The Other Women's Cancer.

This year alone, more than 22,000 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer and almost as many will lose their lives to this silent disease. Because the symptoms are often not obvious until the disease has progressed, 70% of women are diagnosed too late for treatment to be effective. In fact, only one in five ovarian cancers are discovered in the early, most treatable stage – before the cancer has spread outside of the ovaries – when it would be 90% treatable. Fewer than half of all women survive five years after diagnosis.

Being Proactive Can Make All the Difference.

Know the symptoms.

The sooner ovarian cancer is detected, the better the chances of overcoming it. If you experience any of these warning signs, talk to your doctor just to be sure:

• Bloating
• Pelvic or Abdominal Pain
• Trouble eating or feeling full quickly
• Urinary symptoms, such as urgent or frequent feelings of needing to go

While these symptoms also represent common problems that affect most women at different times, it's important to be aware of them. If you have one or more of these symptoms, and if they persist for two weeks or more, see your doctor immediately.

Things You can do:

All women should know the following steps they can take to avoid being surprised by the subtle approach of ovarian cancer.

• Learn your family history.
If any female members of your family – either on your mother’s or your father’s side – has had ovarian cancer, it is important you notify your primary care physician and your obstetrician/gynecologist. They can monitor you on a regular basis using a variety of diagnostic tests that are available to screen for ovarian cancer. It is also important to notify your doctor if any male family members develop cancer.

• Be your own advocate.
Researchers have found that women experience symptoms for an average of 12 weeks before consulting a doctor. In addition, it’s known that women who ignore their symptoms or who wait until the symptoms are severe before going to the doctor, will not live as long as women who go to the doctor when their symptoms are mild.

• Monitor your annual check-ups.
Make sure your primary care doctor and obstetrician/gynecologist conduct a thorough pelvic and rectal exam at every checkup. It is also important to have an annual mammogram beginning at age 40 and a regular colonoscopy after age 50.

If You Have A Family History Of Ovarian Cancer:

• Ask your doctor for the BRCA-1/BRCA-2 genetic test.
Genetic testing can determine if you carry gene mutations that put you at risk for having ovarian cancer. Carriers of the BRCA-1/BRCA-2 gene mutation carry a 60% lifetime increased risk of ovarian cancer. Testing for this gene consists of a simple blood test.

• Make an appointment at a "high-risk clinic."
At a high-risk clinic, a team of specialists will evaluate your medical history, ensure you receive the appropriate diagnostic tests and monitor your care. Among the tests that you may receive is the CA125 blood test. The CA125 screening test can be used to diagnose women who are at high-risk. CA125 is a protein that can be found in the blood and is useful in detecting and evaluating ovarian cancer. The test, however, is best used in combination with a pelvic ultrasound because its accuracy is only 80%, and is even less reliable when used to screen pre-menopausal women.

• Determine your HNPCC risk.
Women who have a rare syndrome known as HNPCC (hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer) have a 10% percent chance of developing ovarian cancer. These women should be monitored closely for signs of ovarian and other types of cancers.