Ovarian Cancer

You may be at risk of ovarian cancer if you:

• Had your first pregnancy at an older age or have never been pregnant
• Had your menopause at a later age
• Have a family member with ovarian cancer, especially if they have a mutated BRCA gene
• Have endometriosis (tissues of uterine lining grows on other pelvic organs)
• Have had breast cancer
• Started to menstruate at a young age
• Used hormone replacement therapy for more than 5 years
• Were overweight in your early adulthood

Symptoms of ovarian cancer include:

• Abdominal swelling and discomfort, ie. feeling of pressure, fullness or bloating
• Changes in bowel habits, eg. constipation
• Loss of appetite or weight loss
• Lower back pain
• Pain during sexual intercourse
• Persistent indigestion, gas or nausea
• Urgent or frequent need to urinate

Treatment for ovarian cancer usually involves a combination of surgery and chemotherapy:

• Surgery to remove the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus and lymph nodes
• Chemotherapy to destroy any remaining cancer cells after surgery