Healthy Living
WHAT EVERY WOMAN Should Know About Ovarian Cancer
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September is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness month. Ovarian cancer is often called the “silent” cancer because the symptoms can be vague or only a “whisper,” often going unnoticed until the disease has progressed to an advanced stage. Early detection is especially important for ovarian cancer to ensure the most effective treatment. You can help protect yourself by knowing your body and recognizing symptoms early. Know the Symptoms A Pap test does not detect ovarian cancer, so it’s important to pay attention to warning signs. If they persist on a daily basis for more than two weeks, call your doctor. The most common symptoms are: • • • •
Bloating Pelvic or abdominal pain Trouble eating or feeling full quickly Experiencing urinary frequency and urgency
Know Your Risk The risk for developing ovarian cancer appears to be affected by several factors — increasing age, obesity, smoking and alcohol use, never having had children, having children late in life, taking estrogen or hormone replacement therapy, among others. If you have a strong personal or family history of cancer, genetic testing can help you reduce your risk of developing ovarian cancer and increase your chances of survival. Better Hope for a Cure Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy remain the three traditional treatment options for women with cancer. However, new treatments and technologies offer ovarian cancer patients better hope for a cure. Robotic surgery combines laparoscopy with robotic technology, allowing surgeons greater range of motion and the ability to perform more precise, less invasive procedures. Patients benefit from smaller incisions, less blood loss and postoperative pain, and shorter recovery times. 32 AroundAbout Roswell | september 2011
Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemoperfusion, or HIPEC, is performed immediately following surgery, while still in the operating room, and delivers heated chemotherapy directly into the abdominal cavity, where it can penetrate diseased tissue directly. The combination therapy is effective at slowing or preventing recurrence of the disease and can add quality months — even years — to the patient’s life. At the Forefront of Cancer Care More cases of gynecologic cancer, including ovarian, are diagnosed and treated at Northside Hospital than at any other hospital in Georgia. Northside was the first in Georgia to perform robotic radical hysterectomy for gynecologic oncology patients and ranks in the top 5 percent of all robotic GYN programs in the country. The hospital also offers genetic testing for families with a history of ovarian cancer and participates in multiple oncology research programs and clinical trials, some of which often are found only at large academic medical centers and research universities. As an NCI Community Cancer Centers Program, the hospital offers a comprehensive treatment process that encompasses the entire cancer experience, from education, prevention and screening to diagnosis and treatment, research, support and survivorship.
For more information about ovarian cancer or any of the screening and treatment services available at Northside Hospital, visit www.northside.com.