Showing posts with label ovarian cancer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ovarian cancer. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Multinational Clinical Trial Underway for ovarian cancer


According to the American Cancer Society, more than 22,000 cases of ovarian cancer will be diagnosed this year, and 15,000 women will die from it. More common in women over 55, there is about a one in 69 chance that a woman will contract ovarian cancer during her lifetime. Ovarian cancer remains the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths among women, and though it is a survivable disease, early detection is vital.If detected and treated before it spreads past the ovaries, 93 percent of women will live longer than five years. Unfortunately, only about 20 percent of the cases are caught before this crucial stage. Fewer than half of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer will survive beyond those five years.Ovarian cancer frequently becomes resistant to standard chemotherapy drugs, which is known as "chemoresistance." Chemoresistance makes it difficult to successfully manage and treat ovarian cancer.
A Proactive Approach Towards Detection
Although ovarian cancer was once coined "the silent killer," today, increased knowledge regarding what symptoms to look out for has made it easier for women to detect the cancer in its earliest stages.According to the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance (OCNA), some symptoms appear much more frequently in women with ovarian cancer than other women. These symptoms include bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, and urinary problems such as excessive urgency or frequency.OCNA encourages women to see a doctor, preferably a gynecologist, if they experience these symptoms almost daily for more than a few weeks or simply feel abnormal. Women with family histories that include cancer should be especially alert to these types of changes in their bodies. "Better safe than sorry" is the idea, and doctors will conduct pelvic exams, blood tests and transvaginal ultrasounds to look for ovarian cancer.Once diagnosed, treatments vary widely. Depending on what stage the cancer is in, treatments can include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy or investigational treatments in clinical trials. Phenoxodiol, one investigational (experimental) drug researchers are studying, is currently beginning Phase III of the clinical trial process. Phenoxodiol, which has designated "Fast Track" status by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, is believed to help chemotherapy drugs, such as carboplatin, kill chemoresistant cancer cells by removing factors in the cells that block the killing action of chemotherapy. In laboratory studies, phenoxodiol has demonstrated that cancer cells pretreated with phenoxodiol were killed with lower doses of chemotherapy drugs. Importantly, phenoxodiol has been shown not to adversely affect normal cells in animal and laboratory testing.A clinical trial called "OVATURE," for OVArian TUmor REsponse, is underway to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of phenoxodiol. The trial, which aims to recruit 470 patients, is being conducted at clinical sites in the U.S., Europe and Australia. Researchers hope that when used in conjunction with chemotherapy (carboplatin), phenoxodiol will battle the cancer better than the chemotherapy can on its own.In 2007, the National Institutes of Health will invest $106 million in ovarian cancer research. Yet despite continual advances in medicine, ovarian and other cancers remain difficult to detect and treat. It remains important for women to be alert to changes in their bodies and maintain a willingness to take action when something doesn't feel right. While perhaps ovarian cancer can no longer be called a "silent killer," it is still a quiet one. Increased awareness and more research are keys to helping women fight this deadly disease.
Source by ezinearticles.com

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Living with Ovarian Cancer


Living with ovarian cancer can be very tough on a woman. Even if she gets her cancer diagnosed early, the treatment process itself can produce complications that can make her life miserable. For example, chemotherapy is known to make people sick, while surgery carries with it a lot of pain. But at least these options will bring about long-term survival, when they are used with ovarian cancer in its beginning stages. Yet, what about women who are living with ovarian cancer that has progressed to something much worse? They suffer both the complications of treatment and the fact that their chances of living long aren't very high.With that being said, what's the best way to go about living with ovarian cancer? Well, first a woman should network with other women who are also living with ovarian cancer. These women can be found on ovarian cancer message boards and/or at ovarian cancer support groups. Sometimes you can contact people who are part of these groups as they are often in a similar situation as you.Secondly, you should consider going to clinical trials. These are research studies in which new drugs or other ovarian cancer therapies are tested. Granted, there's no guarantee that such things will stop your ovarian cancer, but it at least gives you some form of hope. You are also providing invaluable research data for scientists who are looking to see what will kill the cancer tumors and what won't. Even if the treatment can't save your life, perhaps through your participation researchers can gain the knowledge they need to form future treatments that could save the lives of other women.Finally, when you are living with ovarian cancer, you should find a way to develop your spiritual side. This doesn't necessarily equate to being religious, though if you are religious it doesn't hurt to hold on to it even more. But with true spirituality, you are looking at things on a level higher than obeying commandments or even seeking 'heaven'. With true spirituality you are looking at your existence in relation to the overall universe and God. Even atheists can become more spiritual, by partaking in the things of life that bring an ethereal sense of joy. For example, going camping and enjoying the beauty of nature is one way of increasing a person's spirituality. Embarking on your own personal talents, such as painting or writing is another way you can get in touch with your spirituality.In conclusion, you do not have an easy road ahead when you are living with ovarian cancer. However, you can make life more bearable by: talking about your disease with other women who also have it, partaking in clinical trials and developing a deeper sense of spirituality in spite of living with ovarian cancer. These things won't make your cancer go away, but they may help you find more comfort as you go through each day.
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Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Prognosis of Ovarian Cancer, Nothing is Set in Stone


The definition of a prognosis is a professional medical opinion about the most likely course and outcome of a particular disease based on records from hundreds of patients with the disease.However, there are many factors that can influence your individual ovarian cancer prognosis. Some of these factors include a patients overall health, their response to treatments and the stage of the cancer. This is why an ovarian cancer prognosis can never accurately predict the future for a woman with ovarian cancer.It is easy to see why women who have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer are worried about their future. Among women, ovarian cancer is the fourth leading death from cancer. In order to help patients and their family plan for treatment, lifestyle changes and financial issues it is best to learn as much about the disease as possible so you know what is likely to happen in the future months. Often those who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer are anxious to hear their prognosis. As a result, many go to their doctors or research statistics associated with ovarian cancer.The simple definition of an ovarian cancer prognosis is the fact that it provides a patient with their probability of pulling through and recovering from the cancer or suffering a recurrence. A return of the cancer is always an issue with whether or not a patient wants to continue treatments.Some of the factors a doctor will consider when making an ovarian cancer prognosis include the following:
•The type and location of the cancer
•The stage of the cancer and how far it has spread to other areas of the body
•The age, overall health and treatment reaction of the woman
Before a doctor discusses a patient's prognosis and attempt to determine what will happen, all of these factors are considered carefully. Doctors will also base their prognosis on data from researchers that has been gathered throughout the years from hundreds or thousands of cancer patients. These statistics will often help a doctor to consider patients in a similar situation to that of the individual they are treating.When a patient has a positive response to cancer treatment then they will often get a positive prognosis. However, if a patient has a poor response to treatment then they will likely get a unfavorable prognosis. It is important for women to remember that a prognosis is simply a prediction of what the doctor thinks will happen, but it is never completely accurate regarding the final outcome of a patient's treatment.A doctor who has spent a lot of time with the patient will have the most current information about the patient's illness. This is why it is important for cancer patients to stay with the same doctor in order to increase the strength of the prognosis.It is important to realize that a doctor can't guarantee a prognosis to be accurate. A prognosis can quickly change if the cancer spreads or if there is a positive response to treatment. An ovarian cancer prognosis should simply be a guide to help a patient prepare for how they are going to deal with the illness.
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Sunday, December 26, 2010

Raising Ovarian Cancer Awareness


given though September is the 'official' month for ovarian cancer awareness, women of all ages need to be known about the disease. That's right... women of all ages. Why would ovarian cancer awareness matter for women who are not at the age for which there is a greater risk for getting the disease? Well, first of all there are pre-menopausal women who get ovarian cancer, though such a situation is not as common. Secondly, with proper ovarian cancer awareness, a young woman can make lifestyle choices that may help decrease her chances of getting the disease later on in the future.So, what are some issues that should be of concern when it comes to ovarian cancer awareness? Well, the first element to proper ovarian cancer awareness involves the preventative measures a woman can take to reduce the her risk of developing the condition. These preventative measures include: having babies in one's 20s, breastfeeding, taking birth control pills, avoiding talcum powder both on oneself and when changing a baby's diaper and eating a healthy diet with a limited number of saturated fats and dairy products. Women who are at greater risk can also consider getting their ovaries removed or getting a hysterectomy when they get elderly.The next are of concern when it comes to ovarian cancer awareness involves educating women of the symptoms associated with the condition. These symptoms involve urinary incontinence and abdominal pain in the disease's very early stages. As it progresses these symptoms will become worse and may be accompanied by other symptoms such as increased abdominal girth, digestive problems, post-menopausal bleeding and painful sex. By knowing these symptoms, (which tend to be mistaken for other less serious conditions), women can at least consider the possibility that they may be suffering from ovarian cancer.The final element of ovarian cancer awareness should involve giving a voice to the women that do have the disease. Too often in ovarian cancer awareness campaigns so much emphasis is placed on preventing the disease or even diagnosing the disease that the women who actually have the condition are forgotten. These women should be encouraged to speak about their condition, so other women who have it can develop strategies for which they can better deal with living with such a deadly illness.So, how can a woman increase ovarian cancer awareness? She can make a donation to any ovarian cancer awareness causes as well as participate in any fundraisers such organizations might be having. A common fundraiser could be a walkathon. Additionally, women who already have ovarian cancer can increase awareness by writing about their condition on message boards or on networks that accept articles from individuals. She can also consider starting a website or a blog about her condition, so the world can know that even if you are unfortunate enough to get the disease, it doesn't mean your life has to end. All in all if ovarian cancer awareness is going to be successful, both ovarian cancer sufferers and women who are not at risk need to find ways to contribute to such causes.
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Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Genetic Health Pertaining to Ovarian Cancer


Out of the vast number and types of ailments and diseases assailing our society today, cancer seems to be the most formidable-perhaps because of the mystery that yet surrounds this dreadful disease. Of the many cancers, ovarian cancer ranks high in the top 5 as the cause of all cancer deaths in women in the US and produces the highest death rate of women's reproductive cancers. One of the reasons this cancer is so deadly lies in the fact that it is extremely difficult to detect in its early stages. More often than not, once the disease has been positively diagnosed, severe damage has already taken place in the body. Woman are encouraged to take a more active role in the prevention of this disease by becoming more aware of their genetic health as it pertains to ovarian cancer.
Symptoms and Diagnosis of the Disease
Ovarian cancer begins in the ovaries where normal ovarian cells begin to multiply in an uncontrolled, abnormal manner, producing tumors in one or both ovaries. The only way to positively diagnose this cancer is by microscopically examining questionable fluids and tissues of the ovaries. Sometimes ovarian cancer cells can be detected by examination of the cervix. Genetic health/ovarian cancer tests are not difficult to administer. The difficult part is detecting the disease at an early stage.There are no unique symptoms of ovarian cancer. Thus, when general symptoms are present, they are often confused with other diseases. General symptoms may include pelvic pain or discomfort, back pain, nausea and indigestion, excess weight gain or loss, fatigue, vaginal bleeding, and pain during sexual intercourse. Doctors can usually diagnose ovarian cancer within three months of noticing these symptoms, but sometimes it may take six months or longer before a diagnosis can be made. By this time, the cancer has spread outside of the ovaries affecting other organs of the abdomen. In this advanced state, a woman has about a 20 percent chance of living beyond the next five years.
Treatment and Prevention
A woman with a significant family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer has a higher risk of developing the disease. Age, obesity, and poor diet are also contributing factors. Ovarian cancer generally occurs in woman who are menopausal, but woman who have started their menstrual cycles earlier than the norm are also at risk. Women who use fertility drugs are at a higher risk than others.Genetic health-ovarian cancer can be a difficult subject to approach as there is little that can be done to treat the disease once it has been positively diagnosed. Therefore, it is pertinent that women do all they can to stay aware of what is happening in their bodies. If the cancer is diagnosed at an early stage (while it is yet in the ovaries) there is an excellent chance that it can be treated successfully. Some doctors have recommended chemotherapy as a preventive measure and even surgery for those that are high risk. Preventive surgery, however, does not completely eliminate the risk. If a woman is aware that her family history places her in the high-risk category, she should seek to gain more information and, perhaps, even genetic counseling to improve her chances of deterring the disease. A greater awareness of genetic health ovarian cancer issues can help a woman better order her life.
Source by ezinearticles.com

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Critical Indicators Connected With Ovarian Cancer


Because ovarian cancer can have such a high mortality rate, it's important that women be vigilant to watch out for possible ovarian cancer warning signs. A woman's chances of survival are strong if the ovarian cancer is caught early, but approximately 75% of women are diagnosed after it has already spread beyond the ovaries, and this is when survival rates drop to only around 20 or 30 percent.To learn more about symptoms and signs of ovarian cancer that you should watch out for, read on.
Abdominal Bloating
Constant and persistent bloating is often a clear indicator of ovarian cancer, especially if it's a significant change in a patient's bloating habits. So, if you've noticed an increase in how much and how often you're bloating, talk to you doctor.
Abdominal or Pelvic Pain
Chronic pelvis and stomach pain along with constipation and digestion problems are more common in women diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
Loss of Appetite and Decreased Weight
Like many cancer patients, one of the clearest ovarian cancer warning signs is a significantly decreased appetite, trouble eating and, subsequently, significant weight loss. Patients who often feel full after eating just a little bit of food or who have recently developed trouble eating should consult a doctor.
Urinary Dysfunction
Urinary incontinence and a frequent or urgent need to urinate are both common symptoms of ovarian cancer. Patients often compare these symptoms and warning signs to a painless urinary tract infection (UTI). That is, the increased need to urinate but without the burning or pain during urination often associated with a UTI.
Fatigue and Pain
Unfortunately, the fatigue and back pain experienced by many patients with ovarian cancer is similar to pre-menstrual symptoms experienced by many women without the disease. The systems are generalized and not specific enough, but they can be helpful when diagnosing the problem.However, unlike women without ovarian cancer, patients with this disease typically experience these symptoms on most days, not just several days a month. Genealogy
If you know that your family has a history of ovarian cancer, it's important to tell your doctor and be screened or evaluated on an ongoing basis. Essentially, if one immediate family member or two members of your extended family have been diagnosed with the disease, then it could be a clear warning sign and an indicator that you need to watch out for possible symptoms.The good news is that even early stage ovarian cancer can produce many of these warning signs, and early detection often results in a stronger prognosis. So, watch your body, be aware of changes and don't be afraid to consult with your physician.
Source by ezinearticles.com

Saturday, December 11, 2010

PMS Symptoms and Treatment Options for Ovarian Cancer-PMS Symptoms


Many health conditions have very similar symptoms and therefore it is imperative that if you have any unusual symptoms going on that you get a thorough physical from your doctor to help determine exactly what is going on. Ovarian Cancer and PMS -premenstrual syndrome are two conditions that have some of the same symptoms. The similar symptoms of Ovarian Cancer and PMS will be reviewed. Treatment options for both will be discussed as well.
Ovarian Cancer Symptoms
It has been believed that symptoms of Ovarian Cancer did not appear until the tumor spreads. Very recently however, it has been discovered that there may be early signs. These symptoms can be bloating, abdominal pain and frequent urination or intense urge to urinate. You may experience problems with eating or you may feel full really quickly. If these symptoms have not appeared before or if they become severe, every woman should see their doctors' for cancer screening.Other symptoms of ovarian cancer could include a feeling of heaviness in the pelvic/abdominal area, lower abdominal pain, and/or vaginal bleeding. Other symptoms may include irregular periods, unexplained back pain that gets continually worse, and increased abdominal girth. Some gastro-intestinal problems such as gas, indigestion, decreased appetite and problems eating the usual amount of food may be symptomatic of ovarian cancer.Nausea, vomiting, and feeling bloated may also indicate ovarian cancer. Excessive hair growth may also occur.
PMS Symptoms
There are two believed causes of premenstrual symptoms. The first is low serotonin levels (brain chemical that helps control mood, sleep, and your appetite. Associated symptoms include mood swings, irritability, aggressive behavior, and anger. Fatigue and sleep problems may also occur. Anxiety, depression and concentration problems are also associated symptoms. Food cravings and an increase in your appetite may also occur.The second possible cause is related to the hormonal fluctuations and may be headaches including migraines. Sore breasts, bloating, and back ache might also be experienced by some women. There are over 100 associated indicators related to PMS.
Treatments
Ovarian cancer can be treated in a number of ways. Surgery is an option and may include removal of just the diseased ovary or both can be removed. If this is the case, you will no longer be able to get pregnant and early menopause may occur if you have had it already.Radiation Treatment uses extremely high energy x-rays to do one of two things; shrink the cancer cells or to kill them. With radiation you may experience the side effects such as nausea, fatigue, and diarrhea. Report these to your doctor immediately because there are ways to help. Chemotherapy is given most often after surgery.They may be administered intravenously or by mouth. Once the drugs are in the blood stream they spread throughout the body. This is a good treatment when the cancer has spread beyond the ovaries.Side effects from chemotherapy may include nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, hair loss, and rashes on the hands and feet. Damage may occur to the kidneys or nerves. Tiredness due to low red blood cell counts, bleeding/bruising from minor cuts due to low platelet counts and mouth sores may occur. Once treatments are done most of these things go away. PMS treatments include prescribed medications; possibly anti-depressants which are used no matter the level of severity. These come with some very serious side effects and as a result many people are looking for natural treatments such as herbal supplements.Herbal supplements of high quality should have been put through intense testing. The metabolism of the ingredients is tested at the molecular level and the interactions of the ingredients examined. They also should have been made to meet pharmaceutical grade standards. This guarantees that what the label says it contains, is really in the supplement. The safety, purity, and effectiveness of the supplement are also guaranteed. Before taking any supplement, check with your doctor because the herbs may have an effect on how prescriptions you may be taking for other conditions work.
Source by ezinearticles.com

Monday, December 6, 2010

Ovarian Cancer Surgery Abroad


Like most of the other cancer treatments, ovarian cancer surgery costs abroad are highly affordable and reduce financial and emotional load on the patients. Ovarian cancer surgery in India is conducted for localized cancers or metastic cancers affecting and infiltrating the surrounding healthy tissue or other organs. Several American prefer the treatment of ovarian cancer in Mexico as the country is located close to the United States and reduced hassles of travel. However affordable ovarian cancer treatment in Turkey provides significant cost saving opportunity. Several patients travel abroad for ovarian cancer surgery in Jordan, due to the advantage of international quality standards and highly trained medical teams.
High Risk factors for the developing cancer of the ovaries
1.One of the strongest predisposing factors is a family history. Clinical research studies suggest that familial history of cancers like breast, colon, rectum or ovary, is a high risk factor for developing the condition. Patients with family history are suggested to have regular
2.gynecological and medical check ups. Similarly, a personal history of cancer of the breast or rectum or colon also considerably increases the chances of developing cancer.
3.The risk of ovarian cancer is highest among women who have never conceived. This is attributed to the lack of the protective effect of progesterone, which increases during conception.
4.Randomized clinical trials have suggested that Hormone replacement therapy, taken for more than 10 years is known to be a potential cancer causing agent. Women who try to deal with menopausal symptoms using HRT are also at a high risk.
5.Obesity has been indicated to be one of the other risk factors to developing cancer of the ovary.
Surgical management of ovarian cancers
A cancerous growth affecting the ovaries, which are the female reproductive glands positioned in the upper pelvic region is referred to as ovarian cancer or cancer of the ovaries. There are several different techniques for conducting ovarian surgery, which depend primarily on the stage and the extent of metastasis. Some of the major techniques include :
  • Unilateral oophorectomy: Only one of the ovaries is removed. This is done in cases of low grade of ovarian cancers which have been detected in the early stages.
  • Bilateral oophorectomy: Both the ovaries are removed, especially when the cancer cells are detected in both the ovarian glands.
  • Salpingo-oophorectomy: When the fallopian tube is removed along with the affected ovary/ovaries. It is a common practice, especially when metastasis is expected
  • Total abdominal hysterectomy: A more radical procedure in which the fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix and the surrounding lymph nodes are surgically removed along with the ovaries. This procedure is conducted when metastasis to other surrounding tissues is observed.
  • De-bulking surgical procedure: In this procedure, the maximum amount of malignant tumor is excised. This procedure is used in advanced stages of malignancies where complete resection of the cancerous tissue is not feasible
  • Interval de-bulking: A variation of the above mentioned procedure, when a repeat de-bulking is done after the initial procedure. This procedure aims of removing cancer tissue that has been left behind after the first de-bulking procedure. This procedure is accompanied with intermittent chemotherapy and radiation therapy to reduce the size of the cancerous growth and tumor tissue.
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Friday, December 3, 2010

Why Ovarian Cancer Chemotherapy is Important


Like thousands of other women in America, you've gotten the devastating news that you have ovarian cancer, a disease that causes the ovaries to produce deadly tumors that attack various parts of the body. To make matters even worse, your cancer has progressed to a point that surgery will not take care of the problem. Your only real hope is chemotherapy. But then after reading up on chemotherapy as well as the overall survival rates associated with ovarian cancer, you wonder if it's worth going through. Well, this article will help you determine why ovarian cancer chemotherapy is important by explaining more of what is involved with the process.The first reason why ovarian cancer chemotherapy is important is because it is the only real chance you have at killing the tumors in your body. Chemotherapy works through powerful chemicals that retard the growth of ovarian cancer tumors. These chemicals are usually distributed intravenously, though sometimes oral drugs may be used. Either way, there is the potential that you could get very sick from the treatment. You may also lose your hair. But for many women, these complications are worth the increased chance they have for survival.The second reason why ovarian cancer chemotherapy is important is because it will help you feel better, even if your cancer is not initially treated. This may sound very odd, especially since chemotherapy has its own complications with it. But if you think about it, things should make sense. Basically, with chemotherapy, even if all of your cancer cells aren't killed, you are getting enough destroyed that you should feel some relief from the symptoms you might be experiencing. In fact, doctors even encourage more terminal ovarian cancer sufferers to still get chemotherapy. True, there is the secret hope that a miracle will happen, but most of the time the recommendation is made to not only extend whatever life they have but to also make it more comfortable.The final reason why ovarian cancer chemotherapy is important is because you are giving the medical community a chance to study the best ways of treating the disease. This is especially the case if you are getting ovarian cancer chemotherapy in a clinical trial. Even if you feel your life is 'over,' think about the lives of your daughter, granddaughter or any other women that will survive you. You never know what new facts could be found out by your treatment.In conclusion, there are several reasons why ovarian cancer chemotherapy are important. However, even with these reasons, don't be compelled for ovarian cancer chemotherapy if you truly don't want to do it. There are ovarian cancer sufferers that decide to let nature take its course, since they feel they are going to die anyway. There is as much honor and bravery in this course of action as the 'fighter' mode where a woman gets as much treatment as possible to survive. It will all depend on your own personal and spiritual perspectives. Let your own heart and mind guide you.
Source by ezinearticles.com

Monday, November 29, 2010

The Hidden Dangers of Ovarian Cancer Revealed


Many people do not understand that there is a very strong chance they are suffering from ovarian cancer and do no even know it. This is because it is one of the most common cancers out there. One out of 55 women in the US suffer from ovarian cancer and a large number of them are in the metastatic stage. Completely unaware of the silent symptoms of ovarian cancer. Yes, there are many people who are under the impression that cancer must display as some type of dull pain but you may be surprised to know that many women do not recognize the symptoms of cancer in its initial stages.Please do not let this happen to you. Like every other cancer, ovarian cancer means that there are some abnormal cells, which have started multiplying in the ovarian tissue. Therefore, there are some very subtle symptoms, which you need to be aware of and look out for,. These symptoms of cancer can give you an inkling that there is something wrong with the ovaries or any other part of your body for that matter..Remember that if the symptoms last more than 3 weeks, it is absolutely essential that you go and see a doctor immediately. Cancer, when caught at the very earliest stages, can be cured and treated. Most of the time treatment,in the initial stages, is very successful. And that is the reason why it is absolutely necessary that you recognize these symptoms:
  • Have you been suffering from unusual vaginal bleeding, at times which have nothing to do with your menstrual cycle?
  • Are you suffering from nausea and bloating?
  • Do you feel pain after and during sexual intercourse?
  • Is there heaviness in your abdominal region and the pelvic region?
  • Is there an unexplained weight loss or weight gain in the past couple of weeks?
  • Do you feel the necessity to urinate quite often?
Any or all of these symptoms or potential ovarian cancer signs may either be due to some infection in the ovaries or in a worst case scenario, the manifestation of ovarian cancer. Go to your doctor immediately, and tell her all about these symptoms. She is going to do an ovarian biopsy, if necessary, which means that she is going to take some ovarian cells and test them for the presence of cancerous cells. It is only after that she can tell you about the presence of ovarian cancer, the stage it is in, the extent to which it has spread (metastasis) and the medicines that she is going to recommend to check the cancerous growth and hopefully, cure you.You would want to know about some of the risk factors, which can increase your chances of suffering from cancer. If there is a history of this cancer in the family, it is necessary that you look out for the symptoms. Apart from that, if you are suffering from ovarian cysts, you may have a greater chance of being vulnerable to ovarian cancer. These are just some of the risk factors, which may presage the presence of ovarian cancer.On the other hand, there are some actions which are going to lower your chances of suffering from ovarian cancer. One of them is Dysmenorrhea, where you are going to suffer from severe pain in the uterus during your periods. Being the mother of twins or more than one children in one birth is also one factor, which is going to reduce the chances of your suffering from cancer of the ovaries.

Source by ezinearticles.com

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Drinking Tea May Guard Against Ovarian Cancer


Consuming two or more cups of tea a day over a period of time may reduce the risk of ovarian cancer dramatically, suggests a new study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. And each additional cup of tea per day appears to provide significantly more protection, investigators found.Because tea is the second most-consumed beverage in the world, its potential health benefits could have important implications for human health and disease prevention, says the Tea Council of the USA."An abundance of research suggests that tea may play a role in the reduction of risk of cardiovascular disease and various types of cancer," notes Joe Simrany, president of the trade organization. "These new findings suggest that drinking tea regularly may help to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer as well. 46 Percent Lower Ovarian Cancer RiskThe researchers found tea consumption of two or more cups of tea per day had a significant inverse association with risk of ovarian cancer.Specifically, women who drank two or more cups of tea per day experienced a 46 percent lower risk of ovarian cancer, compared with women who drank no tea. Each additional cup of tea was associated with an 18 percent decreased risk of ovarian cancer.
Additional Health Benefits
A multitude of research studies suggest that drinking tea may contribute to overall health. Potential benefits include the following:
  • Reduced risk of heart attack and stroke, and improved blood vessel function;
  • Less risk of certain cancers, including colorectal and skin cancers;
  • Decreased levels of oxidative DNA damage and increases in antioxidant levels in the bloodstream
  • Oral health benefits researchers believe certain compounds in tea may inhibit bacteria that cause bad breath and plaque, and the fluoride content in tea supports healthy tooth enamel.
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