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Ovarian Cancer: Five Silent Symptoms Every Woman Should Know
As part of her Interim Budget 2024, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman recently announced the government's plan to promote cervical cancer vaccination for girls aged 9–14. The initiative is a big milestone in the realm of women's health and safety, and sheds light on the importances of recognising and taking measures against common gynaecological cancers, including ovarian cancer.
Speaking with the OnlyMyHealth team, Dr (Prof) Vijay Patil, Consultant-Medical Oncology, PD Hinduja Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Mahim, discussed the prevalence of the disease in India and how it can be prevented.
Also Read: The Silent Illness: Expert Sheds Light On The Risk Factors Of Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian Cancer PrevalenceAccording to a 2017 study published in the journal Cancer Biology and Medicine, ovarian cancer accounts for an estimated 2.39 lakh new cases and 1.52 lakh deaths each year. The study further reports that one in 75 women has a lifetime risk of developing the disease, whereas one in 100 women could succumb to it.
In India, ovarian cancer, or epithelial ovarian cancer, is one of the most common gynaecological tumours, said Dr Patil, adding that the country has the second highest numbers of ovarian cancer in the Asian region.
"Unfortunately, this tumour prevalence is on the rise and is mostly seen in advanced stages, which require both surgical resection and chemotherapy," the doctor shared.
While in recent years, with the advent of better systemic therapies, the outcomes in this tumour have improved, the doctor highlighted the silent and asymptomatic nature of the cancer, which leads to delayed diagnosis.
Silent Symptoms Of Ovarian CancerSilent ovarian cancer refers to a type of ovarian cancer that often develops without causing any noticeable symptoms in its early stages. This either means that the disease does not show any symptoms at all or that they are very mild and therefore not suspected of being cancer. Lack of clear symptoms often leads to a late-stage diagnosis, mostly when the disease is more advanced, according to Dr Patil.
Therefore, let us take a look at five of these symptoms, which are most common with ovarian cancer but are often overlooked due to their mild nature:
Ovarian cancer is preventable, according to Dr Patil.
There are three types of prevention for ovarian cancers, which include:
Primordial prevention is a type of prevention where you educate people about the risk factors for cancer. In the case of ovarian cancer, factors such as heredity, lifestyle habits, and hormonal changes can contribute to the development of the disease. Additionally, obesity, late pregnancy, and hormonal therapies are some of the modifiable risk factors.
Primary prevention is a type of prevention that involves people who have developed risk factors for cancer but have not developed the cancer yet. Making necessary changes, such as maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced, anti-inflammatory diet, and working out regularly, can reduce a person's risk of cancer.
Secondary prevention involves undergoing annual cancer screening, especially if a person is over 40 years of age. This can help detect the cancer early and provide effective treatment for the patient.
ConclusionOvarian cancer is largely asymptomatic and presents at an advanced stage. With the help of primordial and primary prevention, one can reduce their risk of the disease. Regular screening can also help detect the cancer on time, ensuring a successful outcome.
Elderly Patients Are Being Denied Life-saving Cancer Care On The NHS, Major Study Warns
Elderly cancer patients are being denied potentially life-saving treatments on the NHS, a major study warns today.
Britain's cancer survival is lagging behind similar countries because patients are less likely to get chemotherapy and radiotherapy, the first research across three continents found.
The treatment lottery was particularly stark among older patients, with fewer than three in 100 patients over 85 given chemotherapy – 20 times lower than those aged 65 to 74.
Last night, critics described it as 'blatant ageism' and accused the NHS of 'excluding' this generation from live-saving treatments.
Anne Shaw (pictured with her husband Louis) has won a six-figure payout after NHS medics failed to detect her cancer and dismissed her concerns for two years
The research was carried out by the International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership and is the first to examine treatment differences for eight cancer types across three continents. Graph shows the average radiotherapy use
While the level of progress for cancer survival for some forms of the disease has been rapid, such as for breast and prostate cancers, others, like those for lung and pancreas have only improved at a snail's pace
Cancer-stricken woman, 68, has months to live after NHS doctors missed a 3cm tumour clearly visible on scanA woman has just months to live after doctors missed a golf ball-sized tumour clearly visible on a scan - then dismissed her concerns for two years as the cancer spread.
In the two decades beforehand, Anne Shaw, 68, had been treated successfully for breast and ovarian cancer, which put her at higher risk of having cancer again.
But doctors at St James's University Hospital in Leeds failed to spot a 3.3cm tumour on her ovary during a routine scan in summer 2019.
And they then failed to take her seriously when she returned to the hospital in February 2020 complaining of symptoms of ovarian cancer and raising concerns it may have returned.
'The registrar I saw had clearly not read my medical records,' Anne said. 'He felt my stomach area briefly and told me I was fine, despite what I was telling him about my history.'
It was only after she went back to her GP in September 2021 that she was fast-tracked to a cancer specialist and the cancer was finally diagnosed that autumn. By that time, it had spread over large parts of her bowel.
AdvertisementUniversity College London examined data from 780,000 people diagnosed with eight types of cancer in Australia, Canada, Norway and the UK. Alongside stark variations in treatment, British patients had some of the longest waits to start cancer care, typically waiting 81 days in Labour-run Wales.
Experts said the lower treatment rates, alongside delays to diagnosis and treatment, were the 'missing piece of the puzzle' in explaining the country's stalling cancer care.
Samantha Harrison, of Cancer Research UK, said: 'What we can now say is that treatment is clearly playing a role in survival differences.
'The countries that have better outcomes tend to have both more and quicker use of treatments. Use of chemotherapy and radiotherapy is less in this country, particularly in older patients, and this is affecting survival.'
Researchers from the International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership looked at cases of oesophageal, stomach, bowel, liver, pancreatic, lung and ovarian cancer diagnosed between 2012 and 2017.
They found people aged 85 and over had three times lower odds of receiving radiotherapy than those aged 64 to 74. Just 2 per cent of UK patients aged 85 and over received chemotherapy, compared to 8 per cent in Australia and 14 per cent in Ontario, Canada.
Caroline Abrahams, director of Age UK, said it demonstrated that older people were prone to 'unequal treatment' within the NHS. She added: 'While it is true that older people are more likely to live with multiple conditions, that alone is not a valid reason to exclude them. With the right support and clinical expertise, many older people can and would, still choose to benefit from cancer treatment.'
Dennis Reed, of over-60s campaign group Silver Voices, said: 'The NHS shows time and time again that it is systemically ageist. The older you get, the less likely you are to be diagnosed in good time, and even then your chances of medical or surgical intervention are much less.'
Compared to the four comparable countries, the UK was less likely to use chemotherapy for all cancers looked at, according to the findings published in the Lancet Oncology.
An NHS spokesman said: 'More people than ever are being diagnosed at an early stage of cancer and more treatment options are available.
Ovarian Cancer: 4 Major Early Warning Signs Women Should NOT Ignore
Ovarian Cancer is a fatal disease, often termed the silent killer. It is challenging to detect in its early stages due to the subtle and easily overlooked symptoms it presents. There is no particular reason how and why a lump or tumor can develop inside the body but several. It is more common in women post menopause but that does not take the light away from maintaining a good health in young females. Symptoms of ovarian cancer can be an oversight. These silently effect the body and are often diagnose at later stages. This makes it all the more important to stay aware about ones own body. Several early signs of ovarian cancer may overlap with other common conditions making it a silent killer for women.
However, early detection is critical for improving treatment outcomes, underscoring the necessity for heightened awareness about the initial symptoms, diagnostic procedures, and treatment options. India.Com got in touch with Dr Ashish Gupta USA trained, American board-certified medical oncologist, Chief of Medical Oncology, Unique Hospital Cancer Centre, Dwarka India.
Ovarian Cancer Early SymptomsIn the early stages, ovarian cancer may not cause any noticeable symptoms. However, some women might experience subtle signs that should not be ignored, including:
These symptoms, while nonspecific, should prompt further investigation if they persist for more than a few weeks or represent a change from one's normal health status.
Diagnosis
Diagnosing early-stage ovarian cancer involves a multi-step process, complicated by the lack of specific symptoms and a reliable screening test for asymptomatic women. In Delhi, where access to healthcare can vary greatly, it's especially important to advocate for thorough evaluations when symptoms suggest the possibility of ovarian cancer. The diagnostic approach typically includes:
For those diagnosed with early-stage ovarian cancer, the treatment plan typically involves surgery and may include chemotherapy depending on the subtype:
The importance of early detection and treatment of ovarian cancer cannot be overstated. Awareness of the early symptoms, diligent pursuit of diagnostic testing, and understanding available treatments are critical. Advances in medical science, including surgical techniques and targeted therapies, provide hope for those diagnosed in the early stages. As awareness increases and diagnostic capabilities improve, the potential for early intervention and successful treatment outcomes rises, emphasizing the critical role of proactive healthcare engagement in battling ovarian cancer.
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