What every woman needs to know about ovarian cancer

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, bringing a critical health conversation to the forefront.

As the deadliest of all female reproductive system cancers, ovarian cancer is notoriously difficult to diagnose in its early stages. Doctors are urging women to take charge of their health and be aware of the signs.

Ovarian cancer is a disease that begins in the ovaries, the female organs that produce eggs.

"Just know that this cancer can happen, and the earlier we detect it, the better our survival outcomes are," said Dr. Chelsea Salyer, a gynecologic oncologist at VCU Health.

The most common form, High Grade Serous (HGS), a subtype of epithelial ovarian cancer, accounts for about 80% of all cases, and doesn't have a reliable screening test. This means it's often detected when it has already advanced.

"It's a cancer that we do not have a screening test for," Dr. Salyer said. "So we can't find pre-invasive or early-stage high-grade cancer."

Ovarian cancer can easily be mistaken for other common ailments. Symptoms like bloating, pelvic pain, or difficulty with bowel habits are easy to dismiss, which is why it gets missed so often.

Dr. Jonathan Foote, a gynecologic oncologist with Bon Secours, said that risk factors include older age, being post-menopausal or having a family history of the disease.

"25% of these cancers are going to be associated with something hereditary, meaning passed down to you," Dr. Foote said.

According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 20,000 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2025, and 12,000 will die from the disease. While these statistics have not changed much over the years, there is a reason for optimism. Dr. Foote said that advances in treatment are helping women live longer.

"What we have been able to do is develop more better treatment options," Dr. Foote said. "70 to 80% of these cases, when they come to us, we're able to get them free of disease, get them into remission."

Because symptoms can be subtle and easily dismissed, doctors stress the importance of self-advocacy. Dr. Salyer said that if you feel something is off, don't take "no" for an answer.

"A lot of times the symptoms might get dismissed by doctors," Dr. Salyer said. "So if you go see a doctor and you tell them something's not quite right, yet they tell you, 'Hey, it's fine.' This is a time to advocate for yourself."

Both doctors emphasize that annual visits to a gynecologist are critical for all women. These visits are the best way to screen for a variety of cancers and other conditions.