Without warning, Ovarian Cancer strips life away in two forms, the ability to live and the ability to reproduce.  The American Cancer Society projects 15,280 women will die from ovarian cancer during 2007.  Often without symptoms, this cancer is difficult to detect; and only 20% of ovarian cancers are found before they are malignant.  But hope is on the way.  A vaccine tested on 18 ovarian cancer patients at Roswell Cancer Institute caused the disease to go into remission.  This vaccine boosted the anti-tumor defenses of the body and has the potential to lift the prognosis for these cancer patients to a more favorable status.

70% of the woman diagnosed with late stage ovarian cancer die within five years according to the National Society of Scientists.  The women who are treated early for ovarian cancer will live longer than five years.  It's difficult to detect ovarian cancer.  The ovaries are deep within the body, which makes it difficult to feel for a tumor.  The most common sign is the swelling of the abdomen that becomes full with fluid.  Many symptoms are common of everyday ailments and include abdominal pain; trouble eating or feeling full quickly, having to urinate often or feeling like you have to "go" right away.  If these symptoms last for weeks, imaging studies should be done to detect any mass in the pelvis.  Other methods for testing include laparoscopy, tissue sampling and blood tests. Treatment always depends on how far the cancer has progressed.

Treatment includes the standard treatments for most cancers: surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.  Surgery typically involves removal of the uterus (hysterectomy), ovaries and/or the fallopian tubes.  Pregnancy is not possible after any one of the surgeries.  Ironically, pregnancy seems to be a deterrent, and infertile women are at higher risk of developing ovarian cancer.

Anyone with a family history of ovarian, breast, uterus, colon or rectum cancer is at high risk, particularly if it occurred with more than one family member or at a young age.  Most women with ovarian cancer are diagnosed between 55-65.  Studies have shown that women who take estrogen for more than 10 years are also at increased risk, but there is no connection between fertility drugs and increased ovarian cancer rates.  As with many cancers, obese patients have a shorter life expectancy after diagnosis.  New studies give hope to preventative methods.  The Archives of Internal Medicine (12/26) recently demonstrated a 46 percent lower risk of ovarian cancer in women who drank two or more cups of tea (green or black) per day.

Ovarian Cancer consumes the female reproductive system with silent symptoms.  Research is driven to find the cause for ovarian cancer and to develop new ways to detect its symptoms and presence.  Early detection is crucial in treating all cancers and gives rise to more favorable prognosis rates.  Fortunately, ovarian cancer has declined at a rate of .7% per year since 1985, and with ongoing research, hope is slowly on the way.