Ovarian cancer is the 5th leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women and is the deadliest gynecological cancer. Ovarian cancer is a cancer that begins in an ovary. The most common type of ovarian cancer is called epithelial carcinoma. It begins in the epithelial cells on the outer surface of the ovary. Fallopian tube and peritoneal cancers are often considered to be very similar to ovarian cancer and may represent the same cancer syndrome. There are more rare types of ovarian cancer but most cases, 85% – 90%, are epithelial carcinomas.

Symptoms of ovarian cancer can include abdominal bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, urinary urgency or frequency, fatigue, indigestion, back pain, pain with intercourse, constipation, or menstrual irregularities. These are all symptoms that can be due to medical conditions other than ovarian cancer. If associated with ovarian cancer, these symptoms may occur more often and present differently than what is typical for a particular woman.

The average woman in the United States has a lifetime risk for ovarian cancer that is less than 1.4%. Most cases are diagnosed in women over the age of 50. Some hereditary cancer syndromes cause an increased risk for ovarian cancer. Approximately 10% of ovarian cancers are thought to be due to an inherited risk. Knowing your risks can help you and your doctor determine appropriate screening tests and take possible preventative measures.

If you have a family history of cancer, complete the online Hereditary Cancer Risk Assessment Quiz. This quiz is completely confidential and your results will be emailed directly to your Mirabile M.D. provider. Once your results are received and evaluated, we’ll contact you for further follow-up.

Source: myriad.com