Bloating, pelvic pains, feeling full quickly and urinary issues are typical issues that a woman can face each day. When felt alone, they are brief moments of discomfort that can pass and not be given a second thought. However, if these symptoms are common in your daily life, then it is time to talk to your doctor.
“Ovarian Cancer is usually called the silent cancer and that is because the symptoms are really, really vague and because they’re so vague, it tends to get diagnosed a little bit later,” said Bunja Rungruang, MD, chief of the section of Gynecology Oncology here at the Georgia Cancer Center and the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University.
Since the symptoms are so vague and can often be overlooked, it is important for women to be aware of the factors that can increase their risks of ovarian cancer. One of the biggest factors is age. Women above the age of 60 or who have already experienced menopause are at the greatest risk.
Another risk factor is genetics.
“Family history is a big risk factor for ovarian cancer. We think that up to 25% of ovarian cancer can be genetically related.”
Your genetic makeup plays a large part in your health. Many cancers, including breast, colon, and ovarian, can occur due to genetic mutations, like BRCA 1 and BRCA 2.
“It is remarkable, the number of human illnesses that have their origins in genetic makeup,” said John Henson, MD. Henson is the director of the Hereditary Cancer Clinic at the Georgia Cancer Clinic. He works with adult patients to uncover illnesses, such as cancer, that can be found in their genetic makeup.
Rungruang always encourages her patients to visit Henson at the Hereditary Cancer Clinic and get tested. Knowing what gene mutations they have is not only important for their family, but it can also play a role in the type of treatment they undergo.
“So, if they test positive for a genetic mutation, depending on which one it is, some of them are at a higher risk than others, and this determines when you should get surgery to remove your ovaries,” said Rungruang. “We talk about, you know, you need to have kids by a certain time, ideally by the age of 35 and be done. And if you’re not done by that point, then we need to talk about harvesting eggs or getting a doner.”
The initial treatment for ovarian cancer is simple: surgery and chemotherapy. Which comes first and what type boils down to the areas that the cancer has spread to and what the doctor believes is best for the specific patient.
A patient’s genetic makeup plays a role in determining the maintenance therapy that the patient undergoes after their chemotherapy is finished. This maintenance therapy is typically a pill a patient takes daily to help them remain in remission. While it is often diagnosed at a later stage, ovarian cancer responses well to treatments.
According to the American Cancer Society, the rates of ovarian cancer deaths has increased by 40% since 1975 thanks to improved treatment methods.
If you would like to learn more about ovarian cancer, check out our latest episode of A Cancer Conversation with Rungruang, or visit our website. If you are curious about your genetic make-up, you can call 706-721-6458 to request an appointment with the Hereditary Cancer Clinic.
