When cancer is detected, the physician will then remove the tumor that can lead to spreading of cancer cells.  The staging process is very important both for the patient and doctor.  Through it, they will be able to work hand in hand to find a perfect treatment for the patient’s condition.

The patient’s survival rate increases when the staging process is done earlier.   The overall survival and occurrence can also be determined through staging.  These are examples of a staging system conducted by a physician for a particular patient:

1.Stage 1 – ovarian cancer where in one or both ovaries are affected.
2.Stage 2 – cancer that has spread to pelvic organs but has not yet spread to abdominal organs.
3.Stage 3 – the cancer had spread to abdominal organs.
4.Stage 4 – cancer that had spread in other parts of the body such as lungs, brain and lymph nodes.
5.Recurrent stage – ovarian cancer that came back even though the patient has been healed.

The different stages of ovarian cancer require different kinds of treatment; as the stages increases the dosage or the kind of drug to be administered to the patient will also increase.  You have to check with your doctor for any other kind of treatment which will help you in finding the best relief.

Cancer is such a fearful word, it’s powerful but it can be healed.  The chances of survival are very high if you will only submit to your doctor for early treatment.  Most of the time, poor diet triggers cancer cells to be active; the lifestyle you live counts a lot.

If you want to have a healthy and well-maintained body, you need to take care of your health.  You need to eat nutritious foods and stay away from empty calories.  They will not do any good; instead they are just harming the body.

They lead to certain types of ailments which will only increase your risk of getting sick.  Keep in mind that prevention is always better than cure; once you have it, you will be liable for treating it.  You do not have to wait for that time to come.  You can do something now by taking a step forward and start eating right.

Exercise can also help you in having a better and well-shaped body.  Recognizing the importance of modern medicines will also help you in building and restoring your confidence.  When you are facing life’s challenges, you tend to lose hope and feel pity over your situation.  It’s not yet the end of the world; though it might be for you because sickness can really make a depressing outcome.  Do not lose hope because life is a continuous process; you still have a chance of living another life fully after cancer.

Most of the time, ovarian cancer symptoms are not noticeable; they do not cause early signs until cancer grows seriously.  Most of the time, discharges and abdominal bloating are the most common symptoms.  If you happen to experience these signs, you should consult your doctor so you will be given a specific treatment in order to prevent the spreading of the cancer cells.

Although there are lots of new and innovative treatments for cancers, you cannot merely rely on them; early detection is still the best solution.  Routine and annual checkup is still the best defense against cancer.  Ovarian cancer is the 7th leading cause of women’s death every year.  Learning about the symptoms earlier can help you find an immediate cure; here are some of the most common symptoms:

Bloating
Vaginal discharges
Discharge in bowel
Pelvic pain
Abdominal pain
Difficulty in eating
Feeling of being full
Urgency to urinate
Pressure on the back or legs
Swollen abdomen
Nausea
Indigestion
Gas pain
Constipation
Diarrhea
Tiredness feeling
Shortness of breath
Bleeding after menopause

All these symptoms are essential in diagnosing ovarian cancer early; though most of them can be diagnosed as any other kind of disease, you can never be so sure unless a doctor tells you about it.  Seeking professional help can lead you in finding the right treatment for the symptoms you are experiencing.

There are lots of risk factor that are involved when you speak about cancer and other diseases.  Most often than not, genes play an important role in every kind of disease; diet plays an important role in resolving certain risk involve.

Eating the right kind of food will help you lessen the risk of getting certain kind of cancer; most of the time, the foods you eat triggers the occurrence of cancer cells which leads to a more serious ailment.
There are other important details you should know about it in order for you to understand the cause and effective treatments.

Some known risk can be any of the following:
1.The age
2.Genetics
3.Ethnicity
4.Diet
5.Birth control pills
6.Talcum powder
7.Asbestos

Observing the right kind of diet that is high in fiber can lessen your risk.  Eating nutritious foods can help you prevent accumulating it.  If you feel anything unusual, visit your doctor right away so you will be able to know what is going on with your body.

The ovarian cancer survival rate indicates the number of people who had survived this particular disease.  In most cases, a five year survival rate is attached in every patient’s record.  This only signifies the patient’s condition 5 years after the treatment.  The five year period is quite critical because during this time, they can be free from the disease or it can recur anytime.

Survival rates are based on a large group of people who allowed participating in the survey.  Survival ratings cannot be used to predict the outcome of a patient’s treatment program.  It cannot also be used to determine how long she will have the disease.  This is because every people are distinct; no 2 people are the same.  Some might not be cured effectively in a particular pill while some can be easily healed though it.  People varies from one another; it’s hard to compare situations with others.

Here are some of the known factors that affect a patient’s survival rating:

Cancer type
Cancer stage
Women’s age
General health condition
Early diagnosed
Recurrence stage

All these things can affect the survival of a person with ovarian cancer.  Ratings can be calculated for particular reasons; mostly, these reasons vary depending on a person’s case.  It’s really hard to be sick especially with fatal ailments such as cancer.  You do not have to worry about it because the modern science has its new ways of treating different kinds of diseases opening on the severity.

You can do simple things to lessen your risk; mostly, these preventive measures can be done at home.  Nearly every ingredient is obtainable in your own kitchen.  Learning more about your present situation may help you heal yourself.

It’s not about the herbs you take, it’s about the food you eat and how you take care of your body.  You have only one body to live, so you need to take care of it in order to make the most out of it.  Keep in mind that what you eat is what you are.  If you want to have a leaner and healthier body, you should not abuse it.  Avoiding vices and other toxin providers will help you lessen your risk of having certain cancers including ovarian cancer.

Women should be careful in taking care of themselves.  Being a women means having an essential task on earth; you cannot just give up by having ovarian cancer especially if you are a mother.  Fighting for your life may mean eating the right types of food that can save you from the danger of having ovarian cancer.  Give yourself much importance now by eating nutritious foods.  Having regular check up will also lessen your risk of having ovarian cancer; submit to your doctor for more effective preventive measures.

Staging does not aim to scare you; it only aims to open your mind with the thought that there can still be life after cancer.  If you will only submit to the doctor and open your mind with your situation fully, you will have a peace of mind that you can still survive with flying colors.

Here are the stages of ovarian cancer you should know:

• Stage 1 can be found in one or both ovaries.  Stage 1 can be divided into 3 parts, the stage 1 a, b and c.
• Stage 2 has spread in the pelvic region but has not spread in other organs of the body.  It is also composed of 3 sub stages.
• Stage 3 has spread in the abdomen.
• Stage 4 is the advanced stage wherein cancer cells had spread in other parts of the body such as lungs and brain.

Cancer can be easily cured through the use of chemotherapy.  If you are able to submit with your doctor, you will have higher chance of survival.  You do not have to worry because modern medicine is taking its course; medical experts never stopped working to help you.

They never stop seeking for more ways to provide help to people like you.  Do not hesitate to ask your doctor and discuss to him the symptoms you are experiencing.  Letting your doctor know more about your situation can help them assist you with the things you are going through.

There are three main courses of treatment for ovarian cancer; they are the following:

• 1.Surgery – this aims to remove cancerous tissues.
• 2.Chemotherapy – this is a strong way of treating cancer; it destroys cancer cells through the use of a strong oral drug.
• 3.Radiotherapy – high energy radiation which aims to destroys cancer cells and keeps it from coming back.

If you are positive with ovarian cancer, do not worry; modern medicine has the capability to treat you no matter what stage you are into.  There are various treatments available in the market today; though most of them are expensive, they can be a perfect treatment for your condition.  There are also herbal remedies but they do not address the cause and the root problem of the disease.

You still need to seek for medical advice so you will be healed soon.  Remember that cancer spreads quickly; if you wait and delay your treatment, you might not notice how time flies.  And you may be able to reach the highest stage of ovarian cancer later on.  Cancer cells spread quickly to ruin other healthy cells on your body.

Abdominal pain
Abdominal mass
Bloating
Back pain
Urinary urgency
Constipation
Tiredness
Pelvic pain
Vaginal bleeding
Weight loss

Those with genetic history should be aware because those with 1st and 2nd degree family members are at a higher risk of having it.  Those women who have lots of children are considered safe in this disease while those with fewer children are at high risk.  There is no proven result regarding this study yet.  Until now, medical science still seeks for proof on how these things matters.

Different types of cancer continuously spread these days, most of the time, poor diet is being blamed.  The government and non-governmental organizations offers help to women who cannot afford to seek medical attention, because of poverty and some other reasons, some women who have it cannot buy medications.

The non-governmental organization, such as the ovarian cancer charity, continuously provides help to women without money.  This kind of charity offers not just financial help but also moral support.  They are helping out patients to accept their condition because most of the time, people just cannot accept the fact that they are struggling to fight for their life.

Surgery is often the solution to stop the spreading of the disease.  Chemotherapy will follow right after the surgery; this is to control the spreading of cancer cells in the body.

You do not have to worry much because there are agencies, such as the ovarian cancer charity, that knows exactly what you are going through.  They know how painful your situation is so they continuously assess your needs.  There is no need to be pessimistic, all you need to do is accept the fact that there can still be life after ovarian cancer.

You can still have a life after it, there is a bigger and positive chance of surviving provided you have been detected early.  Cooperating with your doctor and submitting to them will help you recover fast.

There are certain things you should know in order to lessen the risk of having ovarian cancer.  Pregnancy before the age of 25 will help you avoid it.  Tubal ligation can also be an answer.  Eating healthy and well balanced diet will also contribute to a healthy you.

These days, there are also cervical cancer vaccines available; though it is quite expensive, you can lessen the risk of getting the disease.  You should ask your doctor about it if you are interested in improving and protecting your health and wellness.  Discuss with your doctor the process which will take place when you go though the vaccination process.

The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) have set the standard in classifying the stages of the ovarian cancer of a patient.  This staging standard takes into account the surgical and pathological findings of the metastases of the cancer cells of the said patient.

The following are some of the prognosis of ovarian cancer:

Stage 1 – patients in stage 1A and 1B with grade 1 tumors have 90% rate of survival for 5 years; but patients in stage 1C, with grade 3 tumors, have poor prognosis.

• At Stage 1A – in this prognosis of ovarian cancer, cancerous cells are present inside one of the ovaries.  Five years survival rate of patient in this sub stage is 92.7%.
• Stage1B – cancerous cells are present inside both ovaries; this is also the description for this particular prognosis of ovarian cancer.  At this point, confirmed findings of primary tumors are found.  Five years survival rate of patient in this sub stage is 85.4%
• Stage 1C – this prognosis of ovarian cancer is a bit advanced.  Cancerous cells are present in both ovaries and are now present outside the ovaries.  Sub stage 1C is where malignant cells are discovered through peritoneal washings.  This is also where the first evidence of metastatic activity of the cancer cells is noticed.  The sub stage has poorer survival rate.  Five years survival rate of patient in this sub stage is 84.7%.  The average survival rate for this stage is 75%.

Stage 2 patients comprise 10% of the total number of those affected with this cancer.  This stage is defined as where the extension or metastasis to nearby organs of the ovary, like pelvic peritoneum and fallopian tubes, occur.  At this stage, no metastasis yet have invaded lymph nodes or other parts of the body.  The average survival rate for this stage is 50%

• Stage 2A – the sub stage where cancerous cells have reached the uterus or fallopian tubes.  The 5-year survival is 78.6%.
• Stage 2B – the cancerous cells have reached the pelvic organs, bladders, and rectum.  The 5-year survival rate is 72.4%.
• Stage 2C – the cancer cells have reached the abdomen.  The 5-year survival rate is 64.6%.

Stage 3 comprises most of the ovarian cancer patients, being 51% of the ovarian cancer cases.  The tumors at this stage is spread out in the peritoneal (pelvic and abdominal) surfaces.  It metastases to the lymph nodes is at sub stage 3C.  The average survival rate for this stage is 13%.

• Stage 3A – cancer is present in both ovaries; but the cancer in abdomen can’t be seen without a microscope.  The 5- year survival rate at this point is 50.8%.
• Stage 3B – cancer in both ovaries and the abdomen cancer is now visible to naked eye; but less than 2cm in diameter.  For this sub stage, the 5-year survival rate is 42.4%
• Stage 3C – cancer in both ovaries and the cancer in the abdomen is larger than 2cm in diameter, and it has reached the lymph nodes.  The 5-year survival rate is 31.5%.

Stage4 – is where patients have parenchyma liver; extra abdominal and spleen metastases.  Patients in this stage comprise 13% of the total cases of ovarian cancers.  Lungs and livers are now metastatic sites.  One-third of ovarian cancer patients in this stage have pleural effusion; which contain malignant cells.

Brain metastases are present in about .01% of patient in this stage.  The prognosis of ovarian cancer at this stage is not curable anymore.  Cancer has reached distant organs.  The survival rate for a 5-year period is 17%.

The Doctors’ Groups.  These are medical specialists such as gynecologists, pathologists and other allied medical professionals.  They are the ones who can greatly help the Ovarian Cancer patients because of their knowledge and familiarity on the gravity of this illness.

These specialist doctors spearhead the move in the fight against ovarian cancer because they know the things that can alleviate the sufferings of these cancer victims.  They are also the ones who are in the best position and know how to alleviate some pains of the victims.  They are in direct contact with the cancer victims; thus, they can immediately do something to lessen the sufferings of the victims.

The doctors need to make their presence felt by their patients through being with them as frequent as their schedule will allow them.  Doctors are also acting as entertainers of their ovarian cancer patients.

Because the main goal of Ovarian Cancer Society is to help these people forget their unfortunate condition at least for a moment; and live a normal, happy life.  It seems challenging; actually it is definitely a no-easy task for these groups of doctors.

But then again, it will still boil down to their dedication and perseverance to fulfill their charities and duties as well.  What is important is they are enjoying what they are doing.

Ovarian Cancer Society crosses boundaries.  It is not limited to a particular region or a specific societal status.  It caters to all women who need utmost care and attention.

Ovarian Cancer Society will not be in their stand right now if not for their good intentions to extend a helping hand to ovarian cancer patients.

In connection with this, there are certain activities which are done routinely.  It aims to widen the horizons of many women in their fight against ovarian cancer.

Listed below are just some of the useful activities that Doctors’ groups facilitate regularly:

• Information campaign as to the prevention and cure of ovarian cancer.
• Medical missions to depressed areas.  These slum areas do not have the ability to afford the high demands of medication expenses for the treatment of ovarian cancer.
• Medical Missions of Ovarian Cancer Civic Groups.  These are usually the rich, philanthropists and businessmen.  These people can be of great help to ovarian cancer victims, especially in terms of their financial needs.
• Medical Missions of ovarian cancer survivors.  In here, they are helping the victims through moral support in order to enlighten the great impact caused by their illness.

There are also social welfare groups that are funded by donations from private sources.

• Ovarian Medical Research Societies – another group that has a big contribution to fight ovarian cancer.

These scientists dedicate their lifetime and energy to look for the cure for this disease.

There are certain groups of medical drug companies that are spending millions of dollars to discover the cure and other effective drugs that will alleviate the pains felt by ovarian cancer patients.

Ovarian Cancer Society is also composed of plain civic conscious citizens who contribute to the fight against this disease.  It only means that you can also be part of them in your own little way.  Make a move, you can do something for them.

The greatest risk group is 65 to 75 years old; which prevalence is 1:75.  Yearly, about 25,000 American women discover that they already have ovarian cancer spread and about 15,000 die.   But the optimistic news is that if detected early, the chances of being saved is 3:1 in favor of the patient.

One problem is that symptoms of this are similar to benign bleeding and faint stomach aches.  It is not usually discovered until the Ovarian Cancer spread is already in its advanced stages.  But the good news is that not all discovered ovarian masses are Ovarian Cancer spread.

Doctors are still not clear of the causes of Ovarian Cancer spread.  Some researchers say that women of today ovulated about 420 times in their lifetime, compared to 60 of our ancestors.  This is leading the researchers to some hints as to the cause of Ovarian Cancer spread.

A theory postulates that oral contraceptives, pregnancy and breastfeeding prevent ovulation.  Thus, it also prevents Ovarian Cancer spread.

Another factor that leads to Ovarian Cancer spread is heredity.  A member of a family, with history of Ovarian Cancer spread or other kinds of cancer, is likely to be a candidate to become a victim herself also.

Some other factors theorized to cause Ovarian Cancer spread are:

• Use of talcum powder in the vaginal area.  This is said to enter the said area and causes irritation inside.
• Mumps infection before the start of menstruation
• High animal fat diet

The Ovarian Cancer spread is detected through an ultrasound of the pelvic area; after the doctor felt that there was an ovarian mass inside a woman.  Normally, if the mass is small and present in just one ovary, the chances are that this mass is non-cancerous or benign.

Blood test is also done to confirm the result of ultrasound examination of the Ovarian Cancer spread.  This is called CA 125 assay.  This blood test measures substance associated with Ovarian Cancer spread or ovarian tumors.

If doctors suspect an Ovarian Cancer spread, based on Ultrasound and blood examinations, then they can advise for a laparotomy (surgery of the abdomen).

Ovarian Cancer spread comes from three kinds of tissues:

• Epithelial tissue – this is the tissue that covers the surface of internal and external organs.  About 85% of the Ovarian Cancer spread grows on this.
• Stromal cells – These are the cells that form the connective tissues of organs.
• Germ cells of the eggs – about 5% of the Ovarian Cancer spread came from these cells.

Ovarian Cancer spread is classified into 4 stages:

• Stage 1 – the earliest stage.  At this point, if discovered early, the chances of being cured is 75%.
• Stage 2 – the Ovarian Cancer spread has reached the other parts of the pelvic area.  Those diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer spread at this stage have chances of 50% survival.
• Stage 3 – At this point, the Ovarian Cancer spread has reached the lymph nodes and other parts of the stomach.  Only 13% of those diagnosed at this stage survive the Ovarian Cancer spread.
• Stage 4 – the most advanced Ovarian Cancer spread.  Only 5% of patients at this stage will live for 5 years.

Tumor growth can be classified as benign, malignant or purely malignant.  It depends on the severity of its growth.  Some spread quickly, while others are easy to control.

Ovarian Cancer Metastasis can occur in several ways:

• Direct contact.  Ovarian Cancer Metastasis cells can spread to nearby organs of the ovary like fallopian tubes, uterus, gall bladder, rectum and others.
• Shedding or seeding into the abdominal cavity.  This is the most common of Ovarian Cancer Metastasis.
• Cancer cells break off from the ovary and divulge in nearby organs and tissues like liver, colon and diaphragm.
• Ovarian Cancer Metastasis of cells, then, invading lymphatic vessels and traveling thru the vessel to far distant organs like lungs and liver.
• Ovarian Cancer Metastasis of cell, then, passing thru the blood stream to other distant parts of the body.  This case of cancer cells spread is very rare.

During the process of spreading, from their original primary tumor mass base, these abnormal cells acquire several abnormalities: motility, invasiveness and most of all they grow without control.  These cells do not change their characters though they join other cells in different organs.

Ovarian Cancer occurs when abnormal cells come about from ordinary cell division.  As a result of this cell division, the new cell replaces the old cell that dies.  But in cancerous situations, the old cell does not die, thus abnormal cancer cell is not needed.

This cancer cell, which has the ability of multiplying fast, spills into the lymphatic and blood vessels to invade other parts of the body; this process is called Ovarian Cancer Metastasis.  Some of these metastasized runaway cells form benign tumors in distant organs.  But some became malignant tumors like Metastasized Ovarian Cancer cells.

Ovarian Cancer Metastasized cells can spread throughout the body.  Lymph nodes (masses of lymphatic tissues) near the primary ovarian tumor are the first target of cells invasion.  These cells that spread to distant organs and tissues are commonly called Metastasis of Ovarian Cancer cells.  The problem with this situation is that the cancer cells have already metastasized before symptoms are felt.

A primary tumor is composed of abnormal cells that belong to the organ where the tumor is situated; while a metastatic tumor is composed of cells that came from distant primary tumors that invaded the site thru Metastasis.

Pathologist determines whether a tumor is primary or metastatic by examining under a microscope; a sample tissue is taken from a suspected organ thru surgery.  Markers or antigens are used as indicators as to what primary tumor a cancerous cell came from.

Usually a metastatic tumor is found before the primary tumor is found.  Cancer patients usually are treated due to metastatic tumor symptoms.  It’s a fact that there is a metastatic tumor; but sometimes the primary tumor is harder to locate than the metastatic tumor.

Metastatic Ovarian Cancer can be treated with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, biological therapy, hormone therapy, surgery cryosurgery or a combination of those.

Medical sciences has made studies in the prevention and cure of Ovarian Cancer Metastasis; but before these new treatments are used, extensive studies must be first done to assure that it is safe and effective for the patient’s ailment.

The pattern of the spreading for the epithelial ovarian cancer is primarily at the intra-abdominal; which is favoring the visceral and parietal peritoneal surfaces.  The secondary involvement of the underlying organs are typically affecting the ovarian cancer patient’s omentum, upper and lower gastrointestinal tract, bladder, liver, and their spleen.  The intra-abdominal spreading is commonly being associated with the presence of the ascites and some of the pleural effusions.

Metastatic ovarian cancer in the retroperitoneal lymphatics may also occur, most specifically at the pelvic and at the para-aortic lymph nodes of the women affected with ovarian cancer.  Mostly, ovarian cancer can metastasize in the distant sites like at the supraclavicular lymph nodes, bones, the lung parenchyma and at the brain.

The tumor burden within the abdominal cavity of those women with a newly diagnosed cancer as well as for those women with the recurrence is being generally associated with the debilitating symptoms.  All the symptoms that are being produced by the process of this disease are being further compounded by the side effects and some of the complications of the therapy.  This is really not surprising, that both the disease and the treatment for it can have a profound impact in the ovarian cancer patients’ life.

The cancerous tumors are very malignant, which means that they are spreading to the other tissues and organs.  However, not all tumors are being considered as malignant too.

In a process which is called metastasis, all the malignant tumors may encroach on and invade all the neighboring organs or the lymph nodes.  They may even have the chance to enter the bloodstream of the ovarian cancer patient and spread to their remote organs such as their lungs or even at their liver.

The metastatic ovarian cancer tumors are being considered as the most aggressive and serious type of all the tumors.  Now, let us discuss the four ways on how metastasis can occur.

By a direct contact or extension, it can invade all the nearby tissues and organs which are located near or even around the ovary.

Metastasis can occur by seeding or shedding into the woman’s abdominal cavity, which is being considered as the most common way on how ovarian cancer spreads.

Another way is that by simply breaking loose from the ovarian mass, which is also invading the lymphatic vessels and then traveling to the other areas of the body or some of the distant organs.

And lastly, by simply breaking loose from the ovarian mass that is invading the blood system and travels at the other areas of the body or distant organs.

Moreover, we can say that the metastatic ovarian cancer is the most dangerous type of ovarian cancer that any woman could have.  This disease merely has more than 1/3 percent of those women affected by the ovarian cancer disease.