International Ovarian Cancer Day

What do we know about ovarian cancer? How do we detect it, what are the signs we should look out for, and why did we choose to talk about this topic today?

It's a health problem that often goes unnoticed in its early stages. But did you know that in Romania, ovarian cancer is the 8th most common type of cancer affecting women?

The good news is that there are things you can do to reduce your risk of ovarian cancer, or to detect and treat it early. May 8, officially declared World Ovarian Cancer Day, provides us with the perfect opportunity for an open conversation, to raise awareness of the seriousness of ovarian cancer and to talk about how the right information, attention and care can save your life.

May 8 is International Ovarian Cancer Day

At the initiative of the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition, May 8th was officially declared World Ovarian Cancer Day in 2013. In short, we dedicate May 8th to people around the world who are fighting ovarian cancer and their families, and we raise awareness about the seriousness of the condition.

What alarm signal are we raising on this occasion?

The points that World Cancer Day brings to the fore and the results that it seeks are:

• Awareness: it is a real problem that causes more deaths than any other form of cancer in the female reproductive system.
• Information and education: the low number of symptoms and signs of ovarian cancer leads to their ignoring; recognizing them encourages us to be attentive and identify them.
• Solidarity: we show our support for women battling ovarian cancer and their families.
• Encouraging research: difficult and late diagnosis affects survival rates, and on May 8th we encourage researchers to continue studies to find more and more effective ways to diagnose ovarian cancer early.

The vision of the day is awareness. Which leads to action, action that can ultimately save lives. And solidarity and education are key words in this movement, which started precisely from the desire to support women who are already fighting ovarian cancer and to encourage education, attention and early prevention.

What do you need to know about ovarian cancer?

Naturally, in your body, in the pelvic area, there are two ovaries that produce eggs. Also located there are two fallopian tubes, through which the eggs travel from the ovaries to the uterus. These are the organs primarily affected when you get ovarian cancer.

Many women think that it starts in the ovaries. But in reality, ovarian cancer is a whole group of conditions that start either in the ovaries or in surrounding organs, such as the fallopian tubes or peritoneum - the membrane that covers the organs in the abdomen - and can later spread to the liver, stomach or lungs.

Although any woman can get ovarian cancer, it most often occurs in people over the age of 50, and it is often genetic. Let's see everything you need to know about the causes, types, symptoms, and treatment.

Types of ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer can occur in a variety of tumors, and these are divided into types and subtypes. There are many, but here are some important aspects:

• Epithelial ovarian cancer is the most common type of ovarian cancer and affects the outer surface of the ovaries in 85-90% of cases.
• Germ cell tumors represent less than 2% of ovarian cancers and are most common in adolescents and young women around the age of 20.
• Stromal tumors account for about 1% of ovarian cancers and can often be detected early because vaginal bleeding, the most common sign, occurs.
• Serous adenocarcinoma is the most common subtype of ovarian cancer, with tumors that grow aggressively.

Signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer

Unfortunately, a major cause of high mortality in ovarian cancer patients is late detection. Ovarian cancer has no obvious symptoms: they are subtle and very easy to overlook, which is why people see a doctor in advanced stages.

The most common symptoms of ovarian cancer are:

• Feeling bloated or constipated
• Lack of appetite or feeling full immediately
• Abdominal/pelvic pain or tenderness
• Frequent and urgent need to urinate
• Vaginal bleeding after menopause
• Fatigue or asthenia
• Indigestion
• Back pain
• Weight loss

That's why it's very important to pay attention to all the signals your body gives you, and to discuss even seemingly harmless changes with your gynecologist. Because early testing, diagnosis, and treatment of ovarian cancer can save your life.

Ovarian Cancer - Causes

Doctors and researchers don't know exactly what causes it, and the field is still being studied. But anyone with ovaries can develop ovarian cancer. The risk increases with age, especially after age 50, or if:

• You have inherited certain mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes.
• Suffer from endometriosis or diabetes;
• You started your menstrual cycle very early;
• You started menopause after the age of 55;
• You have already had breast, colon, or other types of cancer;
• You are overweight;
• You smoke.

The most effective way to reduce your risk of ovarian cancer is to live a healthy lifestyle. Quit smoking, maintain a healthy weight, and get regular checkups and tests - especially if your mother, sister, or other family members have already been affected.

Ovarian cancer treatment

The main forms of treatment are chemotherapy and surgery. But your doctor will prescribe treatment based on what type of ovarian cancer you have, the size and location of the tumor, your general health, and whether it has spread to other organs.

Among the currently available treatment options are:

• Surgery: If discovered early, ovarian cancer can be treated with surgery to remove both ovaries and fallopian tubes, or all of the affected organs.
• Chemotherapy: consists of drugs that kill cancer cells and can be administered before/after surgery, or independently, without surgery.
• Targeted therapy: consists of drugs that target only what supports the growth and survival of cancer cells.
• Radiotherapy: uses X-ray radiation to destroy cancer cells.
• Hormone therapy: Estrogen production supports the growth of cancer cells, and hormone treatment can block this production to stop the cancer.

Can you prevent ovarian cancer?

There are currently no known safe ways to prevent ovarian cancer, other than reducing the risk with a healthy lifestyle. Therefore, this is an area in which further research is absolutely necessary.

What we do know so far, however, is that the best thing you can do is listen to your body and protect it. How can you do that?

1. Regular visits to the gynecologist: During the examination, the gynecologist palpates the ovaries and notes whether they are enlarged or tender, indicating ovarian tumors and signaling that more investigations are needed. Not all tumors can be detected this way, especially in the early stages, but it is an excellent initial method of discovering any type of cancer of the reproductive system. This way, investigations can be continued for immediate diagnosis and treatment.
2. Healthy menstrual products: Protecting your body and taking care of your intimate area is extremely important for your health. Conventional tampons and pads are often full of plastic, chemicals, and carcinogens that are harmful to you. Enroush 100% organic cotton tampons and natural menstrual products support your reproductive health with only pure ingredients
   
   
3. Breastfeeding: According to 2020 studies, childbirth and breastfeeding were associated with a reduced risk of developing ovarian cancer, and extending the duration of breastfeeding led to an even greater decrease in risk.

What impact does ovarian cancer have on your period?

Ovarian cancer itself doesn't stop your period. Theoretically, you can still have your period even when the tumor is in your body. But because it primarily affects your ovaries, which are responsible for ovulation, any type of ovarian cancer can certainly affect your menstrual cycle.

It may cause menstrual irregularities with irregular bleeding or heavy flow. With a mission to provide you with the best menstrual care, at Enroush we have created organic super-absorbent pads that will even handle the challenge of heavy flow, helping you through difficult periods during your battle with ovarian cancer.

We care about your health and make our voices heard on World Ovarian Cancer Day

The most impactful thing we can do is break the silence around the topic of ovarian cancer. The Enroush community has always been concerned about women's health above all else, and we are glad that we were able to touch on this topic on International Ovarian Cancer Day.

And our readers certainly know that the efforts don't stop here on the page, but are complemented by the rest of Enroush's mission: to make menstrual care and female reproductive health accessible to as many women as possible.

Both in the prevention of ovarian cancer and dozens of other intimate area conditions, it is essential to know what comes into contact with our bodies. That is why we created our products from 100% organic cotton, with a clean label. So that you know everything you put into your body when you use a tampon, and everything that touches you when you put on an absorbent. I talked in more detail about the benefits of organic absorbents HERE .

By talking about intimate issues and menstrual health, each of us can contribute to a healthier world for women. We would love for you to join the Enroush community, and we hope to see you on social media, where every share counts so that our message and discussions about ovarian cancer reach as many people as possible!