Ovarian Cancer Awareness – What you need to know…

Ovarian Cancer is a relatively uncommon type of cancer that occurs in the different cells in the ovary. Each year, approximately 22,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer but many don’t seek help until the disease has begun to spread to other parts of the body. If detected at an early stage, the survival rate is about 93%.
The symptoms of ovarian cancer are subtle and can be easily confused with symptoms of other diseases.

Here’s what you need to know:
All women are at risk of developing ovarian cancer.
However, a woman is at higher risk if:
• She is over 50 years of age
• Her family has a history of ovarian, breast, endometrial (uterine), or colorectal cancer
• She is of Ashkenazi Jewish descent
• She has a genetic mutation associated with ovarian cancer

The following factors reduce the risk of ovarian cancer:
• Use of oral contraceptives
• Full-term pregnancy
• Tubal ligation
• Removal of the fallopian tubes, and ovaries

Information from Ovarian Cancer Canada: http://www.ovariancanada.org/about-ovarian-cancer