OVARIAN CYST - The "Silent Killer"

The ovaries are two small organs located on either side of the uterus in a woman’s body. They make hormones, including estrogen, which trigger menstruation. Every month, the ovaries release a tiny egg. The egg makes its way down the fallopian tube to potentially be fertilized. This cycle of egg release is called ovulation.

Cysts are fluid-filled sacs that can form in the ovaries. They are very common. They are particularly common during the childbearing years.

Ovarian cancer is called "the silent killer" because it usually goes undetected until its advanced stages. It is the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths among American women, according to the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance (OCNA), and strikes one in 55 women in this country.

Ovarian cancer presents a specific danger to women for several reasons. For one, there is no early screening test for ovarian cancer; Pap smears don't detect it. So women with ovarian cancer usually don't see a doctor until they have symptoms, and by then the cancer is usually advanced. Also, symptoms of ovarian cancer are vague and often mimic gastrological or digestive problems. Many women don't think to go to a gynecologist for such symptoms. In some cases a gynecologist will recommend consulting another specialist.
Ovarian cancer is defined in four "stages," with the first three divided into subgroups A, B and C, depending on the cancer's progress.
In Stage I, the cancer is limited to one or both ovaries. In Stage II, it has spread (metastasized) to other reproductive organs. When caught in these stages, women have about a 90 to 95 percent five-year survival rate, according to OCNA.
In Stage III, the cancer has spread to the abdominal lining or lymph nodes. Stage IV cancer has metastasized to the lungs, liver or sites outside the abdomen. When diagnosed in these stages, the chance of five-year survival is only about 25 percent.
In the United States, 75 percent of ovarian cancer cases are detected in Stages III and IV.

TYPES OF OVARIAN CYSTS

1 Follicle Cyst

During a woman’s menstrual cycle, an egg grows in a sac called a follicle. This sac is located inside the ovaries. In most cases, this follicle or sac breaks open and releases an egg. But if the follicle doesn’t break open, the fluid inside the follicle can form a cyst on the ovary.

2 Corpus Luteum Cysts

Follicle sacs typically dissolve after releasing an egg. But if the sac doesn’t dissolve and the opening of the follicle seals, additional fluid can develop inside the sac and this accumulation of fluid causes a cyst.

Other types of ovarian cysts include:

Dermoid cysts: sac-like growths on the ovaries that can contain hair, fat, and other tissue

Cystadenomas: non-cancerous growths that can develop on the outer surface of ovaries

Endometriomas: tissues that normally grow inside the uterus can develop outside the uterus and attach to the ovaries, resulting in a cyst

 

SYMPTOMS OF OVARIAN CYST

Early symptoms of ovarian cyst are often mild, making this disease difficult to detect. The symptoms of the cysts vary from woman to woman. However some of the most important early symptoms may include:

• An unusual feeling of fullness or discomfort in the pelvic region
• Unexplainable indigestion, gas, or bloating that is not relieved with over-the-counter antacids
• Pain/discomfort during sexual intercourse or exercise
• Abnormal bleeding/unexpected vaginal bleeding 
• Pressure on the rectum or bladder.
• Aching, swelling, pain, or pressure in the lower abdomen
• Menstrual  irregularities;

Most often these symptoms do not indicate ovarian cancer. However, if you experience them you should discuss them with your clinician.
Early detection of ovarian cancer offers a 90% cure rate. Sadly, a lack of symptoms from this silent disease means that about 75% of ovarian cancer cases will have spread to the abdomen by the time they are detected and, unfortunately, most patients die within five years.

DIAGNOSIS OF OVARIAN CYSTS

Symptomless ovarian cancer is most often detected during a woman's regular gynecological examination. Your physician will palpitate your ovaries during your pelvic and rectal exam for the presence of ovarian cysts or fibroid tumors. If any abnormalities are noted, he will follow up with further testing which may include an ultrasound and chest X-ray. If further testing is required, a laparoscopy may be performed.

New methods for early screening of ovarian cancer are being investigated including ultrasound in conjunction with a blood test. The blood test may detect a cancer protein called CA 125, which is sometimes detected in the blood of women with ovarian cancer.
These tests are useful in evaluating tumor growth, however neither of them has been proven as a reliable way to screen for ovarian cancer. Ultrasound can detect changes, but it does not give enough information alone to diagnose ovarian cancer. The CA 125 blood test can return positive results when no cancer is present due to other conditions a woman may experience including fibroid tumors, endometriosis, pelvic infection, pregnancy, or other non-gynecological problems.
Although these methods of screening for ovarian cancer look promising, further study is needed before either of these tests are routinely used to screen for ovarian cancer.

HOW DOES IT AFFECT FERTILITY?

While some ovarian cysts may be benign, it may affect/block   fertility when it interferes with the normal process of ovulation(the process where egg is released for fertilization by the sperm).

RISK FACTORS OF OVARIAN CYST

Age : specifically women who have gone through menopause. Women over the age of 50 are at greater risk

Lifestlye: Obesity, Smoking

Not having children or not breastfeeding: However, having two or three children can cut your risk by as much as 30% over women who never conceive or give birth. Having five or more children reduces the risk up to 50%, and breastfeeding your children can further reduce your risk.

Women who use oral contraceptives for at least five years reduce their chance of developing ovarian cancer by half for the short-term following use and possibly for lifetime. The longer you use the pill, the lower your risk. 

Taking fertility drugs (e.g Clomid)

Hormone replacement therapy

Family or personal history of ovarian cancer:

• An immediate (mother, sister, or daughter) family member who has had ovarian cancer increases your risk of developing this disease about three times, giving you a 5% to 7% risk of future ovarian cancer.
• When the cause is genetic, ovarian cancer usually shows up a decade earlier in each successive generation. (If your mother had ovarian cancer in her 60s, you stand a good chance that this disease will develop in you in your 50s.)
• Genetic counseling is a good idea for women with a family history of breast or ovarian cancers. Women with a family history may opt for oophorectomy, although this procedure does not offer absolute protection it does reduce risk by 75% to 90%

Others:

• Research has determined that women who use powders to dust their genital areas have a 60% higher risk of ovarian cancer. Feminine deodorant sprays can almost double your risk.
• Tubal ligation reduces a woman's risk up to 70%.

TREATMENT OF OVARIAN CYST

The treatment for ovarian cancer varies according to a number of factors. For most women, the first treatment is also a diagnostic procedure which involves surgery to determine the extent to which the disease has spread. As a result of surgery, the cancer will be staged . Stages range from I to IV, with I being the earliest and IV being the most advanced stage. Treatment of ovarian cancer is based on the stage and grade of the disease. A pathologist will determine the grade (how likely it is to spread) of the malignancy.

Hysterectomy with salpingo- oophorectomy (removal the fallopian tubes and one or both ovaries) will most often follow a diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Young women who still desire children and who have certain types of early ovarian cancer confined to one ovary may be able to have only the diseased ovary removed.
Chemotherapy or radiation will follow the hysterectomy based on individual cases.
 

Remember, the best way to detect ovarian cancer is by regular pelvic examinations. See your gynecologist for a Pap smear (screens for cervical cancer only) and pelvic/rectal exam yearly or as your physician determines best for you. 

TAKE A MINUTE TO SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH FRIENDS

 STAY HEALTHY.

CULLED