By Yolanda Johnny Taylor After examining a pathology report of the cyst removed from Mary Jackson Scroggins’ ovary, the gynecologic oncologist told the mother of two he had good news and bad news. The bad news was she had the most aggressive form of ovarian cancer, already the deadliest of the gynecologist cancers. The good news was the cancer was detected at Stage IA, the earliest and most curable stage that has a more than 90 percent five-year survival rate. The American Cancer Society estimates 23,400 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer this year, and 13,900 women will die of the disease. African-American women have lower ovarian cancer rates than Caucasian, Hispanic, Asian or Pacific Islander women, but they are more commonly diagnosed with widespread and more advanced-stage disease. African-American women are also less likely than their Caucasian counterparts to survive five or more years with the ovarian cancer, regardless of stage at diagnosis. Among the minority women groups in general, the disease is a more prevalent in Asian women in comparison to African – American or Hispanic women.Because there is no screening tool for ovarian cancer and many women and physicians are still unaware of the symptoms of the disease, only 25 percent of women with ovarian cancer are diagnosed in the early – and more treatable – stage. Instead, more than two-thirds of women are diagnosed when the cancer has advanced beyond the ovaries and the chance of five-year survival is only about 25 percent. It is especially difficult for the minority women to be diagnosed at an early stage of the disease because they are less likely to have comprehensive health insurance and receive routine medical care, including yearly pelvic exams. The key to helping decrease these startling statistics is educating the public and physicians about ovarian cancer, its symptoms and risk factors, which is the goal of the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance’s Public Education Project. 

Until there’s a test, awareness is best. Raising awareness of ovarian cancer symptoms is paramount to the pilot project. The failure of women and physicians to recognize these symptoms often delays diagnosis. Common symptoms are: Abdominal pressure, bloating or discomfort Nausea, indigestion or gas Urinary frequency, constipation or diarrhea Abnormal bleeding Unexplained weight gain or loss Shortness of breath Unusual fatigue These symptoms are not unique to ovarian cancer, but it is critical for women to take action if the symptoms are unusual for them and persist. If ovarian cancer is suspected, experts recommend an annual vaginal/rectal pelvic exam, a transvaginal sonogram and a CA-125 blood test. Also, research has shown that outcomes are better if a gynecologic oncologist, a physician who has been trained specifically to deal with gynecologic cancers, has performed the surgery. All women are at risk for ovarian cancer and should be aware of factors that put them at higher risk. These factors include: increasing age; having a family history of ovarian, breast or colon cancer; and not bearing children. However, a woman can reduce her risk through pregnancy and breast-feeding, tubal ligation, a hysterectomy, removal of the ovaries and using oral contraceptives. For more information about ovarian cancer, contact the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance at 202-331-1332, e-mail the organization at ocna@ovariancancer.org or visit the Web site atwww.ovariancancer.org.

Posted on: August 26, 2020, by : Admin