OVARIAN CANCER A KILLER

What is ovarian cancer?

I now know that most women diagnosed with ovarian cancer are already in the advanced stages of the disease.

As cancers go, it is one of the most deadliest. 80-100% of women who are detected and treated early, will live past another 5 years. Women who are not detected until the late stages of ovarian cancer, have a 20-30% survival rate in comparison.

Ovarian cancer is a malignant tumor of the ovary. The ovaries, part of the female reproductive system, are situated on either side of the uterus (womb). They produce eggs and hormones. Cells in our body generally grow in a controlled manner, when they progress abnormally, they form what is called – a growth or a tumor. This can either be benign, not classed as cancerous and will not spread uncontrollably. Or when cancerous, such as a malignant tumor, it will constantly spread through the body unless it is diagnosed and treated.

Research is continuing into this killer cancer. The goal being to decrease the mortality rate of women with ovarian cancer, to improve management and survival of the women affected by this disease.

There is also a mission to develop and provide women with an early detection test for ovarian cancer. That it to, will become as readily accessible as the pap smear and mammogram.

Avec l’amour,
Michel.

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CONCERN FOR WOMEN

By being a part of the collective of women living on this planet, I am very interested in keeping myself up-to-date and informed on all areas of women’s sexual health.

Whilst reading the latest articles on ovarian cancer, I was surprised at the exposed statistics in relationship to this disease:

• In Australia, a woman dies every 10 hours from ovarian cancer.
• The Australian women who remain unaware of ovarian cancer is over 50%
• A pap smear will not detect ovarian cancer
• Women who are not diagnosed with ovarian cancer until it is in the advanced stages, rates at a staggering 70% of cases.
• Ovarian cancer, may be often diagnosed incorrectly as menopause or irritable bowel syndrome

Yikes! What can I possibly do to recognize such a silent disease, when the early stages of ovarian cancer often have no obvious outward symptoms?

Avec l’amour,
Michel.

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