Abdominal Pain May Not Be as Innocent as You Think!
Feeling of pressure in the abdomen, swelling, pain… These symptoms, which a large part of women experience from time to time and do not care about, may be a signal of great danger. Because ovarian cancer is insidiously progressing, it usually gives these symptoms in stage 3.
Not just Postmenopausal Disease
In addition to producing ovum every month, the ovaries are also responsible for the production of estrogen and progesterone, which are female hormones. Ovarian cancer, which is usually seen after menopause but not limited to this age group, is a type of lethal cancer spreading insidiously. For the diagnosis of this disease, which can be seen in women of reproductive age, even young girls, any cysts and masses in the ovaries should be carefully evaluated.
Pay Attention To These Symptoms!
Ovarian cancer that progresses insidiously can only be detected at early stages by regular monitoring of adverse events that may occur in the ovaries. Common symptoms of the disease are:
- Feeling of pressure and bloating in the abdomen
- Fullness or pain in the groin
- Long-term indigestion, gas or nausea
- Changes in intestinal habits such as constipation
- Changes in bladder habits, including the need to urinate frequently
- Loss of appetite or a feeling of fullness quickly
- Vaginal bleeding
- Weight loss
It is recommended to go to a doctor outside of the routine examination period, especially when several of these symptoms are present.
Routine Controls Are Very Important for Early Stage
There is no diagnostic and screening method that can detect ovarian cancers early. Patients usually have complaints of swelling and pain in the abdomen, digestive disorders, urinary problems and changes in bowel habits but instead of gynecologists and obstetricians, they are wasting time at other branches of physicians. Therefore, the diagnosis can be made in advanced gynecological examinations in the early stages or often in advanced stages where the treatment of the disease is difficult.
Who is at Risk?
While 10-15% of ovarian cancers occur as a result of hereditary disorders, the reasons for the remaining 85-90% are not known exactly. However, in some cases and in some women, ovarian cancers are more common. For example, ovarian cancers are more common in those who have less birth, early menstruation, late menopause, infertility problems or infertility treatment, and those who apply talcum to the genital area.
Birth Control Pills Play a Protective Role!
Long-term use of contraceptive pills, in women who are tubes tied, disease is less common. 10-15 percent of ovarian cancers also occur as a result of hereditary genetic damage in family members. BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 gene mutations are two of the most known of these damages. In women with these gene mutations, the risk of lifetime ovarian cancer can reach up to 20-40%. For this reason, research on BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene damages in women with breast and ovarian cancer in their family should be initiated.
Birth control pills reduce the risk of ovarian cancer. There are many studies that show that the disease is less than 30% in women who using birth control pills for up to a year and 70% in women who using birth control pills for more than five years. Similarly, decreases were observed in the incidence of ovarian cancer as the number of births increased.
If a Cyst or a Mass is Detected in The Ovaries…
Early diagnosis of ovarian cancer is very important. Because the disease is limited only in the ovary, the rate of curability is limited to 90-100% and the life expectancy in the advanced stage is limited to 40-50% in 5 years. If the disease is seen in the advanced stage, all gynecological organs, regional lymph nodes and other organs with tumors on it are removed so that no tumor tissue is left behind and chemotherapy is given to the patients to destroy the microscopic tumor cells that have been left behind. The treatment of patients encountered at an early stage can be performed by closed surgery with a robotic or laparoscopic approach. In half of the patients treated, the controls should not be hampered since the risk of recurrence of the disease in the following 5 years.