Ovarian Cancer Awareness

Dec 22

Overview

While there are many different types of cancers, this post is covering one specific type of cancer, Ovarian cancer. Through the article, it covers information such as what Ovarian cancer is, symptoms and treatment, how the patient and families can work through a diagnosis, and a personal connection to Ovarian cancer. If you have been diagnosed with Ovarian cancer, it is important to consult with your doctor to figure out specific treatments to your diagnosis and how to cope with everythings that comes along with it.

What is Ovarian Cancer?

Ovarian cancer is a group of diseases that originate in the ovaries or in the nearby areas of the fallopian tubes and eventually form tumors. The cancer cells typically divide quickly to invade healthy body tissue. From then, the cells move from the initial tumor site to metastasize, or spread, to other body parts. There are three types of ovarian cancers including epithelial ovarian cancer which is the most common including carcinoma, stromal tumors which are rare tumors diagnosed at an earlier stage than other ovarian cancers, and germ cell tumors which are rare tumors occurring at younger ages.

Symptoms and Treatment Options

Some risk factors that can increase your risk of ovarian cancer include old age, inherited gene changes, family history, being overweight, endometriosis, age at when menstruation started and ended, and never having been pregnant. Symptoms of Ovarian cancer include abdominal bloating or swelling, feeling full when eating, weight loss, discomfort in the pelvic area, pelvic or abdominal pain, changes in eating and bowel habits, and more. Typically, women can recover from this cancer if it is found early along with surgery and/or chemotherapy. Ovarian cancer cannot be fully prevented by a couple of ways to reduce the risk of this cancer is by taking birth control pills which have risks of their own or consulting with a genetic counselor to understand how to treat it.

How Families Can Cope

Ovarian cancer, and any type of cancer, can put a lot of strain on the patient and families in several ways. It is important to first take time to process the situation yourself when you are diagnosed with cancer. It is natural to feel frightened, confused, and angry or a variety of different emotions in the situation. However, you should consider talking those emotions out with family or professionals to cope as that will help you get all of the information and not feel as alone in the situation. Professionals such as nurses, doctors, social workers, or counselors are good sources to talk through the situation. There are also support groups you can join that are specifically geared towards cancer patients, so it is important to talk to your doctor if you need help of any kind. Through these difficult situations, it is incredibly important to put your mental health first so that you can cope with the practical things as well as tougher aspects of the situation.