Actress Eva Wilma passed away last Saturday (5/15) at the age of 87 due to respiratory failure due to an injury Non-ovarian cancer. A silent disease, according to Oncomed oncologist Amndio Fernandes.
“Ovarian cancer is the second most common malignant tumor that affects women. Because it is a condition that does not show symptoms in its early stages – which is why it is called“ silent ”- and because there are no screening methods to diagnose it in women without symptoms, most are diagnosed Cases are in more advanced stages. ”
a Early diagnosis A great ally for women afflicted with the disease. This is because treatment tends to be less aggressive and often only surgical, without the need for comprehensive chemotherapy treatment. Then there is a great possibility for Care, Which is closely related to the stage of disease progression and its prognosis. When diagnosed at an early stage, the chance of a cure is about 90%.
“The majority of ovarian cancer, about 90% to 95%, are of epithelial proportions and the average age of a woman at diagnosis is around 60 years old. Another type of ovarian cancer, which accounts for 3% to 5% of cases, is germ cell tumors. ” Amandio Fernandez adds These types of tumors usually affect younger women, and if diagnosed in more advanced stages, they can interfere with pregnancy.
The oncologist explains that “mutations of genetic origin, particularly the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, are primarily associated with ovarian cancer, as well as breast cancer.”
Stay informed of the symptoms
Given the fact that ovarian cancer is silent, it is vital that the woman pay attention to the smallest mark the body gives, while paying attention to family history and situations that may favor the onset of the disease.
“As the ovaries are small organs located within the pelvic cavity, and they are large, so that a cancerous ovary is seen clinically as a tumor mass or causes symptoms of pressure on the neighboring organs (such as intestinal changes or pain) that has been enlarged many times from its normal size, i.e. I need the disease to have evolved a lot already. ”
Which explains the specialist in terms of the symptoms of the disease and its silent nature. No wonder, according to Amendio Fernandez, between 70% and 80% of cases are diagnosed in advanced stages. However, some symptoms may appear. The most common are: pain and an increase in the size of the abdomen (abdominal mass), pelvic pain, a feeling of full stomach, decreased appetite, constipation or diarrhea and weight loss.
“It is important to note that these symptoms are common in many other diseases, many of which are more common than ovarian cancer. However, women should be aware that these signs and symptoms can be alert for early diagnosis.”
“The recommendation, then, is that women do not fail annual checkups to the gynecologist, and that they are alert to body signs and pay attention to family history and situations that may favor the onset of disease,” says Doctor Oncomed.
* Training under the supervision of Teresa Karam
