Ovarian Cancer - Ignorance is Not Bliss

Ovarian Cancer – Ignorance is Not Bliss

Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of death in American women.  And sadly, more than half of women who are diagnosed with it will die from it.  (https://health.usnews.com/health-care/articles/2018-09-02/what-every-woman-needs-to-know-about-ovarian-cancer).

Part of the reason for the high mortality rate of this cancer is that it is often diagnosed at late stages when it has already spread to other areas of the body.  Symptoms of ovarian cancer also range from no symptoms to things like pelvic pain, weight gain, fatigue, and abnormal bleeding post-menopause. 

Often these symptoms are mistaken for something else and many women go without proper diagnosis.  Still some women are afraid to get testing and avoid it until it is too late.

This is a huge mistake.  Women who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer in its early stages have a very high chance of cure and survival.  The survival rate after 5 years of women who were diagnosed before the cancer has spread is 93%.  Time is of the essence when it comes to diagnosing and treating this form of the disease.

It’s important to have regular pelvic exams.  During a pelvic exam your doctor will feel the ovaries and uterus and pay attention to any abnormalities in the size or shape.  Occasionally this exam can detect cancers, but ovarian tumors can be difficult to feel in their early stages.

If you have symptoms of ovarian cancer, you should insist on a screening exam.  This can be done with a transvaginal ultrasound that allows a physician to look at the ovaries and detect any tumors.  There is also a blood test called CA-125 that detects a protein in the blood that can be found in high levels when a woman has ovarian cancer. 

The most important thing you can do is pay attention to any symptoms and make sure to see a physician as soon as you notice them.  You may have to insist on a pelvic ultrasound.  If your doctor doesn’t take you seriously, you should look for another who will.  If transvaginal ultrasounds sounds invasive, but it is typically painless and is a short experience.

If you have bloating, pelvic pain, trouble eating, urinary urgency or frequency, fatigue, pain during sex, constipation, or bleeding after menopause you may be experiencing ovarian cancer symptoms. 

Risk factors for ovarian cancer include a family history, the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, Lynch Syndrome, personal history of endometriosis or breast, uterine, and colorectal cancers, increasing age (age 55-64), hormone replacement therapy, obesity, and infertility.

Lung Cancer Now Affects More Young Women than Young Men

Lung Cancer Now Affects More Young Women than Young Men

For much of history, men have had higher rates of lung cancer than women for people age 35-54.  However, in a new study released in 2018, it turns out that now young women are more likely to develop lung cancer than young men.

Lung Cancer Has Decreased Overall

While this shift in demographics is surprising, there is good news.  Overall, lung cancer rates have decreased across the board.  Much of this can be attributed to a decrease in smoking rates.  In fact, 85% of lung cancer is related to smoking so by quitting smoking, you can substantially decrease your risk of developing this cancer.

Why Women Are More At Risk

While it may seem that smoking is to blame, most researchers believe that smoking alone can’t explain this shift.   Women and men typically have almost the same rates of smoking and in some populations men still have a higher rate of smoking than women.

Rather than women doing something that is causing this shift, it’s more likely that men are quitting at higher rates than women.  When a person stops smoking, their risk of cancer begins to decrease over time.

But for women, this risk of cancer decreases slower than it does for men.  This could be why men have fewer cases of lung cancer.  Women could be more likely to develop illness as a result of their smoking and exposure to other risk factors.

However, scientists still need to continue their research to determine if this is in fact the reason.  

Lung Cancer Can Occur Early in Life

Lung cancer isn’t always on the radar for young people when they consider their health choices.  You may believe that lung cancer only occurs in older populations.  But most people start smoking at an early age – their young teen years – and that means that lung cancer can occur early in life.

Instead of thinking that you might develop cancer in your 60s or 70s, consider that you could develop it as young as 40.  If you’re a smoker, the best health decision you can make is to stop as soon as possible.

Quitting smoking, regardless of your sex, is going to allow your body to begin reversing the damage caused by cigarettes.  While women tend to have a slower reversal, the reversal still occurs and it’s important to give yourself the best chance at reducing your risk of this life limiting cancer.