Ovarian Cancer: Why Early Screening is Crucial

(Tina Dawn/ VM Med) — Ovarian cancer refers to a group of distinct cancers that originate at or near the ovaries. Which brings up the question: What are ovaries? 

Ovaries are reproductive glands found in women. Each woman has two ovaries, located in the lower abdomen, on each side of her uterus. The ovaries produce eggs for reproduction and the female hormones estrogen and progesterone.

The ovaries are made up of three main kinds of cells:

·   Epithelial cells – found on the outer surface of the ovary.

·   Germ cells – found inside the ovary and form the eggs.

·   Stromal cells – form the structural tissue that hold the ovary together.

Each of these types of cells may develop into a different type of tumour with a different prognosis.

The most common type of ovarian cancer is epithelial, accounting for 85-95 percent of cases. It originates in the cells lining the ovaries or fallopian tubes. Epithelial ovarian cancer prognosis depends on various factors, including age and overall health, but if diagnosed early, it has an excellent survival rate.

Only 2 percent of ovarian cancers are germ-cell tumours. Most are benign, but even those that are malignant have a good prognosis.

Only 1 percent of ovarian cancer arises from stromal cell tumours. They also have a good prognosis with more than 75 percent of patients surviving long term.

Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

September has been established as Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month to specifically raise public awareness about this type of cancer and help raise funds and resources towards fighting it.

Since the cure rate for ovarian cancer varies significantly depending on several factors, most notably the stage at diagnosis, paying attention to your body and any signs indicating something is wrong is very important. The earlier you get screened and diagnosed by a medical professional, the better.

Early detection generally means a better ovarian cancer prognosis. If it’s diagnosed and treated at stage 1, the five-year relative survival rate is about 94 percent, according to the American Cancer Society.

Surgery is the most common treatment for ovarian cancer. A total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy is the most common surgical procedure for treating ovarian cancer. The surgery essentially removes the uterus, both ovaries and both fallopian tubes.

According to Ovarian Cancer Canada, it is very important to remember that ovarian cancer is not just one disease; it is a group of diseases. Ovarian tumours may be benign (not cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Ovarian tumours that are malignant can spread to other parts of the body and can be serious.

An article entitled Reducing Ovarian Cancer Mortality Through Early Detection, points to the importance of catching ovarian cancer early.

“Although the five-year survival rates for most other solid tumors have improved steadily,” the article states, “ovarian cancer remains an exception, making it the deadliest of all gynecological cancers and five times deadlier than breast cancer.”

The Challenges in Detecting Ovarian Cancer Early

There are significant challenges in detecting and testing for ovarian cancer.

Symptoms are vague and mimic other, more common and benign conditions, which can lull people into a sense of non-urgency. Ovarian cancer can also be asymptomatic for several years, which makes it challenging to diagnose at an early stage.

Some common symptoms of ovarian cancer may include: 

• Bloating
• Bladder problems
• Constipation
• Abdominal or pelvic pain or discomfort
• Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly

It’s easy to see why they may be confused for minor issues.

Less common symptoms may include: 

• Fatigue
• Changes to your bowel habits
• Nausea
• Unexplained weight loss
• Bleeding after menopause
• Pain or bleeding after having sex
• Back pain
• Indigestion
• Difficulty breathing

If you suddenly notice new symptoms or persistent symptoms that continue for more than three weeks, it’s important to speak with your doctor to ensure they aren’t signs of something more serious.

Stages of Ovarian Cancer

Staging is the process of finding out how widespread the cancer is within your body, If the cancer has spread beyond your ovaries, the stage describes how far it has spread to other parts of your body.

• Stage 1 is when the cancer has grown in only one or both of the ovaries.
• Stage 2 is when the cancer has spread beyond the ovaries to nearby pelvic organs.
• Stage 3 is when the cancer has spread outside the pelvis.
• Stage 4 is when the cancer has spread outside of the pelvis and abdomen. It’s also referred to as distant metastasis.

How to Test for Ovarian Cancer

There are no recommended screening tests for ovarian cancer for women who do not have symptoms and are not at high risk of developing ovarian cancer.

To date, no screening tests have been shown to decrease the rate of death from ovarian cancer. For those with a higher risk, the two tests used most often (in addition to a complete pelvic exam) to screen for ovarian cancer are a pelvic or transvaginal ultrasound and the CA-125 blood test.

Your family history and any inherited gene mutations, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2 are among the common risk factors for ovarian cancer. Other risk factors may include obesity, endometriosis, and using hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

Ovarian Cancer Canada reminds us that many Canadians mistakenly assume that the HPV vaccine prevents ovarian cancer, and that the Pap test detects ovarian cancer. This is incorrect. The HPV vaccine and the Pap smear test are associated with cervical cancer. They do not screen for ovarian cancer.

Take Control of Your Health

The major takeaway here is this: early diagnosis remains the key.

Treatment can be far more effective, and the overall outcome is far better. The five-year survival rate climbs to 90 percent when a diagnosis is made early, and the cancer is contained to the ovary. Unfortunately, most cases of ovarian cancer are not detected until after the cancer has spread, leading to a less favourable prognosis and far more complicated treatment.

Understanding what ovarian cancer is, its symptoms, its risk factors, its diagnosis, and the treatment options available is crucial for your own gynecological and overall health.

Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month ensures that more women understand ovarian cancer can go undetected for years. Early detection is vital in seeking timely medical advice that could potentially save your life.

VM Med Private Gynecology Clinic

VM Med’s Gynecology Clinic specializes in women’s health, with a focus on the female reproductive system. The clinic’s medical specialists provide care and monitor a woman’s sexual and reproductive health throughout her life. Annual preventative healthcare screenings, cancer prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment, are available, as well as all comprehensive medical imaging services.

We offer a welcoming environment and specialized counselling and treatments on a wide range of issues. The clinic’s team of health experts takes care of every aspect of our patients’ health needs and works with you to create a personalized course of treatment.

For more information, you can read our extensive archive of VM-Med blogs, including The Different Stages of Ovarian Cancer or Ovarian Cancer Symptoms.

Still have questions? Book a consultation with our experts. We support every aspect of our patients’ gynecological health throughout the course of their lives.