| One of the cancers that are among the deadliest | | | | irregular menstrual cycles (although many women |
| is ovarian caner. It is rare, but it is among the | | | | have these anyway, but someone prone to |
| most deadly, with a low survival rate in the final | | | | cancer will find that birth control does not properly |
| two stages. This is because it is a relatively silent | | | | regulate it), frequent nausea and fever, and |
| killer that often progresses beyond any hope of | | | | vaginal bleeding. A frequent need to use the |
| healing before it is discovered. New tests are | | | | bathroom is another indication of the possibility of |
| allowing doctors to catch this disease earlier, | | | | ovarian cancer. All of these things need to be |
| improving chances of survival, but it is still a | | | | discussed with your doctor so that she or he |
| little-known menace that affects women. | | | | knows what the possibilities might be. |
| Ovarian cancer initially attacks the ovaries. As with | | | | Behaviors that are though to reduce the risk |
| most cancers, the exact cause of the cancer is | | | | (although nothing can completely eradicate the risk |
| not completely known. However, it does start in | | | | of ovarian cancer) include healthy diet and |
| the ovaries. If caught soon enough, the ovaries | | | | exercise, oral contraceptives, breastfeeding, and |
| can usually be removed, with a very god chance | | | | having at least one full-term pregnancy. Of |
| of success. The key, however, is catching the | | | | course, none of these behaviors are complete |
| cancer early. It needs to be caught in its first or | | | | protection against any illness, including cancer, but |
| second stage for the best chance of survival. And | | | | it can help you reduce your chance of developing |
| therein lies the problem. Most of the time, the | | | | it. Surgical procedures are also thought to help. |
| cancer is not found until it is in the third or fourth | | | | Things like having your tubes "tied" and also the |
| stage. These stages are pretty much too late for | | | | removal of the ovaries can reduce your risk as |
| most people. The fourth stage especially, as by | | | | well. Although, interestingly enough, even removing |
| this time the cancer has probably spread | | | | your ovaries does not completely eliminate your |
| throughout the body. This cancer cannot be | | | | chances of developing ovarian cancer (even |
| detected by a pap smear. Therefore, it is | | | | though it helps significantly). |
| important that you inform your doctor of a family | | | | By understanding your family history and taking |
| history of ovarian cancer (genetics is the main | | | | care to live a healthy lifestyle, you can probably |
| indicator and cause) and any other irregularities. | | | | avoid ovarian cancer. It is a rare cancer, but more |
| Even though improved tests can help detect the | | | | deadly perhaps because of that rarity. Most |
| cancer earlier than before, it is important that | | | | women are not likely to get it, but it is a good |
| your physician be on the look out for indicators. | | | | idea to be on your guard, especially if there is a |
| Some of the symptoms of ovarian cancer include | | | | history of ovarian cancer in your family. |