Why is it so under-detected?

Ovarian cancer is considered the least understood of all cancers. Extremely difficult to detect in the first stage of the disease, it makes itself known rapidly. Rarely are the symptoms of ovarian cancer unambiguous, most often taking on a non-specific character, without causing any concern to patients. Unfortunately, for this reason, even doctors often fail to notice the first worrying symptoms, so that treatment is only introduced when severe onset of the disease occurs.

In Poland, ovarian cancer is ranked sixth in terms of the frequency of malignant tumours in women.

Symptoms

Symptoms usually only appear when the cancer has reached a significant size.

Worrying symptoms include:

• pressure discomfort in the abdominal fossa,
• frequent constipation,
• flatulence,
• a feeling of fullness in the abdomen,
• pains in the lower abdomen,
• neuralgia in the thighs,
• bleeding from the genital tract,
• a severely advanced form of ovarian cancer manifests itself with cancerous cachexia of the organism and a characteristic sharpening of the facial features.

Early symptoms include pelvic pain, increased abdominal circumference, a rapid feeling of fullness after meals, and a change in the frequency of urination. Unfortunately, nearly 70 per cent of patients do not begin treatment until stage III or IV of clinical cancer.

Causes

Scientists distinguish between two main types of ovarian cancer - those originating on the surface of the ovary and those arising in the egg cells of the ovary. The causes of ovarian cancer are still unknown. Doctors speculate that there may be a correlation between the frequency and number of ovulations in a woman's life. Factors that increase the risk include a family history of ovarian cancer, a history of breast cancer, a family history of non-polypoid colon cancer, endocrine disruption of the ovaries, having the first child after the age of 35, obesity and endometriosis.

Preventive measures

Regular gynaecological check-ups, ligation of the fallopian tubes, prophylactic excision of the appendages, excision of the uterus are considered as measures to reduce the risk of the disease.