Ovarian Cancer And Menopause : What You Need To
Know!
Menopause - Symptoms - Nutritional - Supplements - Information - Womens Health - Natural Products
Ovarian cancer and menopause does seem to cause quite a bit
of concern in a lot of women. However, menopause itself is not
associated with an increased risk of developing ovarian cancer.
On the other hand, the rates of many cancers,
including ovarian cancer, do increase with age. How well you manage your health as you get older
determines your overall risk for developing diseases such as cancer.
Also, some of the medications prescribed to manage menopausal
symptoms may play a part in putting you at risk for developing
cancer. To fully understand the relationship between ovarian
cancer and menopause you must first be aware of just what ovarian
cancer is. Ovarian cancer is a malignant tumor that can
develop in one or both of your ovaries. As you know, the ovaries are
the two small organs in your body located in the lower abdomen
(pelvis) on either side of the womb (uterus), and they produce and
release ova, human eggs. The ovaries also produce estrogen and
progesterone. Not all ovarian tumors are cancerous. Many tumors
are benign ovarian masses and can be: abscesses or infections,
fibroids, cysts, polycystic ovaries, or endometriosis related
masses. About 20% of tumors or masses found in women who are
still menstruating, and have not gone through menopause, are
cancerous. For women who have been through menopause about 45% of
tumors or masses that are found are cancerous.
Ovarian Cancer is classified in the following
ways:
- Epithelial tumors: These tumors arise from the layer of cells
that surround the outside of the ovary. About 75% of ovarian
cancers are epithelial and this is usually found in women who have
been through menopause.
Stromal tumors: these tumors develop from connective tissue
cells that help form the structure of the ovary and produce
hormones. Usually only one ovary is involved. This accounts for
about 10% of ovarian cancers and occurs in women 40 to 60 years
old.
Germ Cell tumors: these tumors arise from the germs cells, the
cells that produce the egg. This accounts for about 15% of ovarian
cancers. These tumors most often develop in young women.
- Metastatic tumors: these are tumors that occur in the ovaries
as a result of cancer spreading from other parts of the body; such
as, colon, breast, stomach and pancreas. This accounts for only 5%
of ovarian cancers.
When ovarian cancer is discovered in its earliest
stages it can be cured 90% of the time. Unfortunately, early ovarian
cancer detection is hard to do. But if ovarian cancer is diagnosed
before it has spread to other organs, then the five year survival
rate is greater than 75%.
What Are The Causes Of Ovarian Cancer?
The cause of ovarian cancer is not really known and
ovarian cancer and menopause are not directly linked, however, there
is an increased risk of developing ovarian cancer if:
- A woman has a family history of ovarian cancer
A woman has never been pregnant
A woman is over the age of 50, as the risk of ovarian cancer
increases with age.
A woman has Ashkenazi Jewish heritage
A woman has European (white) heritage: White women are more
likely to develop ovarian cancer than African American women
There is repeated exposure of the genitals to talc
- There is irradiation of the pelvic area
As mentioned above ovarian cancer and menopause are
not directly linked because menopause itself does not cause ovarian
cancer, but some studies have linked the long-term use of estrogen
therapy and or hormone replacement therapy (over 10 years) to an
increased risk of ovarian cancer. So, again, if you are considering medical hormone
replacement therapy, discuss the risks and benefits with your
medical practitioner and understand ovarian cancer and menopause.
The following factors decrease your risk of ovarian
cancer:
- Pregnancy - as the number of pregnancies increases, the risk
of ovarian cancer decreases
Breastfeeding lowers the risk of ovarian cancer and risk
decreases with the increasing duration of breastfeeding
- Having your "tubes tied" (tubal ligation) to prevent pregnancy
or having a hysterectomy lowers your risk of ovarian cancer
What Are The Symptoms Of Ovarian Cancer?
Ovarian cancer and menopause are not directly linked
but are there and similar symptoms between ovarian cancer and
menopause? Ovarian cancer in its early stages has few symptoms.
The first sign of ovarian cancer is an enlarged ovary, but this can
go unnoticed until it becomes advanced. Usually symptoms of ovarian
cancer do not occur until the tumor has grown large enough to apply
pressure to other organs or the cancer has spread to remote organs
in the body. And some symptoms of ovarian cancer are so
non-specific that they may not be considered as symptoms of ovarian
cancer. Symptoms of more advanced ovarian cancer include:
- Swollen abdomen-caused by build up of fluids produced by the
tumor
Lower abdominal and leg pain
Sudden weight loss or weight gain
Change in bowel or bladder function, e.g. urinary frequency
Nausea and vomiting
Loss of appetite
Gas and/or diarrhea
Constipation
Swelling in the legs
- Pain with intercourse
A good rule of thumb is to see your doctor if you
have abdominal pain, distension or bloating that cannot be explained
for the usual reasons. And remember if you have any concerns about ovarian
cancer and menopause see your doctor.
Some Ovarian Cancer And Menopause Tips To Protect
Yourself
Here are a few tips on how you can lesson the risk
of ovarian cancer:
- Get a yearly pelvic exam
See your doctor if you have any irregular, vaginal bleeding or
abdominal pain
Discuss with your doctor the risk factor of ovarian cancer for
you if any of your close family members like your mother or
sisters have ovarian cancer
- Eat a low fat diet
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