What is Ovarian Cancer: Symptoms , Causes and Treatment

Ovarian cancer constitutes 3.4% of all cancer cases in the world and is the 3rd most common cancer among Indian women [1]. A highly common and one of the most prevalent types of cancer, ovarian cancer, can be beaten if it is treated early on. Initially, it may not be too easy to detect ovarian cancer symptoms since they can be mild.  

In most cases, these symptoms may also be linked to other bodily anomalies like constipation, change in energy levels, and more. Owing to this reason, it is important to know everything about ovarian cancer causes and ovarian cancer treatment so that you can act promptly when needed. Read on to understand ovarian cancer better.  

Ovarian cancer: Know it better 

In 2022 alone, the number of deaths owing to ovarian cancer has reached almost 13,000 globally. Even though this is a big number, there is hope as the survival rate of ovarian cancer has increased to more than 49% [2]. This is a positive factor and ensures that you can be treated and beat this cancer.  

A cancerous growth in the ovary is generally referred to as ovarian cancer. Every human female body consists of 2 ovaries that are known to produce eggs. When this organ encounters a cancerous growth, it is commonly referred to as ovarian cancer. If you want to protect yourself from Prostate cancer  you can avail cancer insurance

Ovarian cancer symptoms

While other cancers can be diagnosed early on with check-ups, the challenge with ovarian cancer is that a regular pelvic exam usually doesn’t help with its detection. However, don’t miss out on this test as it can help diagnose other health conditions. Even a transvaginal ultrasound is not a trustworthy solution, but scientists are working on creating a better test for ovarian cancer.  

Ovarian cancer causes

Most experts cannot definitively pinpoint the major causes of ovarian cancer as the research until now is not very conclusive. However, the major high-risk factors that contribute to the disease are the following.  

• Family history of ovarian cancer, where other family members may have been diagnosed with the disease, and you may have inherited the gene mutation 
• Women who have never been pregnant are also considered to be at high risk. 
• Women who are dealing with endometriosis or have had breast, uterine or colorectal cancer are more at risk.  
• Age is also another factor that can increase the risk of ovarian cancer.  
• Inherited conditions like Lynch syndrome also increase the risk of ovarian cancer.  
• Women who are obese and taller than average are also at higher risk, as are those who have endometriosis. 

Considering these ovarian cancer causes, you can keep an eye on the symptoms to know if there is a health marker that you need to report to a doctor.  

Ovarian cancer treatment procedure

Once detected, ovarian cancer treatment is very straightforward and involves surgery for the removal of the tumor, leading to chemotherapy. In order to detect ovarian cancer, the physician will conduct an MRI scan and ultrasound, and later a biopsy of the tumor to confirm the presence of cancerous cells in the body.  

A little awareness about ovarian cancer, as well as other types of cancer like breast cancer, goes a long way in keeping you attentive to the symptoms. You can start now and observe World Cancer Day become more conscious of these issues. By knowing the basics of uterine cancer causes or symptoms of breast cancer and by doing regular health check-ups, you can get treated early on. So, pledge to act responsibly for better health.  

Doing this is easier than ever with Bajaj Finserv health. This platform connects you to thousands of specialized doctors, including oncologists, who can help answer all your queries about diseases and infections and give you remedial treatment. Simply log on to the website or app to get a doctor consultation in just a few clicks from doctors across India.  

You can choose an easy teleconsultation or even an in-clinic appointment using this platform. What’s more, you can even book lab tests without stepping out of your home and get health insurance with a 100% digital process. The app helps you monitor important health markers and even has medicine and vaccine reminders. Use it today to attend to your health mindfully!