Generally the disease of cancer of any part of the body comes without any advance intimation to us. So in our own interest we should have Cancer detection test done to ensure there is no cancer in the body. Now about Ovarian cancer -

Women have two ovaries, one on each side of the uterus. The ovaries — each about the size of an almond — produce eggs (ova) as well as the female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone. Ovarian cancer is a disease in which normal ovarian cells begin to grow in an uncontrolled, abnormal manner and produce tumors in one or both ovaries.

The chances of surviving ovarian cancer are better if the cancer is found early. But because the disease is difficult to detect in its early stage, only about 20 percent of ovarian cancers are found before tumor growth has spread into adjacent tissues and organs beyond the ovaries. Most of the time, the disease has already advanced before it%26#039;s diagnosed.

You have to actually watch for the symptoms of the disease. They are -

Symptoms of ovarian cancer are nonspecific and mimic those of many other more common conditions, including digestive and bladder disorders. It isn%26#039;t unusual for a woman with ovarian cancer to be diagnosed with another condition before finally learning she has cancer. The key seems to be persistent or worsening signs and symptoms. With most digestive disorders, symptoms tend to come and go, or they occur in certain situations or after eating certain foods. With ovarian cancer, there%26#039;s typically little fluctuation — symptoms are constant and gradually worsen.

Recent studies have shown that women with ovarian cancer are more likely than are other women to consistently experience the following symptoms:

* Abdominal pressure, fullness, swelling or bloating

* Urinary urgency

* Pelvic discomfort or pain

Additional signs and symptoms that women with ovarian cancer may experience include:

* Persistent indigestion, gas or nausea

* Unexplained changes in bowel habits, including diarrhea or constipation

* Changes in bladder habits, including a frequent need to urinate

* Loss of appetite

* Unexplained weight loss or gain

* Increased abdominal girth or clothes fitting tighter around your waist

* Pain during intercourse (dyspareunia)

* A persistent lack of energy

* Low back pain

Doctors can usually diagnose ovarian cancer within three months of women first noticing symptoms, but sometimes it may take six months or longer before a diagnosis can be made.

You should have regular screening say once in an year for Cancer. Screening for a cancer means that you have no symptoms of the disease, and testing is done in an effort to find the disease in a very early, curable stage. The following tests will help you to detect the disease, if prevalent at early stage. -

-Pelvic examination.

-Ultrasound.

-CA 125 blood test.

-computerized tomography (CT) and

-Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) -|||This is why ovarian cancer is so deadly, because it is not detected usually until it is very far advanced. A regular pap and pelvic exam does not detect ovarian cancer. Usually it is not found until a lady has symptoms, and by then it can be far along.|||Through the Ca 125 blood test. Mind you ovarian cancer is a very hidden disease which invariably doesn%26#039;t show up until a tumour has formed. Regular intra-vaginal scans which will look in detail at the ovaries and womb, etc., are a must.