FitSugar

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

Simply Fab: Kelly Ripa Fights For Ovarian Cancer Awareness

FabSugar — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 15:00:22 -0700

Can we give Kelly a round of applause? I don't know if this falls under the celebrity designer category, but it does fall under the fashion for a cause umbrella - even better. Kelly Ripa's design endeavor is all about charity and spreading the word on ovarian cancer.

In an effort to raise money and awareness, Ripa helped design this cute t-shirt where all proceeds will benefit the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. Are you down for the cause? This limited edition tee costs $30 and is available at ElectroluxAppliances.com.

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.

Source

Health Benefits of the Pill

DearSugar — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 08:00:00 -0700

I'm sure many of you are on the pill for various different reasons, but most of you have been on it for years, so have you ever asked yourself if you were doing more harm than good? If so, and if you're concerned about the health risks of taking the pill, check out this chart below.

Health Benefits

Studies have shown that being on the pill for more than two years can decrease your risk for ovarian cancer by 70 percent, and endometrial cancer by 50 percent (great news).
The occurrence of benign ovarian tumors is also decreased.
Higher dose pills can decrease the development of ovarian cysts and fibroids.

To see the rest of this list, read more.

Health Benefits

Not only can the pill lighten your periods, but that decrease in blood loss is great for women who have issues with anemia.
If you have extremely painful or heavy periods, the pill can help alleviate these symptoms.
If you have acne, certain types of pills can help clear up your skin.
Certain pills such as Yaz can also help with PMS (goodbye crying uncontrollably and breaking up with your boyfriend every month!).
You'll be happy to hear that being on the pill for extended periods of time doesn't affect your fertility, so when you're ready to become pregnant, your body will be ready soon after you go off it.

Dear's advice: As you can see, there are numerous benefits to being on the pill. You should know that there are also health risks that go along with taking hormonal birth control. Although it's rare, the pill may cause blood clots, strokes, or heart attacks. If you're a smoker or over 35, these risks are increased. If you have a family history of any of these issues, you probably should find another form of birth control.

Source

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.

Source

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

Source

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