvis (stage IIB), but is still confined to the pelvic area. Stage IIC means capsular involvement, rupture, or positive washings. Surgical management for patients in this stage involves a total hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and removal of as much cancer in the pelvic area as possible, known as tumor debulking. Post-surgery chemotherapy is generally needed to eliminate residual cancer and prevent relapse.

Stage III means the cancer has spread beyond the pelvis to the omentum and other areas within the abdomen, or to the lymph nodes. Most patients in this stage undergo a total hysterectomy, and tumor debulking. Here again, post-surgery chemotherapy is needed to eliminate residual cancer.

Stage IV, the most advanced of all, means the cancer may have spread to the inside of the liver or spleen. In this stage, tumor debulking before chemotherapy may be occasionally performed.

In the case of recurrent ovarian cancer, chemotherapy is the mainstay of treatment, although it might not prevent subsequent relapses.

Natural and Alternative medicine has been getting notoriety in the treatment and prevention of cancer. Tea is the most well-known as a potential remedy. Continuing research shows the effectiveness of green tea in the prevention of heart disease as well as other forms of cancer.

The first indication of tea effectiveness is in the markedly low incidence of major diseases in the Asian regions. Those who are living in Asia typically imbibe large quantities of green tea and statistics show that they have a significantly lower risk or heart ailments as well as cancer. Particularly Japanese men, as opposed to American men have statistically lower risk of lung cancer and heart ailments though as much as 75 percent of them smoke cigarettes.

Breast cancers as well as the various cancers in the digestive system also have low incidences in the people living in Asia. They also have lesser chances of having diabetes or even high blood pressure. Their copious consumption of tea could possibly be the reason.

Typically, green tea in Asia comes from the leaves of the Camellia Sinensis. The main difference between green tea and black tea is in the processing. In the preparation of black tea, it is also fermented, unlike green tea. Because the green tea is not fermented, the anti-oxidants are left in their natural state, making their benefits more potent.

Anti-oxidants are critical in fighting the presence of free radicals inside our body. Whenever we process the food that we eat and turn it into energy, free radicals are produces. These free radicals can potentially damage the cells as well as our DNA. The damaged DNA can cause other major illnesses like cancer, heart ailments and even stroke.

A growing number of researches connect tea with minimizing the risks of various forms of cancer like gastrointestinal, prostate, bladder, esophageal and breast cancer. Up until recently green tea has not been observed as having any effect on the prevention of ovarian cancer.

But studies conducted on women with ages between 40 and 76 in a span of 15 years show the following results:

-There is a far less likelihood for women who imbibe tea regularly to acquire ovarian cancer

-The risk of acquiring ovarian cancer is related to the quantity of tea consumed. Research show that the risk decreases by as much as 18 percent for every additional cup of green tea a day to the two recommended

There is really no reason why you should not try drinking green tea. It has no side-effects, its benefits are well known, and it is quite delicious. It can be taken hot or cold. It is even obtainable in tablet form, which makes taking larger doses possible.

Ovarian cancer survival rates are as ambiguous as a weather report that says such and such percent chance of rain today. Everyone knows it’s a hundred percent chance of rain when it’s raining, and zero when it’s not.

However to throw out the statistics in the standard way, according to the American Cancer Society more than 20,000 women are expected to be diagnosed with ovarian cancer this year, and 15,000 will die from the disease. Does that mean that three quarters of the women who receive an ovarian cancer prognosis are going to die? Not necessarily. On an individual basis it’s just like the weather prediction for rain.

It really all depends on how a women wants to go about treating her cancer whether she survives or dies, not to mention whether or not she has an ovarian cancer recurrence. Of course there are innumerable variables to be factored in such as her age, the type of cancer, how soon she discovered it, and how quickly she began dealing with it. Technically speaking there are more than 30 different types of ovarian cancer – all of which are categorized by the type of cell where they originate.

So what! If you want to be brutally honest and I want to, cancer is cancer. Regardless of the type or stage, it’s manifest due to a weakened immune system and the only hope of overcoming it is by freeing up and assisting the body’s own immune responses. There are so many excellent remedies for performing both of those task in the world of holistic cancer treatments, and more being uncovered all the time.

For starters besides stating the obvious of avoiding all foods that feed cancer such as sugar and foods or substances that weaken the immune system, a good cleansing fast is initially recommended. A juice fast is standard, drinking only fresh carrot, beet, apple, and ginger juice for example, to cleanse the colon and rejuvenate the liver. Periodic colon and liver cleanses are similarly helpful, as is a diet of green foods along with other super foods.

There are so many herbal remedies such as Essiac tea and amazingly effective diets such as The Budwig and Hallelujah Diet. The list is all but endless. Why not take advantage of all of them? If you do the research into alternative cancer cures and become seriously committed, your chances of not being one of the more than seventy-five percent of the women who according to ovarian cancer survival rates succumb to the disease, are as good as a zero chance of rain when the sun is shining.