The Facts of Life: Examining Reproductive Health

Cancers

Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is the fourth most common form of female reproductive tract cancers. It is also the deadliest. With more than 22,000 new cases reported each year in the United States, one out of every 70 American women will developcarcinoma of the ovary. One out of every 100 will die from this disease. Since the symptoms of ovarian cancer are difficult to detect, two-thirds of all women diagnosed with the disease discover the cancer only after it has spread, usually within the abdominal cavity. And while most ovarian cancers are detected in postmenopausal women, ovarian cancer may strike women of all ages, including teenagers.

Diagnostic Tests
A number of tests are available to assist in diagnosing ovarian cancers. Ultrasonography, measurement of the serum tumor marker CA 125, pelvic exams and Pap smears, are the most widely-used methods for detection of ovarian cancer. Some families are at increased risk for development of cancer, including ovarian cancer. These families may have multiple members with cancer of the breast, bowel and ovary. At present, there is no effective screening procedure for women who have no symptoms. The only positive method of detection is to examine the suspected tissue microscopically after removing the ovary (oophorectomy). If cancer is diagnosed, the opposite ovary, the uterus, lymph nodes and omentum (apron of fat hanging over the intestines) are removed. Then, chemotherapy is used to control any remaining cancer cells.

Symptoms and Prevention
Symptoms of ovarian cancer include non-specific abdominal discomfort or pressure, abnormal uterine bleeding, abdominal distention or blockage of the intestinal tract. Although two-thirds of all women with ovarian cancer have advanced disease at the time of diagnosis, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that all women have annual pelvic and rectal examinations, since an ovarian mass can occasionally be detected with these exams.