March is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. A month in which we can all contribute and support this cause by taking part in projects, opportunities, and challenges for charity. A chance for us to spread the word and educate those on Ovarian Cancer.
Ovarian Cancer is a type of cancer that affects the females 2 small organs known as the ovaries. This begins when abnormal cells start to grow at the end of the fallopian tubes or near/inside the ovaries. Each year, 295,000 women around the world are diagnosed with ovarian cancer and there are numerous signs to look out for to monitor this. The quicker the symptoms are detected, the better the chance of a successful treatment. When diagnosed and treated within stage 1, the survival rate is increased to 94%. Only a very small percentage are aware that some of the following symptoms in this blog are a sign of Ovarian Cancer and this needs to change so that Ovarian Cancer can be assessed and acted upon before it spreads and becomes more difficult to fight. Awareness on this subject will help to create a larger understanding of not only the symptoms to look out for, but the potential causes and the treatment options to follow.
Symptoms:
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Swollen or bloated stomach
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Urinating frequently
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Low Appetite / Feeling full after small amounts of food
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Fatigue
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Back pain
It is important to see a GP for an evaluation following any of these symptoms.
Causes:
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Mostly common between those of the age of 50 and above
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Inherited through family genes
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Smoking
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Began periods at a young age or experienced Menopause late
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Not given birth (ovulation is higher in these instances)
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Endometriosis
Treatments:
The treatment in which will be performed will depend on several factors such as:
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Where in the body the cancer is or has spread to
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The patients health
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Size of the cancerous area
Most Common Forms:
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Surgery
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Chemotherapy (Usually performed after surgery)
Other Forms of Treatment:
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Hormone therapy
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Immunotherapy
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Targeted therapy
Below are some well-known charities that are all running events throughout Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month:
Ovarian Cancer Action: https://ovarian.org.uk/
Target Ovarian Cancer: https://targetovariancancer.org.uk/get-involved/ovarian-cancer-awareness-month
The Eve Appeal: https://eveappeal.org.uk/getting-involved/take-part-in-an-event/ovarian-cancer-awareness-month/ More information on Ovarian Cancer can be found at Cancer Research UK: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/ovarian-cancer
