Outwitting the Silent Killer

If ever a disease needed an awareness day, it’s ovarian cancer. 

It’s known as the Silent Killer because its symptoms are vague and can be mistaken for less serious diseases, so about 70% of cases aren’t detected until it’s already spread beyond the ovaries.

Can you outwit this menace? Oh, yes…yes, you can, and in this article, we’ll tell you how.

Let’s use World Ovarian Cancer Day on May 8^th to understand how it creeps up on you, so you can catch it early.

Why it’s worth your while checking

In the United Kingdom alone, approximately 7,400 women each year are diagnosed with ovarian cancer. 

That makes it the second most common gynaecological cancer, yet it’s the most deadly. 

Nearly twice as many women die from ovarian cancer per year (4,100) than womb cancer, the most common gynaecological cancer (there are around 9,800 cases of womb cancer a year, and around 2,450 deaths per year).

When ovarian cancer is caught early, the chances of survival are vastly better. When it’s diagnosed at Stage 1, around 95% of women will survive beyond five years.

So let’s get into ways that we can address that terrible and preventable fact that 70% of cases are found too late.

Why is ovarian cancer so hard to detect?

1. There’s no diagnostic test to detect ovarian cancer. Research into biomarkers like CA-125 and liquid biopsies is ongoing, but nothing routine is widely effective yet. The number of women diagnosed and dying from cervical cancer has been reduced thanks to regular screening (smear test) and the option of vaccination. Those two things alone raised awareness of this cancer, which has also helped.
2. Some of the symptoms of ovarian cancer are the same as less serious conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS) or menopause. 
3. Your ovaries are located deep in your pelvis, which makes tumours hard for your doctor to feel during a physical examination, unless they are already large.
4. Ovarian cancer can be aggressive, so it progresses rapidly. By the time you feel unwell, it’s often stage lll or lV.

OK, so what are the symptoms?

The most common signs are:

• Persistent bloating
• Pelvic or abdominal pain
• Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly
• Changes in bowel habits
• Urgent or frequent need to urinate

And there are other less common symptoms, including:

• Back pain
• Unexpected weight loss
• Fatigue
• Vaginal bleeding that’s different or new
• Memory loss
• Seizures

You can see that you could easily miss these symptoms, or that you might not even consider that they could be telling you that you have ovarian cancer.

How do you know whether to seek help?

If you have ANY of these symptoms, it’s important to see your GP. If you have more than one, don’t hesitate.

Of course, it could be something less serious, and we can all talk ourselves out of making an appointment because it’s so hard to see a doctor these days. 

But look at it this way: you need to know whatever is causing you to feel unwell. And if it’s not ovarian cancer, it’s a blessed relief. 

You know you best

If you think your doctor may not be right about ruling out ovarian cancer, trust your instinct. Doctors are human like the rest of us, and they’re under a lot of pressure to see a lot of people in a short space of time.

They may want to rule out other conditions, so they may suggest tests that make you feel they aren’t looking for ovarian cancer, but you can see that symptoms overlap with other things, so that may make sense. 

However, no one knows your body and your normal better than you. If you feel something isn’t right, you have every right to ask for further testing. 

You have the right to advocate for yourself. If that doesn’t feel possible, invite someone to advocate for you, and come to appointments to support you.

Are you at higher risk?

More than 20% of ovarian tumors have hereditary aspect and of those, somewhere between 65% and 85% are related to the BRCA genes.

Other risk factors include:

• Endometriosis
• Early menstruation
• No childbirth
• First childbirth after 30
• Late menopause
• No oral contraceptive use
• Long-term use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT), especially with combined estrogen and progestin
• Obesity, particularly post-menopause
• Being over 50 years of age

Addressing Vaginal Dryness During Cancer Treatment

Cancer treatments, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy, can lead to various side effects, one of which is vaginal dryness. This can cause discomfort, itching, and soreness that impact your quality of life and intimate relationships, at a time when you’ve already got enough to worry about.

Hyalofemme is the only hormone-free vaginal moisturiser which has been proven to be safe for women living with a diagnosis of cancer.

Rigorous clinical studies have demonstrated its effectiveness in relieving burning, itching, inflammation and pain caused by vaginal dryness.

Hyalofemme is available on prescription or can be purchased online or over the counter at local pharmacies.

If you’re experiencing vaginal dryness during or after cancer treatment, ask your healthcare provider to determine the most appropriate and safe treatment options.

Supporting women through awareness and action

World Ovarian Cancer Day falls in the middle of The Eve Appeal’s month-long campaign to raise awareness of all gynaecological cancers – Get Lippy and Loud.

These campaigns are really important for families impacted by cancers. They unites individuals, communities and organisations to highlight the importance of early detection, research advancements, and support.

You can help with:

• Education: Learn about the symptoms and risk factors associated with ovarian cancer to facilitate early detection.
• Advocacy: Participate in campaigns and initiatives that promote research funding and policy changes.
• Support: Offer emotional and practical support to those affected by ovarian cancer, fostering a community of care and understanding.

By coming together on May 8th and beyond, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of women affected by ovarian cancer, promoting awareness, early detection, and improved quality of life during and after treatment.

#ovariancanceraction #hyalofemme #targetovariancancer

Sources

Ovarian Cancer Action (UK) – statistics

Target Ovarian Cancer – Information and Support

The Eve Appeal – Get lippy and loud about gynaecological cancers

World Ovarian Cancer Day – global awareness initiative

NHS – Ovarian Cancer page

Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance – prevention & risk

Hereditary Ovarian Cancer: Not Only BRCA 1 and 2 Genes (Toss, 2015)

Hyalofemme – Clinical Trials and Effectiveness