Ovarian cancer is one of the many cancers that affect women. The female reproductive system contains two ovaries, one on each side of the womb, or uterus. The ovaries are responsible for producing eggs and the hormones estrogen and progesterone. The early stages of the disease rarely produces symptoms, which makes this type of cancer harder to diagnose until it reaches the later stages and has spread within the abdomen and pelvis.

The following are the signs, symptoms, causes, and types of ovarian cancer:

1. An overview ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer affects the female reproductive system, with the ovaries that produce eggs and hormones being affected.

It is estimated that around 22,000 women in the country are diagnosed with ovarian cancer every year. The disease has a 5-year survival rate of 91% if detected at an early stage. However, delayed detection of the disease can be fatal and it is estimated that around 14,000 women die every year due to this disease.

Ovarian cancer starts in the fallopian tubes and then moves to the ovaries. The problem is that the early stages of cancer do not present many symptoms and is hence difficult to identify. It is important to look for early signs to detect the disease early.

2. Early signs of ovarian cancer
In the initial stages, there are not many symptoms. However, there are early signs that one should watch out for. These include:

• Bloating in the abdomen and pain
• A feeling of fullness in the abdomen after eating
• Increased frequency and urge to urinate
• Back pain
• Pain at the time of sexual intercourse

These symptoms can be confused with premenstrual syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome. It is important to consult a gynecologist if any of these early signs are observed.

3. Symptoms of ovarian cancer
As the disease progresses and the cancer cells start spreading, there are many other symptoms one would experience. These include:

• Unexplained weight loss
• Nausea
• Not able to eat and loss of appetite
• Increased pain in the pelvis
• Breathlessness and tiredness
• Problems with the menstrual cycle

Regular gynecological check ups can help in detecting cancer at an early stage and is a must for all female, once they attain puberty.

4. Causes and risk factors of ovarian cancer
Like most cancers, abnormal mutation of cells causes cancerous cells to grow. These cells form a tumor. The tumor can invade other areas and spread to other organs. There are certain risk factors for ovarian cancer. Anyone at risk needs regular monitoring for this disease.

• Age is one of the risk factors for ovarian cancer that occurs more in elderly people. Those above 50 years are more likely to develop ovarian cancer.
• Having a family history of ovarian cancer increases the risk.
• Early-onset of menses or delayed menopause can increase the risk of ovarian cancer.
• Obese women are more likely to be affected by this disease.

5. Types of ovarian cancer
There are three types of ovarian cancer:

• Epithelial tumors
  These tumors are formed on the outer surface of the ovary. 90% of ovarian cancers are epithelial.
• Stromal tumors
  In this type of ovarian cancer, the cancerous tumors are formed in the cells that produce hormones.
• Germ cell tumors
  These tumors are formed in the cells producing eggs.

With the overview of ovarian cancer mentioned in the article, you can see how you can detect this disease at an early stage by watching out for signs and symptoms of this disease. Anyone having any of the risk factors mentioned in the article needs regular checkups.