About
Ovarian Cancer
Education
Ovarian Cancer is the #1 deadly cancer of the reproductive center. This terrible disease is currently the 5th leading cause of cancer related deaths in women. Roughly 22,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer this year. The risk of developing Ovarian Cancer each year is 1 in 78. Unfortunately 80% of cases are diagnosed at late stage 3 and 4. There is currently not a diagnostic test to detect Ovarian Cancer in its early stages. Our goal is to educate as many women as possible in our community of the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer and to be an advocate for your own health.
Common Ovarian Cancer Symptoms
These symptoms are also commonly caused by benign (non-cancerous) diseases and by cancers of other organs. When they are caused by ovarian cancer, they tend to be persistent and a change from normal − for example, they occur more often or are more severe. These symptoms are more likely to be caused by other conditions, and most of them occur just about as often in women who don’t have ovarian cancer. But if you have these symptoms more than 12 times a month, see your doctor so the problem can be found and treated if necessary.
Testing for Ovarian Cancer
TVUS (Transvaginal Ultrasound)
TVUS is a test that uses sound waves to look at the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries by putting an ultrasound wand into the vagina. It can help find a mass (tumor) in the ovary, but it can’t actually tell if a mass is cancer or benign. When it is used for screening, most of the masses found are not cancer.
CA-125c Blood Test
The CA-125 blood test measures the amount of a protein called CA-125 in the blood. Many women with ovarian cancer have high levels of CA-125. This test can be useful as a tumor marker to help guide treatment in women known to have ovarian cancer, because a high level often goes down if treatment is working.