Monday, September 29, 2008

Reviewing What Happens When An Ovarian Cyst Bursts

By Jay Taylor

There is always a possibility than an ovarian cyst may burst. This is the number one concern for many women who have ovarian cysts. They usually do not know what to expect or what happens when an ovarian cyst bursts.

Severe pain that will usually radiate from the lower abdomen to the pelvic area is what women will most likely experience when an ovarian cyst bursts. The degree of pain felt by each person is affected by what happens when the ovarian cyst bursts. There are many contributing factors such as any infection of the cyst, any bleeding of the cyst, and what elements made up the cyst.

Proper care is very important when a ovarian cyst burst, usually requiring a trip to the emergency room as the pain can be quite intense. The lining of the peritoneal cavity, otherwise known as the peritoneum gets very irritated and causes extreme pain in the abdomen. The contents of the ovarian cyst as well as blood can cause the irritation and pain directly or indirectly due to a large concentration of prostaglandins and swelling.

Unlike what happens when an ovarian cysts bursts, when a regular follicle ruptures and releases an egg under the normal menstruation pattern, women usually experience no pain. This causes some to draw comparisons between the normal release of the egg and the bursting of an ovarian cyst. However, when a follicle ruptures, it causes very little bleeding because it is so small. Ovarian cysts can reach between 5 cm to 10 cm in diameter.

After an ovarian cyst bursts the fluid that is released, possibly causing a good ammount of bleeding in the area due to it's location to a high number of nearby blood vessles. It then only takes 10ml of lost blood in the area of the peritoneum to cause irritation because of the number of nerve endings it has causing allot of pain to women suffering from ovarian cysts. In comparison, the peritoneum is tender, requiring only a 10ml change in pressure, when the average blood donor usually looses five to twenty ml of blood and the only pain they feel is the initial prick of the needle.

Ovarian cysts that burst are uncommon and they usually disappear on their own after a few menstrual cycles have passed. When this happens the fluid contained within the ovarian cyst is reabsorbed into the body causing the collapse and eventually fade all together.

Concern about the risks and what happens when an ovarian cyst bursts is to be expected from women who have ovarian cysts. While extreemly painful, it is hardly ever a immediate threat to your life. Needless to say, if your a woman who is having this happen to you it would still be wise to go to the hospital or to your family doctor if you can and have yourself checked out.

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Saturday, September 27, 2008

Information on Ovarian Cyst Types

By Jay Tyler

Although usually not a problem, functional ovarian cysts are a problem common to many women. Ovarian cysts can be cancerous however most are not. Most functional ovarian cysts present no obvious symptoms and no treatment is required, however there is a chance ovarian cysts can cause discomfort and some may require treatment.

A follicular cyst is a simple type of ovarian cyst that can form when ovulation does not occur or when a mature follicle collapses on itself. It can grow to about 2.3 inches in diameter but usually produces no symptoms and disappears by itself after a few months.

An ovarian gland will produce progesterone during the ovulation portion of the monthly cycle of menstruation when the egg is released, and this is when a corpus luteum cyst could potentially develop. When a corpus luteum is healthy, it is approximately one inch in diameter, round in shape, and fluid filled. Corpus luteum cysts do not usually have noticeable symptoms. They can develop at the end of a menstrual cycle or early on during a pregnancy. Many of them do not require treatment, and, fortunately, disappear on their own.

A functional cyst on the ovaries that releases or contains blood is referred to as a hemorrhagic ovarian cyst. This type of cyst won't always burst, however when they do, it will cause a burning feeling in the pelvic area from leaking blood. Hemorrhagic cysts are common, however, and most of the time nothing needs to be done to treat them. If a doctor thinks the cyst is an indicator of endometriosis, they may perform surgery to remove it.

Women can develop dermoid cysts at any time and age, but dermoid cysts are a higher risk during the childbearing years. A dermoid cyst is one type of an ovarian cyst that grows from the totipotential germ cell in the ovaries. Tissues such as bone, teeth and hair can form from this ovarian cell. Dermoid cysts may contain solid physical tissue. Sometimes doctors find hair and teeth forming in these cysts. They are commonly removed because they may block the flow of blood to the ovaries.

An ovarian cyst that is pathological includes both tumors and endometriosis. These are not common and can only be found after examination by a doctor. A tumor can be defined as a pathological ovarian cyst and be either cancerous or not, benign or malignant. Tumors need to be dealt with as soon as they are discovered. A tumor is generally 6 cm or over, thick walled and persistent. On the other hand women in their prime reproductive years will often develop endometrioid cysts. These endometrioid cysts are present when a woman has endometriosis and are formed when a portion of endometrial tissue bleeds, falls off and then becomes transplanted in the ovaries.

There are many different types of ovarian cysts and each type should be diagnosed and treated properly. Pathological ovarian cysts are less common than functional cysts, but women should speak to doctors about any cyst.

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Friday, September 26, 2008

Ovarian Cysts During Pregnancy

By Jay Tyler

Quite common among all women, ovarian cysts usually take the shape of a small, round sac filled with fluid. Women even get ovarian cysts during pregnancy which happens in approximately one out of every thousand pregnancies.

The great majority of ovarian cysts discovered during pregnancy are benign cysts. Malignant cysts during pregnancy are less common. Ovarian cysts are classified as benign or malignant by doctors using ultrasound machines. If the mass lacks thick walls with no evidence of septation and is filled with fluid, it is probably a benign cyst. However, ultrasound is not one hundred percent accurate.

Ovarian cysts can become large, even when they are benign, and this leads to special complications during pregnancy. Though large cysts can cause pain whether or not a woman is pregnant, when a large cyst ruptures or twists on itself during pregnancy, there is the possibility of a miscarriage or pre-term labor. A baby may be delivered earlier than usual due to complications with ovarian cysts during pregnancy.

Under most circumstance, women rarely have problems with ovarian cysts during pregnancy, so long as the ovarian cyst does not become too large or ruptures. Even if the ovarian cyst ruptures, the result is often only pain and rarely infection. This pain can be lessened through the use of pain relievers and will not interfere with the normal progress of pregnancy. Moreover, despite their ovarian cyst, women can still use anesthesia during labor. Consequently, ovarian cysts do not present a huge threat during a pregnancy.

If a cyst becomes too large and twists, it will have to be surgically removed. Though a surgery will not harm the baby and cause any strain on the pregnancy, it is best to avoid removing a cyst and having a surgery during a pregnancy. On the other hand, ovarian cysts larger than 6 through 8 cm are often surgically removed unless they spontaneously shrink over the course of time.

Bear in mind that if they are big enough ovarian cysts during pregnancy will probably rupture. Most doctors simply keep an eye on the situation until the second trimester. If warranted and depending on the size, ovarian cysts can be removed either by laparoscopy or open incision.

In short, while ovarian cysts during pregnancy are fairly common, they should be closely monitored throughout the pregnancy. Ovarian cysts are generally no worse for the health of the would-be mother than they would be at any other time.

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Thursday, September 25, 2008

New Cancer Drugs

By Thulas Sukati

Probably one of the most unusual roles for Sean Connery was his portrayal of a doctor in a South American jungle, looking into a way to eradicate cancer. Although there are other more awful diseases, this one holds the crown at the moment because of how often it is diagnosed. Research over the years has helped our understanding of cancer but not to the point where we are able to foretell exactly when it will happen.

If someone were to ask you what cancer was, would you be able to give them a definition like the one in this article? They invade and destroy adjacent tissues and may even spread to other anatomical sites through a process called metastasis.

They affect many people without them even knowing they are there. As you get older the risk of cancer increases. While smoking, chemicals and radiation for instance, can be the cancer trigger, it is the poison from these or other sources that transform body cells and create genetic abnormalities which grow and multiply.

The cause can also be the responsibility of faulty DNA replication or a genetic trait inherited from parents which means a person can be born with them. Complex relationships between carcinogens and a person's genetic makeup may explain why only some develop it after exposure to a known carcinogen.

Owing to this ongoing, worldwide research, we do actually know a considerable amount about cancer even if we are some way from finding a complete and consistent cure. Much of the world's research into diseases is to try and find the reason why some people do not contract certain diseases while others do. We all want to know more about the causes of cancer what we can do to help prevent this illness from striking.

There is a saying 'You Are What You Eat' and this is now being looked at more closely as food may have a direct effect on the incidence of the disease in certain groups. Studies have shown that there is a connection between dairy produced calcium and prostrate cancer.

No-one is immune from cancer. It can affect anyone at some time in a person's life. Sometimes the disease is only picked up through routine screening. All this research is gradually leading towards more effective treatments for cancer and it is not always the terminal disease it used to be.

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Wednesday, September 24, 2008

What Are Complex Ovarian Cysts?

By Jay Taylor

The chances that a woman will end up having a ovarian cyst during their lifetime is actually quite common and is generally no cause for concern. Complex ovarian cysts are a different story as they occur less often and can sometimes cause serious health problems. They are called complex ovarian cysts due to their makeup, usually containing both solid and liquid portions, having more substance then simple ovarian cysts and come in three different types: endometrioma, cystadenomas and dermoid.

The ova, cells that form human eggs, can develop a form of complex ovarian cyst called a "dermoid cyst." Dermoid cysts can contain hair, teeth, and/or skin; this is because they have the potential to become any kind of tissue in a human since they are "non-differentiated cells." While they are usually non-cancerous, dermoid cysts can become very large and result in pain by causing the ovaries to become twisted.

A type of complex ovarian cyst which occurs when a woman has endometriosis is called an "endometrioma". Women with endometriomas suffer from uterine cells that grow outside the uterus and become attached to their ovaries, creating a growth after several periods. An endometrial cyst could become very large, reaching the size of a tennis ball or even bigger. This disease may be partially blamed on genetics. The symptoms of endometriosis include painful periods, pain before or after one's period or during intercourse, painful urination or bowel movements, general tiredness and erratic menstrual cycles.

Developing from ovarian tissue, cystadenomas are complex ovarian cysts that can be filled mainly with liquid and have a tendency to twist in the ovary producing sever pain. There are two different types of cystadenomas, serous and mucinous. Serous are filled with a thin fluid and are know to grow between 2 and 6 inches in diameter. Mucinous on the other hand have a core of thick, gelatin like liquid and grow from 6 to 12 inches in diameter.

While complex ovarian cysts frequently cause pain and other obvious signs as they develop in size, such symptoms can be similar to those of endometriosis or an ectopic pregnancy. Women who suffer from complex ovarian cysts frequently feel discomfort in the pelvis around their periods and during sexual activity. In addition, they may have menstrual problems including abnormal bleeding or cessation of menstruation. Complex ovarian cysts may also cause symptoms similar to those experienced during pregnancy, including breast tenderness, vomiting and nausea.

A diagnosis of ovarian cysts is typically reached after a pelvic examination is conducted. Doctors will frequently confirm such a diagnosis with a pelvic ultrasound. Pregnancy or other factors should be ruled out beforehand. Once you have received a confirmed diagnosis of a complex ovarian cyst, you should contact your physician whenever you experience severe pain in either the abdomen or in the pelvis.

A woman's age and symptoms are sometimes considered in making a diagnosis of complex ovarian cysts. Although not all ovarian cysts are cancerous, complex ovarian cysts must be tested to rule out cancer and to determine an appropriate course of treatment.

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Sunday, September 21, 2008

What are Ovarian Cyst Symptoms

By Jay Tyler

Having a number of ovarian cyst symptoms does not in and of itself prove that a cyst exists, but some symptoms are a much clearer indicator than others. A single symptom is generally not anything to worry about, but two or more of them together are a definite wake up call to see a doctor.

Menstrual irregularities, such as painful periods and abnormal bleeding may be an indication of ovarian cysts, especially if there is no prior history of irregularities. This could also mean a longer or shorter than usual menstrual period, an absent menstruation, or an irregular menstruation. Spotting or light bleeding can occur when symptoms of ovarian symptoms manifest. Unexplained weight gain may be another symptom of ovarian cysts.

Ovarian cyst symptoms can show up as a sort of dull ache in the lower back and pelvic area. Sometimes this pain will flair up either right before or after a period, but it can also be brought on during intercourse or even heavy exercise. When an ovarian cyst bursts or twists, it can cause a number of problems depending on the size of the cyst. There might be pain in the abdomen and the pelvic area, tissue irritation, and perhaps more seriously, blood will not be able to travel freely to the ovaries.

Symptoms similar to those of pregnancy, like nausea, vomiting, and tenderness of the breasts, are common symptoms of ovarian cysts. It is worth mentioning that other symptoms can distinguish between pregnancy and ovarian cysts. Infertility, for example, is itself a common symptom of ovarian cysts.

Ovarian cysts are often accompanied by abdominal pain, fullness or pressure. The pain may occur and disappear suddenly. Abdominal bloating or swelling may also be present. Development of an ovarian cyst may also cause uncomfortable pressure or pain during bowel movements, passing urine problems, and existence of pressure on the rectum or bladder.

All that most ovarian cysts need is time in order to go away. Some ovarian cyst symptoms, however, can be more urgent and need immediate treatment at a medical facility. These would be severe abdominal or pelvic pain that flares suddenly, shortness of breath, pain or fever with vomiting, and weakness or faintness that appears quickly.

Ovarian cyst symptoms make it difficult for a general doctor to detect a cyst and they rarely make a diagnosis based on them. While locating a cyst based on symptoms is not impossible, the majority of ovarian cysts are found not because of ovarian cyst symptoms, but as a result of annual Pap smears.

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Wednesday, September 10, 2008

A Look At What Causes Cancer

By Lindelwa Maseko

Cancer has been a plague on humanity for a long time. Think about that for a moment. The reasons cancer is triggered in the body are only theories as it can be caused by many things.

First off it is a good idea to understand exactly what cancer is and try to ascertain whether it is hereditary or something you can acquire. They then invade other cells and repeat the process.

There are rare occasions when a benign tumor changes to a malignant one. The disease may affect people of all ages, there is an increased risk of suffering from the more common cancers as you get older. Nearly all cancers are caused by abnormalities in the genetic material of the transformed cells.

For some people the problem lies not with any form of external poison although faults with their parents DNA or genetic makeup can result in a person being born with the diseased cells. It would seem some people are more susceptible to it than others and it may be their genetic makeup and their exposure to certain carcinogens that is responsible.

Owing to the worldwide problem of cancer, it is regularly studied throughout the world and extending our knowledge on the subject. More information is being gathered about all illnesses and why some people are more prone to certain conditions. Ultimately, even if they don't find the cure for some time, this research may be able to tell us how to avoid contracting cancer in the first place.

Your regular diet could be putting you at long term risk from all kinds of diseases. In particular, excess calcium is believed to have a direct effect on the incidence of prostrate cancer amongst men around the world.

Cancer can affect any part of the body from the bones, blood, skin or organs. nowhere is safe from it. Cures for many types have advanced in recent years and are more likely to be successful if the cancer is found in its early stages. However, the consistent research is paying off and the life expectancy of cancer victims is increasing all the time.

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Saturday, September 6, 2008

Lobular Breast Cancer

By Ray Lam

About 1 in 10 breast cancers diagnosed (10%) are invasive lobular carcinoma. This means that the cancer is growing in the cells that line the lobules of the breast. Invasive lobular cancer can develop in women of any age. But is most common in women between 45 and 55 years old. It is possible for men to get invasive lobular breast cancer, but this is very rare.

The types of cancer vary in their prognosis and the way in which they present. Lobular carcinoma (in situ and invasive) will be discussed here. The term 'in situ' refers to pre-invasive breast cancer. This is breast cancer which has not yet penetrated ('invaded') through the basement membrane (the membrane at the base of the epithelial lining of ducts or glands). In situ carcinoma has the potential to become invasive carcinoma, and so is treated as an early form of breast cancer. In the left-hand image below, you can see how the normal cells which form the lobules of the breast might look. In lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS, the image to the right), the lobular cells have developed the ability to multiply out of control - one of the characteristics of cancer. The cancerous cells have not yet spread beyond the lining of the lobule. This is known as LCIS.

The outlook for invasive lobular breast cancer is much the same as for ductal breast cancer. Lobular breast cancer is not a more aggressive cancer, as is sometimes said. It is more common for it to be diagnosed in both breasts at the same time. And if you have invasive lobular breast cancer diagnosed in one breast, there is a slightly higher risk than there is for ductal breast cancer of getting it in the other breast in the future.

As for most types of breast cancer, surgery will be the first treatment. This may be a mastectomy or wide local excision. You will usually be given a choice between these two types of surgery. If a wide local excision is possible there is a chance that a second operation may be necessary to make sure that a clear enough area of tissue around the lump is taken. In some cases, to get a clear area of tissue it may be necessary for the whole breast to be removed. Invasive lobular cancer can sometimes affect more than one area within the breast. If this is the case the surgeon may recommend a mastectomy.

LCIS is viewed as an uncommon condition, but we don't know exactly how many people are affected. That's because LCIS does not cause symptoms and usually does not show up on a mammogram. It tends to be diagnosed as a result of a biopsy performed on the breast for some other reason.

If you have a wide local excision you will usually be offered radiotherapy to reduce the risk of the cancer coming back in the same breast. If you have a mastectomy you may not need radiotherapy.

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Friday, September 5, 2008

General Principles of Treatment for Metastatic Breast Cancer

By Ray Lam

America received a shocking piece of news in March 2007. John Edward's wife, Elizabeth, had been diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. She spoke calmly, with inner strength, about how she had asked her husband to continue his presidential campaign, and how she wanted to campaign by his side. She did not want to be best known by her illness; she wanted, in fact, needed, to carry on as normally as she could.

Cancer is defined by four different stages and metastatic breast cancer is defined as stage 4 and it means that the cancer has spread beyond the breast and underarm lymph nodes to other part of the body. Another way to explain this is that the cancer cells have migrated and are now growing outside of the original tumor.

The treatment options for this cancer are the same as treating any other cancer. But treatment must be aggressive based on the stage of this particular disease. Because the definition of metastatic breast cancer is cancer that has spread from the breast to other parts of the body, treatment must be speedy and assertive in order to stop the spread of the cells to any further locations in the body.

Treatment plans may include surgery wherein the cancerous growths are removed from the body; radiation during which affected cells are attacked with pinpoint x-ray technology; and chemotherapy which exposes the patient to a course of intravenous drug therapy designed to stop the growth of cancer cells. In most cases, however, a combination of several therapies will be used in order to achieve the greatest chance of success. There are also experimental and holistic therapies that patients often try in conjunction with other therapies and under the guidance of their doctor. As the needs of each patient vary, so do the treatment plans.

In it, cells break away from the breast, circulating through the blood and lymphatic system. The body's immune system attacks these circulating cancer cells. Most do not survive, but if the immune system malfunctions or is weak, or for another, unknown reason, will usually spread to the bone, then lung and liver next. The cells that have metastasized are still breast cancer cells, no matter where they are found in the body.

Treatment is palliative, improving quality of life, relieving symptoms and aimed at extending a woman's lifetime. But there are new treatments coming that are giving more hope to those patients with this cancer. Many women with this illness choose to become part of a clinical trial in order to access treatments that are not yet approved by the FDA.

If it is "estrogen-receptive," hormonal therapies such as the drug Herceptin can be lifesaving. Chemotherapy is indicated in bone, lung and liver metastases. For bone metastases, radiation and the drug bisphosphonate are often used. For liver and lung metastases, occasionally surgery is used. For cancer that has spread to the brain, radiation and surgery are used.

As far as anyone knows today, metastatic cancer can't be cured. Sometimes, treatments can actually stop the cancer from growing for months or years. When Elizabeth Edwards asserted that she thought her own might be treatable, people listened. She gave a face to this illness - a loving, brave, wise, face - that no one will forget.

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Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Ovarian Cancer - A Fearful Diagnosis!

By Richard H Ealom

INTRODUCTION: About 15,280 women die every year in the US from ovarian cancer. Despite this, the 5-year survival rate for the disease has improved greatly in the last 30 years. The prognosis of ovarian cancer is closely tied to the stage at diagnosis. There is no approved screening method available at present for ovarian cancer.

The Mayo Clinic has one of the largest ovarian cancer practices in the US, treating more than 1,200 people in 2006 who had a primary or secondary diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Mayo Clinic uses a large variety of imaging techniques to detect cancer of the ovaries, including PET scans, CT scans and MRIs.

WOMEN: Ovarian cancer is the 7th most common cancer in women in the US, with over 25,000 women newly diagnosed per annum with this disease. It is the 5th leading cause of cancer deaths in women and often does not result in symptoms until the cancer has metatasized extensively. Only about 20 percent of women are diagnosed early, when the disease may still be curable. Cancer of the ovaries usually happens in women past 50 years of age, but it can also affect younger women. About 90% of women who get the disease are older than 40 years of age, with the largest number being aged 55 years or older.

RISK: All women are at risk for cancer of the ovaries, but older women are more apt to get the disease than younger women. The precise cause of ovarian cancer is not known, but several risk and contributing factors have been identified. Women who have been pregnant have a 50 percent decreased risk for developing cancer of the ovaries compared to those who have not. Oral contraceptive use decreases the risk of developing the disease. These factors support the idea that risk for ovarian cancer is related to ovulation and that conditions that suppress this ovulatory cycle play a protective role.

Genetic factors and Family history play an important role in the risk of developing cancer of the overies also. A history of breast cancer increases a woman's chances of developing ovarian cancer. The lifetime risk for developing ovarian cancer is 1 percent. This compares to a 4-5% risk when 1 first-degree family member is affected, rising to 7 percent when 2 relatives are affected.

DISEASE: The beginning stages of the disease causes minimal, nonspecific, or no symptoms. The disease is uncommon in women younger than 40 years of age, after which the incidence increases. Based on the surgical staging, females are classified as having limited disease (stage I and II) or advanced disease (stage III and IV). Women with limited disease are classified as having low or high risk for recurrence as follows: Low risk for recurrence includes the following; Grade 1 or 2 disease, No tumor on external surface of the ovary, Negative peritoneal cytology, No ascites, Tumor growth limited to the ovaries.

High risk for recurrence includes, Grade 3 disease, Preoperative rupture of the capsule, Tumor on the external surface of the ovary, Positive peritoneal cytology, Ascites Tumor growth outside of the ovary, Clear cell tumors, Surgical stage II for postoperative treatment. chemo drugs are indicated in all patients with ovarian cancer except those persons with surgical-pathological stage I disease with low-risk characteristics.

SYMPTOMS: may include a Heavy feeling in pelvis, Pain in lower abdomen, Bleeding from the vagina, Weight gain or loss, Abnormal periods, Unexplained back pain that gets worse, Gas, Nausea, Vomiting, or Loss of appetite. Symptoms may be caused by something other than cancer, but the only way to know is to see your doctor, nurse, or other health care professional.

Traditionally, it was believed that ovarian cancer does not produce any characteristic symptoms until the tumor is widespread, and that early symptoms of ovarian cancer were not recognizable. However, in June 2007, the American Cancer Society, along with other medical societies including the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation and the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists, released a consensus statement about possible early symptoms of ovarian cancer. This statement was based on research suggesting that some of the early symptoms of ovarian cancer can, in fact, be recognized.

TREATMENT: Treatment is usually surgery followed by treatment with chemotherapy. There are also many combinations of these treatment methods and it is well worthwhile to get a second opinion about treatment before entering into a specific program. The more knowledge you have, the easier it is to make informed decisions about your cancer treatment. Arlene Dunlop is a breast and ovarian cancer survivor whose treatments have kept her alive, well and out enjoying life.

Conclusion: Ovarian cancer actually represents a group of different tumors that arise from diverse kinds of tissue contained inside the ovary. Cancer of the ovaries can invade, shed, or spread to nearby organs. A malignant ovarian tumor can grow and invade organs next to the ovaries, such as the fallopian tubes and uterus. Ovarian cancer frequently produces signs and symptoms, so it is necessary for a woman to pay attention to her body and know what is normal for it.

Ovarian cancer most frequently appears in women who are older than 60 (about 50% of patients are over age 65), although it may occur in younger women who have a family history of the disease. Ovarian cancer is the most common cause of cancer death from gynecologic tumors in the United States. Ovarian cancer is diagnosed in about 23,000 women in the United States each year. Ovarian cancer is a frightening diagnosis, but coming to it with knowledge and information helps a great deal. The sooner ovarian cancer is found and treated, the better your chance for recovery.

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