Ovarian Cancer: The Silent Gynaecologic Disease That Often Reaches Oncology Too Late - Dr Kanika Batra Modi

Ovarian cancer is frequently referred to as the "silent" type of gynaecological cancer due to its lack of early detection. Unlike many other types of cancers, which make themselves known earlier, ovarian cancer is often diagnosed when it's already advanced, complicating treatment and making prognosis uncertain.

Difficulty with Early Detection of Ovarian Cancer

One of the main reasons for the difficulty in detecting ovarian cancer early is the anatomical location of the ovaries, which are buried deep within the pelvis. This means that small tumors can continue to grow for a long time before becoming apparent. There are currently no population-based screening tests available for ovarian cancer, while cervical cancer can be screened through routine Pap smears.

Common Symptoms

Most women with ovarian cancer experience vague and non-specific symptoms such as; bloating, a constant feeling of fullness, mild pelvic pain, frequent urination and fatigue, that they usually attribute to ordinary factors (stress, age, digestive issues and hormonal changes) until they become so uncomfortable that medical help is sought. Unfortunately, often by the time these symptoms are severe enough to warrant medical intervention, the cancer has already spread to other organs.

Effect of Late Diagnosis on Costs

The consequences of cancer occurring later than it should be have implications on the outcome of treatment. The earlier a cancer (of any type) is diagnosed, the higher the success rate of the treatment will be when it occurs. Most people with ovarian cancer, however, will have been diagnosed at an advanced stage and, therefore, the cancer would have already developed into the surrounding organs.

When the disease has spread to adjacent organs, treatment typically consists of multiple extensive surgical procedures and multiple courses of chemotherapeutics. This result creates extra stress (both emotional and physical) and also has an impact on a woman's ability to conceive. As well as the above-mentioned issues, there is a significant financial cost to the individual and family related to the management of ovarian cancer. Although the late diagnosis of cancer was discovered later than it would have been had it been diagnosed at the time when symptoms first presented, the ability to manage the disease could have been significantly enhanced with appropriate therapy earlier.

Identifying Higher Risk Individuals

Ovarian cancer may occur in women at any age, but several known risk factors exist. For example:

- Existence of a family history of breast or ovarian cancer

- Genetic mutations

- Advanced age.

- Reproductive history, including never having had children and/or delayed childbearing.

Women who don't have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer know the possibility exists. Being aware of their bodies, especially chronic changes, i.e., those changes that happen repeatedly, is important to their health.

Listening to body matters

With ovarian cancer, the most important rule to remember is to be persistent about your symptoms. The occasional bloated abdomen or mild abdominal pain can occur in a healthy individual. If you have any of these symptoms that have been present for an extended period, i.e., 4 weeks or greater, regardless of treatment, you should contact your physician and ask questions regarding your symptoms, having confidence that your instincts are accurate.

Regular gynaecologic examinations, honest and open discussions with a medical professional, and not disregarding persistent symptoms as merely "normal" will greatly reduce the time between the individual's initial symptoms and being diagnosed. An early referral to an oncologist is an important factor in creating better treatment plans and achieving better outcomes.

Moving From Awareness of Ovarian Cancer to Timely Detection and Treatment

Even though ovarian cancer is often an asymptomatic disease, it does not have to be an invisible disease. Increased awareness of ovarian cancer and early warning signs of ovarian cancer will result in a dramatic shift in the delay of diagnosis of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Educating women and their families, as well as primary care providers, about the early warning signs of ovarian cancer, ensuring that women have access to gynaecologists, and placement of women into onco-gynecologists early through research efforts to have better diagnostic tools are essential steps toward improving the overall outcome of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

Breaking the silence surrounding ovarian cancer begins with communication. When women feel supported to offer feedback regarding symptoms and demand timely access to medical providers, they will have an increased chance to enter oncology at an earlier stage before they become too late.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are of the author and not of Health Dialogues. The Editorial/Content team of Health Dialogues has not contributed to the writing/editing/packaging of this article.