Health Information Center

Ovarian cancer is deemed to be the most deadly gynaecological cancer and is the fifth leading cause of cancer related deaths is the United States. Claiming close to some 15,000 lives each year, it is one form of cancer difficult to recognize because it displays no symptoms till it has advanced to a very high level. Ovarian cancer stages are dependent on the size and spread of the tumor inside the body. The further treatment of ovarian cancer is dependent on which stage it has progressed to. To classify stages, doctors take help of a simple rating system from 1 to 4. Stage I is the lowest on scale whereas Stage IV is close to being fatal and is the highest on the scale. Other than that, there are also borderline tumors.

A borderline tumor consists of low grade cancerous cells which have just started growing and multiplying. These have not yet affected the ovary in any way by growing into or damaging the ovarian tissue around them. This is not considered to be a bonafide ovarian cancer stage but is still treated as one with surgery. Stage I of the disease means that it has spread to the ovaries. This may be limited to one ovary or could be present in both ovaries. A further form of stage I shows up if the cancer has spread to the surface of the ovary or found inside of the abdomen during surgery. For stage I of ovarian cancer, surgery is the most effective way to dealing with it and preventing any sort of recurrence. Continue reading ‘Ovarian Cancer Stages’ »

Like all cancers, there is no permanent and full cure for cancer. After entering the period of remission, there are always risks of going into relapse and battling the few cells that were not affected by therapy. No one method works fully on ovarian cancer and so it requires a combination of varied ways to achieve a successful ovarian cancer treatment. These methods are of three kinds, surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Along with medicines, these three can be used during different stages of cancer to produce results.

Close to every patient that suffers from ovarian cancer will undergo surgery during the process of treatment. Depending on which stage the cancer stands, surgery can be either limited to removing as many cells as possible to complete removal of the ovaries, fallopian tubes and uterus. This is known as a hysterectomy and gives a full chance of recovery with very little risk of relapse due to guaranteed removal of all tumorous tissue in the body. However, if the cancer has spread beyond the ovaries and uterus, then more invasive surgery would be required with a heavy dosage of drugs to ensure that no cells remain in the body. The removal of the womb and the lymph nodes of the body which have been affected by cancer is known as an oophorectomy. It is undertaken when trying to remove as much cancerous tissue from the body as possible. This form of ovarian cancer treatment works best with younger women and middle aged ones since their bodies can take heavy surgery without much trauma. Continue reading ‘Ovarian Cancer Treatment’ »

Cancer in any part of the body is caused by tumorous cells spreading and multiplying throughout the body. These cells can be divided into different types and forms which determine the type of cancer one has and its treatment. Ovarian cancer is basically caused by three different kinds of tumors, giving rise to three different types of ovarian cancer. These are known as epithelial tumors, Germ Cell tumors and Stromal tumors. All three of them affect different parts of the ovary and vary in their rates of occurrence. All three of these however, can have effects such as producing masculine features and hirsutism in the patient because of production of male sex hormones.

Epithelial Tumors are formed from the surrounding tissue of the ovary. These are the most common kind of tumors that is seen among women, affecting close to 80% of all ovarian cancer patients. It is what is usually known as ovarian cancer as such. These can be both benign and malignant in nature. These can also be invasive carcinogenic in nature, which means the cancerous cells would actively spread to other parts of the body if given a chance. The treatment for invasive tumors requires the removal of both kidneys; however this can be replaced with conventional therapy at the risk of a lowered chance of full recovery and remission. Epithelial tumors can be usually treated with the help of simple surgery and follow up with chemotherapy, depending on the stage of cancer. This is found more in adult women than in teenagers and young adults. Continue reading ‘Understanding Different Types of Ovarian Cancer’ »

Ovarian cancer is a type cancer that is caused due to the abnormal growth of ovarian cells on the tissues of a woman’s ovary and thereby production of malignant tumors. Ovaries are a pair of female reproductive glands located on either side of a woman’s uterus. According to type of formation/origination of cells the this can be categorized into the following 3 types:

* Epithelial ovarian cancer: The common type of cancer that which develops on the outer surface of the ovary, accounts for 90% of ovarian cancer
* Germ cell tumor cancer: That which develops on the egg-producing cells (ova’s)
* Stromal tumor cancer: That which originates around the ovarian tissues

The rest two types rarely occur in humans. The various treatments to curb this type of cancer these days are surgery, radiation and intraperitoneal chemotherapy. Apart from these conventional medical treatments various alternative treatments for ovarian cancer are available to ease out the stress, relieve the pain and minimize the symptoms of routine medical treatments. Nutrition therapy is well-known alternative treatment for ovarian cancer. Continue reading ‘Natural Therapies – Alternative Treatment For Ovarian Cancer’ »

Ovarian cancer is one of the most deadly forms of cancer. Ovarian cancer is a cancerous growth in different parts of female reproductive organ called Ovary. This disease kills more women than any other form of cancer. This cancer is mainly developed by women of age more than 40. This disease is also called as silent killer as it no symptoms of this deadly disease can be found in initial stages. Only as the cancer develops and attains advanced stages, can we get to know the presence of this deadly disease. Surgery, for time and again, has been the primary treatment method for curing this disease. Nowadays many alternative methods have been developed to cure this disease.

Hyperbaric Oxygen therapy: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is one of the best alternative methods to treat ovarian cancer. In this method, the cancer patient is made to breathe 100% pure oxygen by placing her under increased atmospheric pressure. When a patient is exposed to this alternative ovarian cancer cure method, her hemoglobin gets saturated and her blood gets hyper oxygenated by dissolving the fresh oxygen in her plasma. Researches have proved that this method could effectively cure ovarian cancer. Continue reading ‘Alternative Ovarian Cancer Treatments – 3 Best Methods’ »

As a survivor of both breast and colon cancers, I want to always bring cancer awareness to the general public. While I have not had ovarian cancer nor known anyone close to me who has, I was struck to realize how easily the symptoms of this horrible disease can be mistaken for minor health problems. Don’t take chances with your life, if you or someone you love shows any of the symptoms listed below, please go to your gynecologist and explain your symptoms.

Ovarian cancer is often known as the silent disease because so many women don’t realize they have it until it’s too late. As a cancer survivor, I always want to take advantage of getting any cancer information out to the public. According to Mark Messing, M.D., a gynecological oncologist with the Baylor Health Care System in Texas, some of the earliest signs of ovarian cancer are:

* Bloating
* Pelvic pain
* Abdominal pain
* Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly
* Changes in urinary or bowel functions Continue reading ‘Be Aware of the Early Warning Signs of Ovarian Cancer’ »

Ovarian cancer is one of the many cancers that affect women and it is just as deadly as other forms of cancer. The name itself tells you that the ovaries are involved in the cancer and is often where it starts.

The ovaries are responsible for producing the egg cells released in the female body at least once a month. If the egg isn’t fertilized by a sperm cell then it will be flushed from the body during the menstruation period. However, many question why cancer can occur in the ovaries and what causes it to happen.

The specific cause of this cancer isn’t yet known, but there are some factors to consider that can determine a woman’s risk for it’s development. For example, a woman who had an early menstruation and menopause is at greater risk of having this problem. Continue reading ‘Specific Causes of Ovarian Cancer Still Remain a Mystery’ »

Ovarian cancer is known to be a silent killer. It takes the lives of close to 15,000 women across the United States each year and is usually difficult to detect. It is the leading cause of death among gynaecological cancers and the fifth among cancers of all kind. Much of the problem in providing adequate and fast treatment comes from the fact that it displays no tell-tale ovarian cancer symptoms to go by. Often enough, screening for cancer can fail at the first attempt and require multiple tests to provide a true positive result. Other than that, the early stages are very similar to other gynaecological problems that women display and are usually treated for the same. It can also be wrongly diagnosed as Irritable Bowel Syndrome and treated for that, further postponing correct therapy for cancer.

There are certain documented ovarian cancer symptoms, which when occurring together for long periods of time can be a cause for alarm. The loss of appetite, unexplained weight gain or loss, swelling in the abdomen and general pain in the stomach region are the first indicators of a disorder. After which, any kind of persistent bowel related problems, such as frequent urination, diarrhoea, excessive gas and constipation are further symptoms. Along with these, pain during sexual intercourse and irregular vaginal bleeding other than the time of menstruation is the extreme symptoms that definitely call for an immediate screening for ovarian cancer. Under such circumstances, going in for a simple pelvic examination is the first step one should take for confirming that the symptoms are indeed likely to be indicative of another disorder. After which, a CA 125 blood test and a Transvaginal Ultrasonography are required. Continue reading ‘Ovarian Cancer Symptoms’ »

When ovarian cancer patients undergo chemotherapy, nausea and vomiting are the most commonly made complaints. Even as the delivery methods of the chemotherapy drugs may vary, by and large nausea is the universally experienced side effect, closely followed by vomiting. What makes this side effect so miserable for patients is the fact that even on an empty stomach the feelings do not subside, and more than one chemotherapy patient may find herself dry heaving repeatedly during and after her chemotherapy treatment.

Since ovarian cancer treatment quite frequently includes chemotherapy, patients and their physicians have been working hard to figure out ways around this side effect.

* On the day of your chemotherapy, physicians recommend that you have an easy to digest breakfast. Dry toast, Jell-o, saltines, or slices of white bread are recommended. Stay away from eggs and anything else that may be considered a full breakfast. Especially of note is that you should avoid anything with a heightened acidity, such as grapefruit or orange juice.
* Bring along some plain crackers and a bottle of water. Listen to your body and its signals! You may be surprised to find that you are craving food in the midst of chemotherapy. Eat one cracker and see how you feel.
* Once you arrive at home, plan on avoiding the smells of spicy foods. In the same way, avoid the smell of drinks as well. Some ovarian cancer patients have reported that the smell of their children’s hot chocolate or their husband’s coffee suddenly brought on a wave of nausea. To this end it is best to spend the first 24 hour period after chemotherapy without strong scents and odors. Continue reading ‘Dealing With Nausea and Vomiting When Undergoing Chemotherapy For Ovarian Cancer’ »

Radiation therapy for ovarian cancer is a long recognized tool in destroying the tumors that are threatening your life. Unfortunately, this realization does not make dealing with side effects of radiation therapy for ovarian cancer any easier. The most commonly reported side effects of this therapy are three fold:

1. Nausea. This is felt almost immediately after radiation treatments and may last as long as five to eight hours. In some cases the body may begin by having preemptive nausea when you are ready to go to a radiation treatment appointment and you will already feel queasy even before you set foot into the treatment center. While there is little that may be done to prevent the nausea, there are some steps that may make it a bit easier to deal with: first and foremost, consider eating only bland foods sparingly on the day of your therapy appointment. Saltine crackers, Jell-O, or even thinned oatmeal may be sufficient to keep you from being overly hungry and from keeping your stomach to give you too much trouble. In severe cases, your doctor may prescribe medication to control your nausea. Continue reading ‘Dealing With Side Effects of Radiation Therapy For Ovarian Cancer’ »