Each year, about 20,000 women get ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer causes more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system, but it accounts for only about 3% of all cancers in women. When ovarian cancer is found in its early stages, treatment works best.
It originates in the ovaries, or in the related areas of the fallopian tubes and the peritoneum.
When can Ovarian cancer be found and treated best?
When ovarian cancer is found in its early stages, treatment works best. Ovarian cancer often causes signs and symptoms, so it is important to pay attention to your body and know what is normal for you.
Effect of Ovarian cancer on fertility
Many cancer treatments affect fertility temporarily or permanently. Fertility is the ability to become pregnant. Infertility is an inability to become pregnant or maintain a pregnancy.
Before treatment begins, talk with your healthcare team. Ask how treatment could affect your fertility. And ask about your options for preserving fertility.
How cancer treatments affect fertility
Fertility problems from cancer or cancer treatment occur in 2 main ways:
- Damage to organs involved in reproduction, such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, and cervix
- Damage to organs involved in hormone production, such as the ovaries
The ovaries store a woman’s eggs. Damage to these organs can decrease the ovarian reserve. The ovarian reserve is the total number of immature eggs in both ovaries. Women are born with all the eggs they will have. Once these eggs are lost, they cannot be replaced. Loss of healthy eggs causes infertility and early menopause.
Symptoms of Ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer may cause several signs and symptoms. Women are more likely to have symptoms if the disease has spread, but even early-stage ovarian cancer can cause them. The most common symptoms include:
- Bloating
- Pelvic or abdominal (belly) pain
- Trouble eating or feeling full quickly
- Urinary symptoms such as urgency (always feeling like you have to go) or frequency (having to go often)
- Fatigue (extreme tiredness)
- Upset stomach
- Back pain
- Pain during sex
- Constipation
- Changes in a woman’s period, such as heavier bleeding than normal or irregular bleeding
- Abdominal (belly) swelling with weight loss
References
- CDC. Ovarian cancer. Accessed on 17th October 2018.
- American society for Cancer. Ovarian cancer. Accessed on 17th October 2018.