It's not her fault you can't get - Focus on Women Magazine

Open Talk on Ovarian CancerBy Jamie LoberIt is important to understandhow the reproductivesystem works. “Whena woman ovulates everymonth t<strong>her</strong>e is actual physicaldisruption of the ovarybecause <strong>you</strong> have to makean egg. When that happens,the body has to healover the physical hole in theovary and during this healingprocess, a carcinogen canenter. You can have a mutationthat turns into what wecall a malignant transformationor cancerous formation,”explains Dr. DwightIm, obstetrician/gynecologistand director for the gynecologiconcology center atMercy Hospital in Baltimore.Though t<strong>her</strong>e are a few typesof ovarian cancer, epithelialis the most common whichoccurs when cancer strikesthe cells that cover the surfaceof the ovaries.The cause of ovarian canceris unknown but t<strong>her</strong>e aresome speculations. “Somepeople think it may be anagent from the outside worldsuch as talcum powder orsome type of infection,” saysIm. T<strong>her</strong>e are a few tricks forprevention. “Anything thatsuppresses ovulation wouldbe a protective factor whichincludes birth control pills,pregnancy and having children,”tells Im. An annualgynecologic exam is recommended.Remember that<strong>you</strong> should be evaluated if<strong>you</strong> <strong>not</strong>ice any changes. “Beaware of <strong>you</strong>r body,” emphasizesGeorgi Morales of OvarianCancer National Alliance.Most of the time, cysts felt onthe ovaries during a pelvicexam are benign and <strong>not</strong>cancerous but they should<strong>not</strong> be ignored.On September 11, 2009,the OVA1 blood test was approvedby the Food and DrugAdministration. This allowsgynecologists to determinewhet<strong>her</strong> a pelvic mass islikely to become malignantor turn into ovarian cancer.The test was designed by amolecular diagnostics companycalled Vermillion, Inc.and is exclusively availablethrough Quest Diagnostics,Inc. laboratories.Symptoms tend to besubtle which is why seventyfivepercent of cases are <strong>not</strong>detected until they are in theadvanced stages. “Womenmay have vague abdominalbloating, upset stomach,constipation or ot<strong>her</strong> mildsymptoms that can be associatedwith ot<strong>her</strong> things.That is why ovarian canceris referred to as a silentkiller,” says Dr. Sarah Temkin,obstetrician/gynecologistat University of MarylandMarlene and Stewart GreenbaumCancer Center in Baltimore.Ot<strong>her</strong> warning signsinclude increased urination,tiredness, abnormal vaginalbleeding or pelvic pain orpressure. Sometimes ovariancancer may be asymptomatic.Women who are consideredlikely to <strong>get</strong> ovarian cancermay want to be proactive.“Hig<strong>her</strong> risk women with afamily history of ovarian orbreast cancer or the BRCAmutation should be screenedto see if they are candidatesfor prophylactic removal oftheir ovaries in order to combatovarian cancer and reducethe risk,” says Temkin.If <strong>you</strong> are diagnosed withovarian cancer, it is advisedto see a specialist. “When<strong>you</strong> see a gynecologic oncologistor surgical oncologist,<strong>you</strong>r outcomes are generallybetter,” says Temkin. Youshould also keep good <strong>not</strong>es.“You may want to have asymptom diary which isblessed by a number of medicalprofessionals. It helpswomen track and documenttheir symptoms on a dailybasis so they have somethingto show their doctor,” saysMorales. It is normal to haveroutine blood tests to monitorthe CA125 levels.Strides have been madein treatment. “A study ledby John Hopkins KimmelCancer Center suggests anew treatment standard foradvanced disease. A fiftyyear-old method for deliveringchemot<strong>her</strong>apy directlyinto the abdomen is makinga comeback as investigatorshave found that it increasessurvival by more than ayear in some women withadvanced ovarian cancer,”tells Vanessa Wasta, communicationsdirector at JohnHopkins. Avastin is a recent28 <strong>Focus</strong> on Women Magazine