The Basics of Ovarian Cancer
World Ovarian Cancer Day is May 8, and this week, advocates and activists Carla Jimenez and Kerry Kriseman joined WaveMakers to discuss their stories of survival, as well as the importance of talking about and testing for ovarian cancer.
Listen to the full episode by searching for WMNF WaveMakers wherever you listen to podcasts.
In the U.S., over 200,000 people are living with ovarian cancer, and statistics show that 1 in every 78 people born with ovaries will develop ovarian cancer. It is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths, and diagnoses of ovarian cancer are generally not made until the later stages of the disease. Unlike other types of cancers or diseases, the identifying factors of ovarian cancer are vague and aren’t generally tagged as being symptoms of cancer.
In addition, specific testing to identify ovarian cancer is not a part of routine gynecological exams and isn’t given unless other tests and routes have been cleared. While PSA tests for men to check for prostate cancer and mammograms to check for breast cancer are common, the tests for ovarian cancer haven’t been on the medical priority list.
Risk Factors of Ovarian Cancer
While some of the symptoms of ovarian cancer are vague, there are some risk factors that can be identified to help understand who may be at higher risk.
While ovarian cancer can occur at any age, it is more likely to occur in older adults, as well as adults that have gone through more menstrual cycles (such as those who have never been pregnant). Those with certain genetic mutations are at higher risk, as well as those who come from Ashkenazi Jewish descent. As in most diseases, obesity is another risk factor that can make an individual more likely to get ovarian cancer.
Both Kerry Kriseman and Carla Jimenez are advocates with OCRA, the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance. The Alliance is the longest-running and largest ovarian cancer awareness and advocacy organization, and Jimenez and Kriseman actively work to promote increased research into ovarian cancer.
Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month is in September, but advocacy and information can be found at ocrahope.org
