Being diagnosed of ovarian cancer can be very hard and life changing. It is a good thing that there now a number of medical advancements that have led to more effective treatments. Based on reports from the American Cancer Society, women who have been diagnosed of having the early stages of ovarian cancer may now have 93 percent survival rate of about five years.

Ovarian cancer was known to be the quiet killer until just recently because detection of the disease could not be done until almost all the other parts of the body have already been affected. However, there is new evidence now indicating that most women who have ovarian cancer may experience some symptoms even on the onset of the disease. If you are aware of these symptoms, then early detection of the cancer may happen.

Early Detection Is Very Essential

You must know that early detection of ovarian cancer is very essential. This is because even with the new discoveries made regarding the disease, there are still only 20 percent of those who have ovarian cancer who were found to have the tumor growth before it has spread to other nearby organs. Your chances of surviving this disease are made better if it is found out at an earlier date.

The symptoms that come with ovarian cancer are known to be non-specific and may even mimic many common conditions like bladder and digestive problems. In fact, there have been many women who have been diagnosed with such illnesses as depression, irritable bowel syndrome, and stress before it was learned that they have ovarian cancer.

So the key to determining if you have ovarian cancer is the worsening or the persistence of the signs and symptoms. The symptoms that come with most digestive disorders often come and go and may even occur after the intake of particular foods. However, with ovarian cancer, fluctuation may not be present, as the symptoms would be constant and would worsen over time.

Symptoms to Watch Out For

Here are the common symptoms that women having ovarian cancer seem to experience, based on more recent studies:

1) Urgency in urinating
2) Pressure, bloating, fullness, or swelling of the abdominal area
3) Pain or discomfort on the pelvic area

Other signs and symptoms that may be experienced with ovarian cancer may include the following:

1) changes in the bowel habits like constipation that are unexplained
2) persistent gas, indigestion, or nausea
3) pain during intercourse
4) oss of appetite
5) menstrual changes
6) pain on the lower back
7) heightened abdominal girth
8) lack of energy that persists over time

Treatment for Ovarian Cancer

Treating ovarian cancer usually calls for a combined procedure of surgery and chemotherapy. Generally, if you have ovarian cancer, then you would need an extensive operation that would include the removal of both of your ovaries as well as uterus and fallopian tubes. Lymph nodes located bear the uterus as well the omentum or the fold of fatty abdominal tissue where ovarian cancer usually spreads to are removed as well. During this surgery, the bulk of the cancer growth is removed as much as possible. However, to make sure that all the cancer cells are removed from your system, then a chemotherapy treatment would have to be administered after the surgery.