Ovarian cancer is a dreadful disease. Survival rate of women with this cancer is low. Its detection is only possible at an advanced stage. Know more about ovarian cancer.
What is ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer, as the name suggests,
is a cancer of the ovaries, where abnormal cell growth results in malignant
cysts or tumors. In all cases, therefore, the first sign of ovarian cancer is an enlargement of the ovary. About 5% of all cancers that
develop in women are cancers of the ovaries. It occurs in one out
of every 70 women and is less common than breast cancer (which occurs in
one out of every 9 women).
If I have an ovarian
cyst, do I have cancer
No. In fact, only 5% of ovarian
cysts (detected through a pelvic exam) are found to be malignant or cancerous.
In order for a doctor to confirm ovarian cancer, a biopsy of the ovarian
cyst would be required.
Is ovarian cancer life
threatening
Although fewer women are affected
by ovarian cancer than breast cancer, the survival rate of women with ovarian
cancer is very low. Less than 35% of the women affected with this
disease survive. This is because the growth is silent and slow, and
the disease difficult to detect. Symptoms like distension and loss of appetite are evident only in the advanced stages.
