Ovarian cancer treatments are much more likely to be effective if the disease is detected early. In the past, it was believed that ovarian cancer was a disease that would occur without symptoms. This is due to the fact that most women don't discover they have this disease until it has spread to other parts of their bodies. There is also a lack of awareness about ovarian cancer symptoms.
According to the American Cancer Society, only about 20 percent of cases of ovarian cancer are detected during the early stages, when it is most curable. This is because many women do not know how to recognize ovarian cancer symptoms. A woman who has this condition may experience abdominal bloating, stomach pain, and the frequent urge to urinate. Other symptoms include pelvic pressure and difficulty eating.
Medical Treatments
According to Mayo Clinic, surgery is often used to improve ovarian cancer survival rates among patients. Surgery for this condition usually involves the removal of the fallopian tubes, the uterus, and the ovaries. The surgery also allows surgeons to test abdominal fluid to determine what stage the cancer is in and if further treatment is necessary.
Chemotherapy can also increase the likelihood for ovarian cancer survival. This therapy usually begins after the patient has had surgery. The purpose is to eliminate any remaining cancer cells. It involves giving the patient injections of paclitaxel (Taxol) and carboplatin (Paraplatin). Women experiencing advanced ovarian cancer signs and symptoms may receive this treatment along with additional injections that go right into their abdominal cavity.
Natural Ovarian Cancer Treatments and Prevention
According to Mayo Clinic, foods that are high in protein can increase ovarian cancer survival rates among women who are undergoing treatment for the disease. Protein rich foods include lean meat, eggs, beans, and yogurt. Fish, poultry, and peanut butter are also good sources of protein. These foods help build and restore tissue in the body.
Olive oil can reduce a woman's chances of developing ovarian cancer. Researchers came to this conclusion following a study that appears in the journal Cancer Causes and Control. They found that regular consumption of olive oil cuts a woman's risk for ovarian cancer by about 30 percent. By studying eating habits of women, researchers noticed that consuming seed oils, such as soy, peanut, and sunflower, also protect women from this disease.
Women can make changes in their diet that can help prevent the onset of ovarian cancer. Research suggests a link between dairy foods and ovarian cancer. According to a 1989 Harvard study published in The Cancer Prevention Diet by Michio Kushi, women who eat a lot of yogurt and other dairy products, significantly increase their risk for ovarian cancer.
Researchers found low levels of the enzyme transferase in patients with ovarian cancer. This enzyme helps the body digest dairy foods. They concluded that women with low levels of the enzymes who eat dairy foods may triple their risk for ovarian cancer. Authors of the study also noted that more nearly half of the ovarian cancer patients who participated, ate dairy products regularly.
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