Ovarian Cancer Is Often Called the Silent Killer Due to Its Subtle Symptoms

Ovarian cancer remains the toughest among the female reproductive system cancers to identify at an early stage and thus gets the nickname “silent killer”. The symptoms are quite vague and can be mistaken for usual digestive or hormonal disorders, thus the difficulty in recognizing the disease at the early stage. Knowing these minor signs and seeking the help of a gynecologist specialist in Chennai or a healthcare provider you trust can make the difference.

Here, we’ll explore why the late diagnosis of ovarian cancer is the norm, the signs that should not be overlooked, as well as the role of early detection and professional care in giving a prognosis better faced with this disease.

Recognizing the Subtle Symptoms

Ovarian cancer symptoms are the same as the common health issues we regularly experience which is the reason why the main symptom that is associated with ovarian cancer is persistence. Some of the first symptoms which are the most frequent may be:

• Loosening of the stomach or getting filled up with fluid that continues without going back to the normal diet or lifestyle.
• Sharp pain in the area of the testicles or the lower abdomen that lasts more than a few weeks.
• Not being able to finish the food quickly and losing the desire to eat.
• Having the urge to urinate very often or urgently but not related to drinking more water.
• Coming to a standstill in life, getting heartburn or suffering from back pain without knowing the reason.

After a few weeks if the symptoms have not gone away, then the advice is very clear, seeing a doctor of the female reproductive system is the next step.

Risk Factors to Be Aware Of

Ovarian cancer is a disease that can happen to a female, but there are factors that are more likely to increase the development of it. 

Age: The majority of cases are found after menopause, so most women over 50 are the typical patients.

Family History: If a person has intimate relatives who suffered from ovarian or breast cancer, the risk may increase.

Genetic Mutations: Changes in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are the main reasons for being more vulnerable to cancer.

Endometriosis or Infertility Treatments: These are the factors that have been mentioned as raising the risk of ovarian cancer.

Hormone Therapy: The association between the use of estrogen-only hormone replacement therapy for a prolonged period and ovarian cancer has been reported in several studies.

At the same time, these factors are identified by women, they are enabled to take vital steps for their health and seek a doctor’s consultation without delay.

How Diagnosis and Treatment Work

There is no single test that can definitely diagnose ovarian cancer so the diagnosis is usually multi-step. A doctor may do:

• Feel the pelvis to find out whether there are any abnormal signs.

• Imaging with ultrasound or CT to locate a mass or the collection of liquid.

• Blood tests for CA-125, a protein marker that may be identified in cancer cells is checked.

The treatment will be based on the stage and histological type of the tumor. Generally, the majority of the cases call for surgery to eliminate the diseased parts, then chemotherapy or targeted therapy is administered to inhibit relapse. The development of personalized medicine is giving patients better recovery and fewer side effects.

Ovarian cancer is a silent killer, but knowledge will break its silence. Basically, a person identifying the symptoms at the very beginning of the disease, being up-to-date on their own risk factors and most importantly, visiting a doctor very soon can allow the disease to be detected at its early stages which gives the doctor more options for a successful therapy and the patient better chances of recovery.

At Sugam Hospital, we  put our strength into early diagnosis, precision-based treatment and full support to the patients. We integrate the most progressive medical technology with personalized care to make sure that each patient is allotted the time she requires. Being at the forefront of quality women’s healthcare, we are recognized as the best cancer hospital in Chennai, thus, committed to bringing comfort and cure to the sufferer.