Ovarian cancer most lethal gynaecological malignancy, says doc

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, June 30

India is losing its women due the deadly cancer disease. Lifestyle changes such as eating junk food, smoking addiction increases the chances of developing life-taking gynaecological cancers.

Poor eating habits, binging on alcohol, smoking addiction and weak immune system has attributed to rise in number of patients developing gynaecological cancers. “Complications leading to obesity and sticking to junk food has shown rise in the cases of cervical and ovarian cancers among working women,” said Dr Kapil Kumar, director, surgical oncology (cancer), Fortis Hospital, during a seminar held here on Sunday.

He said the link between lifestyle changes and gynaecological cancers is progressively gaining validation and ovarian and cervical cancers are the most common gynaecological cancers of women.

“Ovarian cancer remains the most lethal gynaecological malignancy. Only marginal improvement has happened in its survival. Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women after breast cancer,” he said.

With women empowerment and long and erratic working hours, women are highly succumbed to stress. Poor eating habits, binging on alcohol, smoking addiction and weak immune system has attributed to rise in the number of patients developing gynaecological cancers. Complications leading to obesity and sticking to junk food has shown rise in the cases of cervical and ovarian cancers among working women.

Cancer of ovaries is the fifth most frequently occurring fatal cancer in women after lung, breast, colon and pancreas. Nearly 75 per cent patients are diagnosed in the advanced stage (III or IV). It is suggested that every woman have a periodic pelvic examination, pelvic ultrasound and Ca 125 levels to diagnose ovarian cancer. And cervical cancer is a cancer arising from the cervix. It is due to the abnormal growth of cells that have the ability to invade or spread to the other parts of the body.

“All cancer in women requires early diagnosis to avoid complication, long treatment and increased cost of treatment. The adult female population should go for regular screening with pap smears. All women who are 3 years after the onset of vaginal intercourse, or no later than 21 years should undergo an annual pap test and pelvic examination. Prophylactic HPV vaccination represents a potential means of reducing the burden of cervical cancer and its precursor lesions,” he said.

Dr Kapil said: “To provide better healthcare for all, there is an urgent requirement for raising awareness among the masses for a healthy lifestyle and early treatment of gynaecological cancers.”

Early warning signs of ovarian cancer

• Abdominal discomfort
• Indigestion 
• Bloating 
• Changes in bladder/bowel function
• Decreased appetite
• Early signs of cervix cancer
• Abnormal vaginal bleeding 
• Menorrhagia
• Inter-menstrual bleeding 
• Post costal bleeding