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What No One Tells You About Being Diagnosed With Ovarian Cancer

Dubbed “the silent killer,” ovarian cancer gets its nasty nickname for being able to go undetected in women who experience few, if any, unusual symptoms. Who hasn’t felt bloated and fatigued while also coping with an achy back and a bladder that’s about to burst? That’s practically the norm for any woman who's PMSing or pregnant.

While awareness around other illnesses continues to grow, ovarian cancer still flies in stealth mode with its surprise attacks. Suddenly faced with a scary diagnosis, inflicted women are not only forced to fight for their lives but also seek out information about a condition of which they know very little. Although no two patient’s situations are…

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Featured

  Ovarian cancer: the killer symptoms you need to look out for

The symptoms of ovarian cancer are vague and all-too-easy to ignore. Bloating, abdominal pain, fatigue, feeling full after eating not much and a need to urinate more often – are not usually things that send women running to the doctor. Yet tuning in to these symptoms of ovarian oancer could save your life.

  Women, Listen to your body... It might save you!

Heart attack and ovarian cancer no longer need to be such aggressive killers of women. You know yourself better than anyone else. When your body produces warning symptoms, listen to it!

 Report: Women Everywhere Don't Know Enough About Ovarian Cancer

A new study of women with ovarian cancer shows that ignorance about the condition is common among patients in all 44 countries surveyed. And that ignorance has a cost. The disease is more treatable, even potentially curable, in its early stages. The women's answers also suggested their doctors were ignorant. Many of them reported that diagnosis took a long time and that they weren't referred to proper specialists.

Articles of Interest

Chris Evert Reveals Her Ovarian Cancer Has Returned, Says the Disease Is ‘Relentless’

“Ovarian cancer is relentless, but I will stay optimistic and determined in continuing to fight this battle,” she ended. “I am deeply grateful to my medical team, my family, friends and everyone who has reached out with kindness and encouragement. I look forward to seeing everyone again soon.”

Squelching ovarian cancer: the not-so-silent killer

The search continues for new biomarkers, better outcomes and, yes, cures for this deadly disease. HomeHutch News Squelching ovarian cancer: the not-so-silent killer. Despite its long-standing nickname, ovarian cancer isn’t really a silent killer. There are symptoms; it’s just that they whisper or are commonly mistaken for something else, like aging or irritable bowel syndrome.

The Three Types of Ovarian Cancer You Should Know

Hearing that you or a loved one has a diagnosis of ovarian cancer is terrifying. Once the initial shock wears off, you’ll likely have a lot of questions and do some research on your own to answer them. One thing you’ll probably discover: There are actually three overarching types of ovarian cancer. While every person’s experience with cancer will vary, understanding the similarities and differences between these three types might be helpful.

A 32-Year-Old's Startup, Inspired By A Health Scare, Sells For $275 Million

A quest to detect ovarian cancer for other women led Sarna, 32, to found a company, nVision Medical of San Bruno, Calif., to raise $17 million in venture capital, and to gain approval from the Food and Drug Administration to develop a specialized device for detecting ovarian cancer. (The device is not yet for sale.) She says she wants to give them a better option than existing diagnostics, which she scoffs are no better than flipping a coin.

A New Way to Use Old Tools Against Ovarian Cancer

Cancer researchers have developed a new treatment strategy that holds promise for significantly extending the lives of women diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer, one of the toughest to treat and most lethal malignancies. The approach doesn’t involve a hot new drug or technology. Instead, it’s based on being smarter about using the longtime mainstay treatments for ovarian cancer: surgery and chemotherapy.

Can talcum powder really cause ovarian cancer?

A 2013 analysis led by Harvard University of 8,525 ovarian cancer cases and 9,859 controls concluded that genital talc powder use is associated with a small-to-moderate increase in risk of various sub-types of ovarian cancer. It found that “genital powder use was associated with a similar increased risk of borderline and invasive ovarian cancer overall”. They also noted that, as there are few ovarian cancer risks women can avoid, “avoidance of genital powders may be a possible strategy to reduce ovarian cancer incidence”. This would seem a wise precautionary policy.

Dec. 13, 1809: First Removal of Ovarian Tumor

The 45-year-old patient, Jane Todd Crawford, had been misdiagnosed as being pregnant with twins. McDowell, who ran a surgical practice in Danville, Kentucky, offered a different diagnosis – a large ovarian tumor. He decided to risk the previously untried surgery and set Christmas Day for the operation.

Doctors Never Took Me Seriously Until I Was Diagnosed With Ovarian Cancer at 24

After years of unexplained pain, Amanda Kabbabe discovered she had a melon-size tumor.

Fighting the Deadliest of Women’s Cancer

Ovarian cancer is the only gynecologic cancer without an early detection screen and it is the #1 deadliest woman’s cancer.

Gene Wilder’s Other Legacy: His Fight Against Ovarian Cancer

Wilder may have kept quiet about his own struggle with Alzheimer’s, but when it came to helping people fight the illness he saw his late wife suffer, he had no problem raising his voice.

New Developments in Ovarian Cancer Treatment Are Showing Promise

Cancer is never an easy foe, but some types are more stubborn than others. Ovarian cancer is one of the hardest to treat. But there are signs of progress.

New Ovarian Cancer Vaccine Shows Promise

A preliminary clinical trial finds that the personalized therapy improves survival rates and has no severe side-effects.

Ovarian cancer advocate and model Elly Mayday dead at 30

“I hope within the next year or so we can figure out how to diagnose this earlier than stage 3.”

Ovarian Cancer Doesn’t Begin in the Ovaries, Researchers Say

Ovarian cancer begins with lesions in the fallopian tubes, which if treated early could prevent the cancer from spreading, researchers say.

Ovarian Cancer Screening Isn't as Simple as Getting an Ultrasound

In fact, there's no reliable screening test, period.

Ovarian cancer tumor immune profiles associated with intrauterine device and oral contraceptive use

Pre-diagnostic contraception use may influence ovarian tumor immunity and may modulate cancer susceptibility.

Ovarian, Breast Cancer Risk Vary According to Subtle Changes in Two Genes

Identifying the different mutations could help women decide if and when to undergo preventative surgery.

Rethinking ovarian cancer III: the past decade and future directions

Approximately 80% of deaths from ovarian cancer are due to high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC), which has the highest proportion of BRCA1 or BRCA2 (BRCA1/BRCA2) mutations of any cancer type and is a highly chromosomally unstable disease. Despite the introduction of targeted therapies benefitting some patients with HGSC as well as surgical advances, only 50% of patients will survive more than 5 years, and just 30% of patients who present with advanced disease without BRCA1/BRCA2 mutations will survive this long.

Some Good News on Ovarian Cancer

Most of the decline, the authors write, is attributable to the use of oral contraceptives, which offer long-term protection against ovarian cancer, and to the reduced use of menopausal hormone therapy after it was found to increase rates of cancer and cardiovascular disease. Treatment of ovarian cancer has improved, too, but not significantly enough to explain these reductions. Most advances in treatment have been limited to germ cell tumors, which account for less than 10 percent of ovarian cancers.

Sound and light could detect ovarian cancer earlier

Researchers have found an innovative way to use sound and light, or photoacoustic, imaging to diagnose ovarian tumors. The method may lead to a promising new diagnostic imaging technique to improve current standard of care for patients with ovarian cancer.

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

The USPSTF recommends against screening for ovarian cancer in asymptomatic women. This recommendation applies to asymptomatic women who are not known to have a high-risk hereditary cancer syndrome.

What Are My Options for Ovarian Cancer Treatment?

There are five major forms of treatment for ovarian cancer. However, the type of ovarian cancer you have and how advanced it is play a role in which form (or forms) of treatment your doctor may recommend.

Resources

11 Things to Know After Receiving an Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis

If you (or a loved one) has just been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, you’re probably feeling incredibly overwhelmed right now. While there is no list of universally applicable tips for dealing with an ovarian cancer diagnosis, we asked medical experts and an ovarian cancer survivor to share what they recommend based on their experiences.

2 Important Ovarian Cancer Symptoms That Shouldn't Be Ignored

Above all else, listen to your body. If you're experiencing constant abdominal pressure and urinating more than usual, see your doctor. And if your doctor brushes you off, get a second opinion. "My No.1 message is that ovarian cancer can strike young women," says Streicher. "Don't panic if you're having bloating and urinary symptoms, but don't ignore it either."

3 Women on How They’ve Handled the Hardest Parts of Ovarian Cancer

For some women, an ovarian cancer diagnosis comes after a lengthy, frustrating, stressful process, given that many don’t have observable symptoms until the cancer is in a more advanced stage. And if someone does have early symptoms of ovarian cancer, they’re often vague or nonspecific, such as changes in appetite, abdominal bloating, and abdominal/pelvic pain.

7 Little-Known Facts About Ovarian Cancer and the BRCA Genes

From genetic testing to inheritance patterns, there’s a lot that may surprise you.

Louisa M. McGregor Ovarian Cancer Foundation

T.E.A.L.®’s mission is to provide awareness and education about the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer through community outreach, public awareness campaigns, and T.E.A.L.® workshops and events.

Not on My Watch

Not on My Watch is a movement to empower women with ovarian cancer who have had a recurrence and responded to chemotherapy to no longer “watch and wait” for their disease to return. Instead, women are encouraged to take an informed and active role in extending the time in response and delay recurrence by talking with their healthcare providers about maintenance therapy.

Ovations

Ovations for the Cure, Inc. is dedicated to the relentless pursuit of a cure for ovarian cancer in three critical ways. First, we provide critical funding of new and ongoing ovarian cancer research and treatment initiatives. Second, the organization actively increases the awareness of the subtle signs and symptoms of this silent disease. Third, we give hope, education and comfort to those currently battling ovarian cancer through our patient programs.

Target Ovarian Cancer

Target Ovarian Cancer is the UK’s leading ovarian cancer charity. We work to improve early diagnosis, fund life-saving research and provide much-needed support to women with ovarian cancer.

The Teal Diaries

The Teal Diaries is Jacqueline’s first blog, offering readers a deeply personal exploration of her ongoing cancer journey. Her battle with the disease began in late 2011 when she was diagnosed with both uterine and ovarian cancer.

Tina's Wish

The Honorable Tina Brozman Foundation for Ovarian Cancer Research (Tina’s Wish) is an ovarian cancer non-profit organization dedicated to funding groundbreaking scientific research for the prevention and early detection of ovarian cancer. Know Early. Know Hope.® This is our mission.

Conversations

The International Newsletter For Those Fighting Ovarian Cancer!

Familial Ovarian Cancer Registry

We are an international registry of families with two or more relatives with ovarian cancer. In addition to ovarian cancer research, the Registry offers an 1-800-OVARIAN Hotline, Newsletter, and ovarian cancer informational pamphlets.

FORCE

Force's mission is to improve the lives of individuals and families affected by hereditary breast and ovarian cancer

Lynne Cohen Foundation

The Lynne Cohen Foundation for Ovarian Cancer Research is an organization created in memory of a woman who dedicated her life to the well-being of others. Our mission is to continue her spirit of giving by supporting groundbreaking research to improve the survival rates for women with ovarian cancer.

National Ovarian Cancer Coalition

Since its inception in 1995, the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC) has been committed to raising awareness of ovarian cancer in communities across the country and to providing education, support and hope for women with ovarian cancer and their families.

Ovacome

Welcome to Ovacome. We are a UK-wide support network providing information and support for everyone affected by ovarian cancer.

Ovarian Cancer Canada

OCC is dedicated to overcoming ovarian cancer. We provide leadership by supporting women living with the disease and their families, raising awareness, and funding research to develop early detection techniques, improved treatment and ultimately a cure.

Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance

Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA) is the world's largest organization dedicated to fighting ovarian cancer through research, advocacy and support.

Rivkin Center

The mission of the Marsha Rivkin Center is to save lives and reduce suffering through improved treatment, early detection, and prevention of ovarian cancer.

Share Cancer Support

SHARE Cancer Support is one of the leading ovarian and breast cancer organizations online, offering support for women with breast cancer, metastatic breast cancer and ovarian cancer.

World Ovarian Cancer Coalition

The World Ovarian Cancer Coalition (WOCC) is a not-for-profit organization, established in 2016, working across the globe to reduce the impact ovarian cancer has on the lives of women and their loved ones.

CDC

CDC enhances the growing knowledge about ovarian cancer by initiating research projects with partners, colleagues, and national organizations to help identify factors related to early detection of the disease, treatment, and survivorship.

MedlinePlus

Ovarian cancer usually happens in women over age 50, but it can also affect younger women. Its cause is unknown. Ovarian cancer is hard to detect early.

National Cancer Institute

Information about ovarian cancer treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and vaccine therapy