September is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. This is because Ovarian Cancer is often called the silent killer. More need to be aware of how serious this form of cancer is.
Ovarian Cancer Statistics
Highlighting how serious ovarian cancer is, the statistics show that although accounting for a small percentage of cancers affecting women, ovarian cancer accounts for 1 in 20 deaths. Each year, roughly 22,000 new cases are diagnosed and over 14,000 deaths occur.
That is the bad news. The good news is that nationwide, both the incidence and mortality rates continue to decline. This decline has been consistent since 1975. Much of this decline is seen in the white population, though the reasons remain unknown. What is known is that oral contraceptives, multiple births, tubal ligation, and oophorectomy reduce risk, while menopausal hormones increase risk.
Also known is that the use of oral contraceptives for between 5 and 9 years reduces risk of ovarian cancer by 35%. Also, studies indicate that certain symptoms occur in women months before diagnosis. The American Cancer Society recommends that you see your physician should any of these non-specific symptoms occur:
- back pain
- abdominal distension
- pelvic pain
- pain in abdomen
- difficulty eating
- feeling full quickly
- vomiting
- indigestion
- a change in bowel habits
- urinary urgency
- urinary frequency
What is Ovarian Cancer?
Ovaries are reproductive glands located beside the uterus. Each the size of a grape, they produce the eggs which may be fertilized for reproduction. They reach the uterus via the fallopian tubes after the completion of menstruation.
Prior to menopause, the ovaries also produce most of the estrogen and progesterone in women. These hormones contribute to the general health of females. There are three main types of ovarian cancer. Of these, epithelial make up over 90% of the cases. The other main types, germ cell and sex cord-stromal comprise and additional 5% combined.
Studies indicate that epithelial cancers begin in the fallopian tubes from microscopic lesions. These lesions then migrate to the ovaries or peritoneum where they grow and form tumors. In serious cases, tumors appear in both ovaries.
Kymera Fights Ovarian Cancer
Kymera Independent Physicians was founded in 1998. Our core mission then as now, is to battle cancer. Since our founding, we have treated thousands of residents in Southeast New Mexico. Seeing to the oncology needs of our neighbors in Roswell, Hobbs, Carlsbad, and Artesia has resulted in rapid and continual growth.
The 3 Key Reasons for Our Growth are:
- We engage in cancer research, partnering with oncology departments like MD Anderson to better fight this disease.
- We invest in the cutting-edge technologies needed to aggressively treat cancer.
- Kymera Independent Physicians provides a better healthcare experience.
In other words, Kymera Independent Physicians is serious about battling ovarian and other cancers. From the beginning, beating cancer has been our goal and that has not changed. Many residents of SENM come to us for cancer treatments. We are glad they do.
Our main mission is to help our neighbors. We know they will get the best cancer treatments available from us. Thus, we have become known for providing a better healthcare experience.
This September, please continue to learn more about ovarian cancer. We all have wives, mothers, and sisters. Hence, Ovarian cancer can affect any one of them. Increased awareness helps all to defeat Ovarian Cancer.
