The FirstHealth oncology clinic in Pinehurst specializes in ovarian cancer treatment and therapy services. Ovarian cancer is difficult to detect and could often be fatal when detected too late. Learn the risk factors, symptoms and treatments of ovarian cancer.

1. Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian cancer is the fifth most common cancer among women causing 15,000 deaths a year.(Source:
Ovarian Cancer Awareness)Ovarian cancer is difficult to detect and could often be fatal when detected too
late. If diagnosed at an early stage, the five-year survival rate is more than 93 percent.The cause is
unknown but there are some factors that could increase your risk. Taking oral contraceptive, giving birth
and breast feeding are a few ways to reduce your risk of ovarian
cancer.
Risk factors
Certain risk factors may increase your risk or ovarian cancer. Having
one or more of the risk factors does not mean that you will develop
it, but your risk is higher than the average woman. These risk factors
include the following:
Not giving birth
Giving birth at a late age
Mutations in the genes BRCA1 or BRCA2
Women who have had breast cancer or have a family
history of breast cancer or ovarian cancer
Women who take estrogen replacement for five or more years
Older women
Symptoms
The most common symptoms for ovarian cancer are hard to classify and are often symptoms to other
diseases, so by the time cancer is diagnosed the tumor has often spread. Some symptoms for ovarian
cancer are as follows:
Bloating
Difficulty eating
Pelvic of lower abdominal pain
Abnormal menstrual cycles
Digestive symptoms
o Constipation
o Increased gas
o Lack of appetite
o Nausea and vomiting
Back pain
Vaginal bleeding
Weight gain or loss
Sudden urge to urinate
If you are encountering any of these symptoms, notify your doctor as soon as possible.
Treatment
Treatment for ovarian cancer usually involves a combination of surgery and chemotherapy.

2. Hysterectomy
Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (removal of other ovaries and fallopian tubes
Examination, biopsy, or removal of the lymph nodes and other tissues in the pelvis and
abdomen
Chemotherapy
Radiation therapy
To learn more about ovarian cancer and ovarian cancer treatments available in the mid-Carolina’s visit
nccancercenter.org. The FirstHealth oncology clinic in Pinehurst specializes in ovarian cancer treatment
and therapy services for patients in the Sanford, Raeford, Rockingham, Laurinburg, Lumberton, and Troy
regions of North Carolina and beyond.