Some symptoms of ovarian cancer include:

-- Pelvic or abdominal pain or discomfort

-- Vague, but persistent, gastrointestinal upsets such as gas, nausea and indigestion

-- Frequency and/or urgency of urination in the absence of infection

-- Unexplained changes in bowel habits

-- Unexplained weight gain or weight loss, particularly weight gain in the abdominal region

-- Pelvic and/or abdominal swelling, bloating, and/or feeling of fullness

-- Pain during intercourse

-- Ongoing fatigue

-- Abnormal postmenopausal bleeding

Recent attention was drawn to this disease when Elizabeth Tilberis, editor-in-chief of Harper's Bazaar, succumbed to ovarian cancer. According to NOCC, however, all women should be aware of this disease because it is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in women, and most often, the symptoms are vague and often go undetected.

The Silent Killer?

The death rate of ovarian cancer is due to the rapid spread of the cancerous cells on surrounding healthy tissue and organs. Often, the cancer is not localized, which is why more than half the cases of this particular type of cancer result in death.

"Early detection is a woman's best chance for a cure," says Gail Hayward, president of NOCC, who was diagnosed with stage three ovarian cancer in 1989. "Because the symptoms are so obscure and not specific to ovarian cancer, it's critical to discuss any and all symptoms, no matter how vague, with your physician."

What's Your Risk Level?

Dr. Method, who sees many women in the later stages of ovarian cancer, says the importance of early detection can't be stressed enough. In order to assess their risk level, women must be aware of their personal family history, as well as ancestral descent. Women who have immediate family members who have been diagnosed with ovarian, breast or colon cancer are considered at the highest risk. Other risk factors include being from Eastern European Jewish descent (Ashkenazie), uninterrupted ovulation (such as in the case of infertility, no use of birth control pills and no pregnancies) and increasing age.

"However, just because a woman has one or more of these risk factors does not mean that she will get the disease," warns Dr. Method. "It simply means that she is at an increased risk to develop this particular type of cancer."

Dr. Method explains that there are presently two tests available to help detect ovarian cancer, though neither is definitive or recommended to screen women without symptoms: a blood test (CA-125), which detects if the level of a tumor marker is increased, and a transvaginal ultrasound. "Unfortunately, at this time there really is no sure way to screen for this disease and these tests are typically  performed for women at high risk for ovarian cancer or for those who are experiencing symptoms that might be indicative of the disease. At this time, early diagnosis can only happen when women and their doctors share information relevant to this disease. This comes through education."

Prevention and Protection

While there is no known method to prevent ovarian cancer, NOCC says there are some precautions that appear to reduce a woman's risk of developing the disease. First, women should try to maintain a low fat diet and participate in moderate physical activity weekly. Use of oral contraceptives for a total of five years can decrease a woman's risk by as much as 60 percent. Having one or more children, particularly if the first is born before age 30, plus breast feeding, may decrease a woman's risk.

In addition, experts, including NOCC and the American Cancer Society, recommend that women who use feminine powders should use cornstarch powders, rather than talcum powders. While some research may show a possible link between talcum powder used in the genital region and an increased risk of ovarian cancer, there are no safety issues concerning cornstarch-based powders.

SOURCE: National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC) and the Vagisil Women's Health Center