3 minute read
the study, published in clinical proteomics , found the test commonly used to detect cervical cancer could soon become the long-sought early warning system for the fifth-most common cancer among women. in canada, there are roughly 3,100 new ovarian cancer diagnoses annually with just under 2,000 patients losing their lives to the disease each year. the findings, which arrive during sexual and reproductive health awareness week, offer hope these numbers will one day be a thing of the past.
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ovarian cancer is caused by abnormal changes in the cells of the ovary that result in the formation of tumours, according to cancer.ca . the tumours vary depending on the type of cells that become cancerous and symptoms do not often present themselves in the early stages of the disease, often leading to delays in diagnosis or a misdiagnosis. actual symptoms, once they appear, include abnormal bleeding or discharge of a clear or white fluid from the vagina, a lump in the pelvis or abdomen and bladder issues and constipation.
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for women who have already received the painful news, it is important to do your due diligence ahead of time and know that there are options, said konstantin zakashansky , director of gynecologic oncology at mount sinai west and associate professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive science at the icahn school of medicine at mount sinai.
dave yasvinski is a writer with healthing.ca
