Each year ovarian cancer claims the lives of over 14,000 women. Annually, 22,000 women will be diagnosed with the disease. It's an aggressive cancer and can spread quickly so early detection is crucial. Since ovarian cancer is often not caught until it's later stages women need to know important information on prevention and warning signs in order to stay healthy.
Warning signs include Bloating, Eating difficulty or feeling full easily, Abdominal pain and Trouble urinating and moving the bowels. BEAT is the acronym used to remember these signs. Good healthcare is essential as well, especially for women who have a family history of ovarian, breast, colon or rectal cancer. Regular exams as well as ultrasound scans and genetic testing are important as well. If a woman is diagnosed, there are newer and better treatments being developed. Precision medicine with targeted chemotherapy directly to the area where an ovarian tumor is detected as well as specialized radiation therapy are also available, but as with any kind of cancer, prevention is the best course of action whenever possible.
