There are several factors that can increase a woman’s chance of developing ovarian cancer, including:
- Age
- Genetics (a presence of ovarian cancer in a woman’s family history)
- Having hormone replacement therapy
- Endometriosis
- A high BMI and obesity
There is a greater chance of being able to successfully treat ovarian cancer if it is caught early. There is always a high chance that the cancer may return. In many cases, it is caught too late and treatment options are very limited. If ovarian cancer does return after treatment, it usually cannot be cured.
Symptoms include:
- Constant bloating of the abdomen
- Discomfort in the pelvis
- Swelling
- Urinating more than normal
- Experiencing a full stomach very soon after eating
Having treatment for ovarian cancer will depend on the nature of your condition and how far the cancer has spread, as well as your overall fitness and health levels. Another factor is whether you are still able to have children. Treatments available for ovarian cancer include chemotherapy and surgery.
Surgery is the main way to successfully treat ovarian cancer, removing as much of the tumour as possible. A surgical procedure usually requires the removal of the womb, ovaries and fallopian tubes. If the cancer is in just one ovary, you may only need to have this removed.