Ovarian cancer is a silent killer and is one of the deadliest threats to women’s health. The American Cancer Society says that about 20,180 American women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer this year alone. Every woman faces a risk of 1:57 risk of getting ovarian cancer in her lifetime.

The symptoms of ovarian cancer are not perceptible until the cancer becomes widespread and critical, which explains why thousands of women die of this dreaded disease every year. Although ovarian cancer is treatable, in most instances, it is detected late causing complications and death to ovarian cancer patients.

To date, there is no sure and effective way to diagnose or detect ovarian cancer in its early stage. Therefore, specialists, research groups and cancer advocacy groups, and government organizations are doing all of the ovarian cancer research work they can to finally shed light on the gray areas of this deadly disease. Some organizations provide grants for those willing and interested to conduct an ovarian cancer research study.

Among the most prominent organizations that promote awareness of ovarian cancer is the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance. It was formed in 1997 by seven ovarian cancer advocacy groups who joined forces to strengthen efforts to promote ovarian cancer education.

Ovarian cancer research teams probe into several areas of ovarian cancer including its symptoms (both in the early and the latter stage), stages, risk factors, prevention, risk reduction, and treatment, to increase awareness of this cancer. Knowledge of the said areas can be a woman’s greatest protection against this cancer.

However, apart from the fact that many information gaps still need to be filled, ovarian cancer research is conducted in response to this cancer’s high mortality rate. In the United States, ovarian cancer is the fifth among the gynecologic cancers that place women at the brink of death. Over 50% of all women diagnosed with the disease die within five years. It is with this fact that ovarian cancer research groups are exerting their best effort to uncover hidden truths about ovarian cancer.

Most ovarian cancer research reveals that women with ovarian cancer show the following symptoms: persistent and baffling gastrointestinal discomfort, nausea, digestive disturbances, bloating or swelling of the abdomen, pain in the abdominal and pelvic area, fatigue, frequent urinating, and abnormal bleeding during the postmenopausal stage.
A recent ovarian cancer research study conducted by the University of California shows that more than one-third of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer have shown the symptoms at least four months before they have been diagnosed with cancer; hence, there’s a good chance that ovarian cancer can be diagnosed earlier.
Researchers explained that the reason why the cancer is detected only when it’s already in its advanced state is that doctors do not perform tests that could diagnose cancer immediately. Doctors would usually have the patients undergo abdominal imaging and some gastrointestinal procedures, which they say are not that effective in diagnosing this disease.

Other ovarian cancer researchers are concerned about improving the treatment of ovarian cancer and preventing this disease. Many clinical studies are conducted to carefully analyze a drug’s potential in preventing high-risk women from developing ovarian cancer and in treating those in the early and latter stages of cancer.

Until next time #GYNEGirls and #Preggos…

Dr. Drai