36 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • SEPTEMBER 2018
PRESS HEALTH
SEPTEMBER IS OVARIAN CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
Because September is National
Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month,
here are some tips for what to watch
for:
VAGUE SYMPTOMS
Of the three primary groups of
cancers that start in the ovary —
epithelial, germ cell and sex-cord
stromal — epithelial, which develops
on the ovary’s surface, is the
most common, experts say.
Early symptoms may include
nausea, diarrhea, pelvic pain, and
changes in appetite. As the disease
advances, symptoms may include
chest pain, shortness of breath,
bloating, vomiting, weight loss or
gain, and difficulty with bladder or
bowel functions.
RISK FACTORS
Women who have chosen not to
have children or are infertile are at
increased risk, says Dr. Eva Chalas,
chief of the Division of Gynecologic
Oncology at NYU Winthrop
Hospital. Obesity is linked to
increased risk, as well as genetics
and family history.
“On Long Island, we have a lot
of women with the BRCA BReast
CAncer genes mutation,” she
says, noting the Ashkenazi Jewish
population.
These genes typically suppress
tumors, however, when they mutate,
they can cause more harm.
The ACS reports that women with
a BRCA1 mutation have a 35 percent
to 70 percent chance of developing
ovarian cancer in their lifetime and
women with BRCA2 mutations have
a 10 percent to 30 percent risk of developing
ovarian cancer by age 70.
“In the U.S., two-thirds of adult
women are either overweight or
obese, which has resulted in hazards
to their health—cancer is one
of them,” says Dr. Chalas. “Maintaining
normal body weight and
exercising regularly can minimize
the risk of developing a number of
cancers, including ovarian.”
There are no recommended
screening tests to efficiently test
for ovarian cancer, says Dr. Pearl.
The U.S. Preventive Services
Task Force recommends against
screening for ovarian cancer in
asymptomatic women, determining
that screening could result in harm,
including false-positive test results
and unnecessary surgical interventions.
This applies to women with
no symptoms who are not known to
have a high-risk hereditary cancer
syndrome.
IMPROVING TREATMENT
“Chemotherapy agents have
improved in effectiveness and tolerability,”
Dr. Pearl notes. “Surgery
has gotten better.”
PARP inhibitors, which help repair
DNA, are available to patients
with BRCA mutations.
“Most institutions are now doing
molecular testing of tumor cells...
there are ongoing trials looking
at immunotherapies, vaccines
and other targeted therapies,” Dr.
Chalas says. “Survival for ovarian
cancer has improved but we still
have a ways to go.”
Additional funds for research
and treatment are desperately
needed, the doctors say.
Women who are diagnosed with
ovarian cancer must be treated by a
gynecologic oncologist, asserts Drs.
Pearl and Chalas. Comprehensive
treatment by an expert will provide
the best outcomes.
SHOW SUPPORT
“When a woman hears that she
has ovarian cancer, it’s not surprising
she’s absolutely devastated and
frightened,” says Sharon Lerman,
LCSW-R, OSW-C, Manager, Social
Work – Oncology, Monter Cancer
Center, Northwell Health Cancer
Institute in Lake Success. “It’s very
important to become educated
about the illness, advocate for yourself
and work with your medical
team,” which can include doctor(s),
nurses, loved ones, social worker,
nutritionists, etc.
Learn what resources — physical,
emotional, psychological and financial
— will best meet the individual
needs of patient and family, she says.
continued from page 35
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