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Ovarian Cancer symptoms

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Ovarian cancer refers to any cancerous growth that begins in the ovary.
It is the fifth most common cause of cancer deaths in women and the tenth most common cancer among women in the United States.

Among the gynecologic cancers—those affecting the uterus, cervix, and ovaries—ovarian cancer has the highest rate of deaths.

In 2017, around 22,440 women in the U.S. are expected to receive a diagnosis of ovarian cancer, and around 14,080 are expected to die from this disease.
Around 22,000 Americans receive a diagnosis of ovarian cancer yearly.
Risk factors for developing ovarian cancer include family history, older age, reproductive history, and obesity.
Treatment options include surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy.
If it is diagnosed in the early stages, there is a 94 percent chance of surviving for at least 5 more years.
Most ovarian cancers start in the epithelium, or outer lining, of the ovary.

In the early stages, there may be few or no symptoms. Symptoms may resemble those of other conditions, such as premenstrual syndrome (PMS), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), or a temporary bladder problem. The main difference between ovarian cancer and other possible disorders is the persistence and gradual worsening of symptoms.

Early symptoms of ovarian cancer may include:

pain in the pelvis, the lower abdomen, or the lower part of the body
back pain
indigestion or heartburn
feeling full rapidly when eating
more frequent and urgent urination
pain during sexual intercourse
changes in bowel habits, such as constipation
As the cancer progresses, there may also be:

nausea
weight loss
breathlessness
tiredness
loss of appetite

If an individual experiences bloating, pressure, or pain in the abdomen or pelvis that lasts for more than a few weeks they should see a doctor immediately

Causes
Ovarian cancer happens when cells divide and multiply in an unregulated way. However, exactly why this happens is not clear.

The following risk factors are linked to a higher chance of developing the disease:

Family history
Women with close relatives who have had ovarian or breast cancer have a higher risk of developing ovarian cancer, compared with other women.

Genetic screening can determine whether somebody carries certain genes that are associated with an increased risk.

Age
Most cases of ovarian cancer occur after menopause, and especially in women aged over 63 years. It is rare before the age of 40 years.

Reproductive history
Women who have had one or more full-term pregnancies, especially before the age of 26 years, have a lower risk. The more pregnancies they have, the lower the risk.

Breastfeeding may also decrease the risk.

Birth control
Using the contraceptive pill for at least 3 to 6 months appears to reduce the risk. The longer the pill is used, the lower the risk appears to be.

Using an injectible contraceptive hormone, depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA or Depo-Provera CI), especially for 3 years or more, reduces the risk further.

Infertility or fertility treatment
Fertility drugs have been linked to a higher risk of ovarian cancer, especially in women who used them for more than one year without becoming pregnant. Those who are infertile may also have a higher risk than those who are not, possible due to not carrying a pregnancy.

Hormone therapy
HRT slightly increases a women’s risk of developing ovarian cancer. The risk appears to increase the longer the HRT continues, and returns to normal as soon as treatment stops.

Androgen therapy, such as the use of the drug, Danazol, may also increase the risk.

Obesity and overweight
Obesity and overweight appear to increase the risk of developing many cancers. Ovarian cancer is more common in women with a body mass index (BMI) of over 30.

Gynecologic surgery
Having surgery on the reproductive organs appear to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer. In women who undergo tubal ligation, this may be reduced by up to two thirds. A hysterectomy may reduce the risk by one third.

Endometriosis
Women who develop endometriosis have an around 30 percent higher risk of developing ovarian cancer, compared with other women.

Source: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/159675.php

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Vertigo – Symptoms and Treatment

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Vertigo is a sensation of feeling off balance. If you have these dizzy spells, you might feel like you are spinning or that the world around you is spinning.

Causes of Vertigo
Vertigo is often caused by an inner ear problem. Some of the most common causes include:

BPPV. These initials stand for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. BPPV occurs when tiny calcium particles (canaliths) clump up in canals of the inner ear. The inner ear sends signals to the brain about head and body movements relative to gravity. It helps you keep your balance.

BPPV can occur for no known reason and may be associated with age.

Meniere’s disease. This is an inner ear disorder thought to be caused by a buildup of fluid and changing pressure in the ear. It can cause episodes of vertigo along with ringing in the ears (tinnitus) and hearing loss.

Vestibular neuritis or labyrinthitis. This is an inner ear problem usually related to infection (usually viral). The infection causes inflammation in the inner ear around nerves that are important for helping the body sense balance

Less often vertigo may be associated with:

Head or neck injury
Brain problems such as stroke or tumor
Certain medications that cause ear damage
Migraine headaches

Symptoms of Vertigo
Vertigo is often triggered by a change in the position of your head.

People with vertigo typically describe it as feeling like they are:

Spinning
Tilting
Swaying
Unbalanced
Pulled to one direction
Other symptoms that may accompany vertigo include:

Feeling nauseated
Vomiting
Abnormal or jerking eye movements (nystagmus)
Headache
Sweating
Ringing in the ears or hearing loss
Symptoms can last a few minutes to a few hours or more and may come and go.

Treatment for Vertigo
Treatment for vertigo depends on what’s causing it. In many cases, vertigo goes away without any treatment. This is because your brain is able to adapt, at least in part, to the inner ear changes, relying on other mechanisms to maintain balance.

For some, treatment is needed and may include:

Vestibular rehabilitation. This is a type of physical therapy aimed at helping strengthen the vestibular system. The function of the vestibular system is to send signals to the brain about head and body movements relative to gravity.

Canalith repositioning maneuvers. Guidelines from the American Academy of Neurology recommend a series of specific head and body movements for BPPV. The movements are done to move the calcium deposits out of the canal into an inner ear chamber so they can be absorbed by the body. You will likely have vertigo symptoms during the procedure as the canaliths move. A doctor or physical therapist can guide you through the movements. The movements are safe and often effective.

Medicine. In some cases, medication may be given to relieve symptoms such as nausea or motion sickness associated with vertigo.

If vertigo is caused by an infection or inflammation, antibiotics or steroids may reduce swelling and cure infection. For Meniere’s disease, diuretics (water pills) may be prescribed to reduce pressure from fluid buildup.

Surgery. In a few cases, surgery may be needed for vertigo. If vertigo is caused by a more serious underlying problem, such as a tumor or injury to the brain or neck, treatment for those problems may help to alleviate the vertigo.

Source https://www.webmd.com/brain/vertigo-symptoms-causes-treatment#2

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How to Detect Symptoms of Leukemia at an Early Stage!!

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Rishi Kapoor passed away yesterday, at the age of 67, after losing a two-year battle against leukemia. He was diagnosed with cancer back in 2018 and was being treated for the disease since then. Leukemia is basically a type of cancer which affects blood-forming tissues, including bone marrow, hindering the body’s ability to fight any kind of infection. It is caused due to the rise in the number of white blood cells in our body. The white blood cells then crowd out red blood cells and platelets, affecting their production, which is required for a healthy body.

Here are a few symptoms of leukemia, which will help you detect the disease at an early stage:

Unexplained weight loss

Loss of appetite and continuous weight loss is the first warning sign of leukemia. You might feel tired all the time and won’t feel like eating anything. Feeling of nausea might become constant. If you feel yourself losing weight without exercise or dieting, make sure you contact your doctor and get yourself tested.

Discomfort under the lower rib

Due to an enlarged liver or spleen, there might be a constant discomfort under the lower rib. Leukemia patients usually suffer from swollen nodes, which is the reason why this symptom is a unique one. It is better to get yourself tested if you detect this symptom, accompanied with any other symptoms that follow.

Tiny red spots on skin

Another unique symptom that people with leukemia might notice is tiny red spots on their skin. These spots are usually caused by tiny broken blood vessels, called capillaries, under the skin. You might notice these red spots on your arms, legs and back.

Easy bruises

People suffering from leukemia are more susceptible to bruising, than other people. They might get severe bruises or bleeding, even from small knocks. As there aren’t enough platelets in the blood of leukemia patients, the body cannot prevent blood vessels from bleeding under the skin upon injury.

Frequent infections

If you get infections from time to time, then you must get yourself checked immediately. Recurrent infections can occur because the patient’s body is not able to produce enough white blood cells to keep the immune system working. This means that the body is not able to efficiently destroy viruses, bacteria or fungi that have made their way into the body.

Excessive sweating at night

Do you wake up at night drenched with sweat, even when the room is not that hot? This is a warning sign of leukemia and can occur frequently. Though, it is not the only symptom. Get yourself checked, if you notice night sweats, which are accompanied by the above given symptoms.

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health-news/how-to-detect-symptoms-of-leukemia-at-an-early-stage/photostory/75473587.cms?picid=75473600

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