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No Longer Silent: 7 Signs of Ovarian Cancer

FitSugar — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 10:45:06 -0700

In light of September being Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, I found this quote about the "silent killer" illuminating. Dr. William Hamilton, a lead researcher on a recent survey of symptoms of the disease, said, "Ovarian cancer is not silent, it's noisy. It's just we're not very good at deciphering the noise."

As researchers reviewed medical records of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer, they found these seven common symptoms.

Abdominal distension
Urinary frequency
Abdominal pain
Postmenopausal bleeding
Loss of appetite
Rectal bleeding
Abdominal bloating

You might find it redundant that the list contains both abdominal distension and bloating, but medically speaking they are different symptoms. Bloating comes and goes, but distension is "a progressive increase in abdominal size." In the US, bloating is the most persistent symptom, and unfortunately a sign of many other, simpler health problems. Making both patients and gynecologists aware of the symptoms is the next step in the fight against ovarian cancer, where early detection is key.

Ginger Fights Ovarian Cancer

FitSugar — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 03:47:06 -0700

I recently quizzed you all on the behaviors that can increase or decrease your risk for ovarian cancer. Now I have another tidbit to add to the mix: ginger. This versatile spice has been found to kill ovarian cancer cells. Not only that, but ginger also prevents cancer cells from building up a resistance to cancer treatments, which can be a problem when treating the disease. In terms of complementary medicine, I would say this is a tasty means of fighting the disease. More research is necessary to further explore ginger's role in the war against ovarian cancer. Already established as a remedy for nausea and inflammation, I see no reason not to go heavy on the ginger when cooking up a stir fry or making a curry.

Are You at Risk For Ovarian Cancer?

FitSugar — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 03:50:38 -0700

September is a busy month. Not only is it National Yoga Month, but it's also Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. Each year, over 21,000 women will be diagnosed with this disease. Knowing the risk factors, how you can prevent it, and what the symptoms may be could save your life. Do you know whether the following behaviors decrease or increase your risk of developing ovarian cancer?

Take the quiz

September Is National Ovarian Cancer Month

FitSugar — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 03:00:00 -0700

We are more than halfway through the month of September, and I feel a bit remiss because I haven't mentioned that it is Natioanl Ovarian Cancer Awareness, which is represented by the teal ribbon. This disease has been dubbed the silent killer, since the symptoms of ovarian cancer don't usually appear until the cancer has progressed into advance stages when it is difficult, if not impossible, to cure.

Ovarian cancer is the fifth most common cancer in women. In an effort to diagnose the cancer earlier, health officials have pinpointed the following four symptoms that when experienced simultaneously are used to screen for ovarian cancer: bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, and urinary symptoms (urgency or frequency). Women are strongly encouraged to see their doctor, preferably their gynecologist if they have been experiencing these symptoms almost daily for more than a few weeks.

While some women may be genetically predisposed to the disease, research has found that eating 30 grams of fiber a day can decrease your risk of developing ovarian cancer by 40 percent. So eat your fiber regularly.

Feel the need to know more about ovarian cancer? Then visit the FitSugar Health Guide.

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What You Need to Know About Ovarian Cancer

FitSugar — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 11:00:00 -0800

The C word - cancer - has touched so many of our lives in some way, shape, or form. Ovarian cancer, often referred to as the silent killer, is one of those diseases that women worry about. Some breakthroughs about prevention have been made though. Want to see if you know what they are? Take this quiz; you might just learn something new.

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Take the quiz

Cancer Confusion

FitSugar — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 15:30:00 -0700

It being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I have been reading a lot about cancer. I was surprised that after all my research there were some basic facts about women and cancer that I was still missing. I learned a lot from this article What Women Don't Know About Cancer and here are a few facts you should know.

The vast majority of cancers occur in women who have no family history of the disease. According to the American Cancer Society only five to ten percent of breast cancers are hereditary. So family history may be part of the equation, but most cancers occur in women with no family history at all.
Taking oral contraceptives is associated with a reduced risk of ovarian, uterine, and possibly colorectal cancer
Though more women get more breast cancer than lung cancer, far fewer breast cancer patients die. Eighty percent of lung cancers in women are caused by smoking. I am going to say it one more time, quitting smoking is one of the healthiest things you can do for your body.

high in fiber and low in fat with less than 20 percent of daily calories coming from fat. Not only does this diet help reduce their risk for developing breast and ovarian cancers, but it can also help prevent heart disease, and head and neck cancers as well.

So get your fiber ladies. If you want to know how much fiber is in the foods you eat, then read more

Check out these posts to make sure you're getting 30g of fiber a day:

Fiber in Fruit
Fiber in Vegetables
Fiber in Nuts, Beans, and Grains

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Ovarian Cancer: Are You Aware of the Symptoms?

FitSugar — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 11:45:00 -0700

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and I am wondering if you are aware of the symptoms. I don't mean to be a bummer, but in this case knowledge is power! The earlier this "silent killer" is detected the greater the chance of survival.

Take the quiz

Get Your Butt in Gear: For Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

FitSugar — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 03:00:00 -0700

September marks National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. There are many ways to show your support but one easy way is by shopping for some great workout gear, which I know you already love to do anyway.

Crescent Moon, a great little yoga and Pilates gear company, has a program where you can choose where they donate 15% of your purchase. Each non-profit has a unique 'Coupon Code' assigned to it (see below for the Ovarian Cancer coupon codes). When you use a code during your purchase they will set aside 15% of your purchase for the organization of your choice.

"RJE9VYLA" for The Lynne Cohen Foundation for Ovarian Cancer Research
"RGT84ZHM" for The National Ovarian Cancer Coalition

Additionally, when you use one of these 'Coupon Codes' you get an immediate 10% off your purchase! Pretty cool. I am loving this Mykonos Women's Tank with shelf bra ($50.00). It's super soft and longer in length, helping you stay comfortable in even the most compromising of poses. Buy it here and be sure to use a coupon code above to donate to your Ovarian Cancer cause of choice (and to get your 10% discount).

Ovarian Cancer: 4 Symptoms to Watch Out For

FitSugar — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 03:00:00 -0700

The New York Times is reporting that cancer experts have identified a set of health problems that may be symptoms of ovarian cancer. They are:

Bloating
Pelvic or abdominal pain
Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly
Urinary symptoms (urgency or frequency)

Women are strongly encouraged to see their doctor, preferably their gynecologist if they have been experiencing these symptoms almost daily for more than a few weeks. These symptoms and signs have been identified in hopes that patients and doctors will become more aware of early symptoms, lead to earlier diagnosis and, perhaps, save lives, or at least prolong survival.

However, it is too soon to know if this new screening method will improve rates of early detection or lead to a flood of diagnostic tests or, in a worst case scenario, unnecessary operations. Yet, cancer experts believe a more aggressive approach might prove fruitful to detecting ovarian cancer early. If the disease, one of the deadlier types of cancer due to late diagnosis, is detected early (Stage I) it is considered 90% curable.

The purpose of these findings is not to frighten women, but to make them and their physicians more alert to these symptoms if they arise suddenly and with intense frequency.

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