Knowing This Could Prevent Ovarian Cancer Death

Ovarian cancer, a stealthy killer responsible for about 15,000 deaths in 2007, may not be so silent after all: Recent studies show that even early stage ovarian cancer reveals itself with subtle symptoms up to a year before typical diagnosis. Now the American Cancer Society is spreading the word. When cancer is detected while it's still confined to the ovary, you have a 90% chance of being cured, but those odds drop to 20% if the cancer is advanced, which is when it's usually diagnosed. Telltale symptoms (see below) are common and often due to something other than cancer, so you don't have to worry about every bloating episode. But if symptoms occur almost daily and last more than a few weeks, the ACS recommends seeing a gynecologist.

Recurring symptoms women shouldn't ignore

• Pelvic or abdominal pain


• Bloating


• Feeling full quickly or having difficulty eating


• Having to urinate often or feeling an urgent need to go
  

Related articles: DoD ovarian cancer program seeks answers, progress
Ovarian Cancer Symptoms - Johns Hopkins Ovarian Cancer Center Of Excellence

information taken from January 2008 issue of Prevention magazine