Ovarian Cancer - Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

Abdominal bloating or swelling, unusual discharge from the vagina, lack of appetite can sometimes be the tell-tale signs of ovarian cancer. Females suffering from these symptoms must not ignore these conditions and, most importantly, must not confuse them with other diseases causing similar symptoms.

Hence, every female must have complete knowledge regarding Ovarian cancer, cause, symptoms, prevention method etc. Read along!

Ovarian cancer refers to a medical condition in which cells grow in ovaries, multiply quickly, and then destroy other healthy tissue.

Ovaries are a vital part of the female reproductive organ. Women have two ovaries and are placed on each side of the uterus. These ovaries produce eggs and hormones such as oestrogen and progesterone.

Ovarian cancer can start in one or both ovaries, in fallopian tubes and even in the abdominal lining named peritoneum.

With a clear understanding of the basics of ovarian cancer, let’s learn about other important details of this disease.

Following is a list of cases that can lead to ovarian cancer -

• Women of 63 years of age or older
• Overweight or obesity
• Never having full-term pregnancy or pregnancy at a later age
• Opting for Hormone therapy after menopause
• Females who have ovarian cancer or other family cancer syndrome cases in their family (family cancer syndrome includes Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome (HBOC), Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, MUTYH-associated polyposis, Hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer (HNPCC) and other genes that are linked to hereditary ovarian cancer)

Other risk factors of ovarian cancer include -

• Presence of high levels of androgens, or male hormones. This may concern transgender people who use hormone treatment in their transition.
• Certain dietary factors increase the chances of ovarian cancer.

Depending on the type of cells from which this disease starts, ovarian cancer types include:

• Stromal Tumours: These variants are rare and develop from the cells of ovaries. This type of ovarian cancer grows slowly.
• Epithelial Ovarian Cancer: This type of ovarian cancer begins in the lining of the outside of the ovaries. This type has several sub-types, such as carcinoma and mucinous carcinoma. Epithelial Ovarian Cancers are the most typical.
• Germ Cell Tumours: This type of ovarian cancer starts inside the cells of ovaries that produce eggs. Germ cell tumours can be large and have a tendency to grow faster. This variant usually develops at a younger age.

There are no such early symptoms of ovarian cancer; hence ovarian cancer at an early stage might not cause any noticeable symptoms. This is because ovaries are very small (like the size of an almond) and are located deep in the abdomen. However, this disease starts to cause some symptoms with each advancing stage. 

Below is a list of signs of ovarian cancer -

• Feeling bloated or swelling
• Loss of appetite
• Fullness even after eating a small quantity of food 
• Abnormal discharge of blood or other substance from vagina
• Pain in the belly 
• Urge to urinate frequently
• Discomfort in the pelvic area

Apart from these, there are other ovarian cancer signs and symptoms. These are -

• Fatigue
• Back pain
• Constipation
• Weight loss

The causes of ovarian cancers are yet to be discovered. However, doctors have identified certain factors (follow the section of who is at risk of developing ovarian cancer) that might increase the chances of developing such disease.

If routine checkup or screening of a female gives doctors a slight hint of ovarian cancer, they might ask a question such as, if patients have a family history of ovarian cancer. Conversely, they might conduct pelvic examination and prescribe the following tests,

• Blood test
• Imaging test
• Biopsy
• Laparoscopy

When doctors diagnose ovarian cancer, they follow specific treatment methods depending on the stages of this disease.

Treatment for Ovarian cancer may include the following methods -

• Surgery
• Chemotherapy
• Radiation therapy
• Targeted therapy
• Immunotherapy (biotherapy)
• Palliative Care

In case ovarian cancer has spread to others, doctors may follow both surgery and radiation or chemotherapy combination.

There are no proven ways to prevent ovarian cancer. However, females can reduce the chances of developing Ovarian Cancer by following the ways mentioned below,

• Taking birth control pills
• Full-term pregnancy
• Opting for tubal ligation 
• Breastfeeding
• Hysterectomy 

Note: Individuals must opt for Tubal ligation and Hysterectomy for valid medical reasons (reducing the risk of ovarian cancer can be one of such reasons). Hence, patients should discuss thoroughly with doctors regarding the process and other available prevention methods.

If you have recently started experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above, consult your doctor immediately. Do not ignore these signs of ovarian cancer if you have a family history of ovarian or breast cancer.