5 Facts About Ovarian Cancer You Must Know!

Ovarian cancer is claiming the lives of millions of women all over the world, even in countries that are stereotyped to be the leaders in medical technology. In fact, it is actually the lack of medical technology that is resulting in so many ovarian cancer deaths, since there are no screening methods that can officially detect the disease. And yet, they can still help a woman save her life, if she knows when she should get the screening. If you need help in making such a determination, read on as this article will provide 5 chunks of information about ovarian cancer you must know.

1. Fact 1: It Can Take Years Before Ovarian Cancer Develops Symptoms

The first fact of the 5 chunks of information about ovarian cancer you must know is concerning how the symptoms of the disease develop. Basically, you can have the tumors growing inside you for a very long time and not have any idea that you have ovarian cancer. And when the symptoms start, it can mean the cancer has gotten to a point where it's not easily treated.

2. Fact 2: If Ovarian Cancer is Caught in its Early Stages, it has a 90 Percent Survival Rate

The second fact of the 5 chunks of information about ovarian cancer you must know is concerning the survival rate if the cancer is caught early. It can be as high as 90 percent. Yet, only 25 percent of women are able to catch the disease in these stages. Why is this so? Well, women who are at higher risk of ovarian cancer tend to get screening at the very moment something seems wrong with their bodies, (sometimes even earlier). You can be in this category mainly if you have a history of the disease in your family. When you get your gynecological exams, press your doctor for ovarian cancer screening. Be careful if you do this and you are not in the high risk category, since unfortunately ovarian cancer screening does carry a high rate of misdiagnoses, (which is why it isn't encouraged for the general population).

3. Fact 3: Breastfeeding and Having Babies Lowers Your Chances of Getting Ovarian Cancer

The third fact of the 5 chunks of information about ovarian cancer you must know concerns childbirth and breastfeeding. Having your first baby in your 20s along with breastfeeding significantly decreases your chances of having ovarian cancer. However, you do not have this advantage if you had your first baby in your teens or if you have a baby after 35.

4. Fact 4: Taking Birth Control Lowers Your Ovarian Cancer Risk

The fourth fact of the 5 chunks of information about ovarian cancer you must know concerns birth control. It is believed that birth control is effective at helping to prevent ovarian cancer because it lowers a woman's estrogen level, which is believed to be a factor for the disease. Be careful, though since some women may not be able to take birth control due to certain risk factors.

5. Fact 5: Get a Hysterectomy or Ovary Removal if You're High Risk

The final fact of the 5 chunks of information about ovarian cancer you must know concerns the hysterectomy or removal of one's ovaries. Hysterectomies provide protection for virtually any time of uterine cancer, but it can drastically decrease sexual pleasure. This is why if a woman is not at risk for any other type of reproductive cancer, a doctor may instead opt to remove just her ovaries.