#MUST READ: 5 Facts All Women Should Know About Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is a growth of abnormal malignant cells that begins in the ovaries (women’sreproductive glands that produce ova). Cancer that spreads to the ovaries but originates at another site is not considered ovarian cancer. Ovarian tumors can be benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous).

In light of this, here are facts every woman should know about Ovarian Cancer;

1. Every Woman is at Risk of Ovarian Cancer especially Overweight Women

It’s had to accept the fact that you could be at risk of such a deadly disease but the truth is, there are many reasons one may fall victim of such a disease. According to research, annually Ovarian Cancer is responsible for 140,000 deaths each year which accounts for nearly a quarter of a million women globally. Overweight women (with a BMI of 30 or higher) are more likely to develop ovarian cancer than their thinner peers are.

2. It is Hereditary

If any death has been recorded from any of your parents family and it has to do with cancer, you should do be sure what type of cancer it was in order to be aware. It is important to be aware of symptoms regardless of what type of cancer, risk factors because someone experiencing that in your family gives you information of how old the person was at the time he or she was diagnosed, the effects it had and other information.

3. Having Your Children Before 26 Can Protect You

Giving birth early saves you from the risk of having Ovarian Cancer, you might ask why… Any interruption in ovulation lowers your risk of ovarian cancer,” says Robin Cohen, an oncology nurse and the co-founder and CEO of the Sandy Rollman Ovarian Cancer Foundation.

4. Go for Check-up When You Experience These Symptoms

When you notice an increased abdominal size / persistent bloating (not bloating that comes and goes), difficulty eating/feeling full quickly,abdominal or pelvic pain and needing to pass urine more urgently or more frequently go check yourself. It is possible its not associated with anything as serious as Ovarian Cancer but it is better to do a quick check up.

5. Birth-Control Pills are Lifesavers in this Case

This might not align with giving birth before the age of 26 but when you use the Pill or or Depo-Provera, you’re not ovulating (same as if you were pregnant). If you’re not pregnant and don’t use hormonal birth control, “every month, your body undergoes a major upheaval and many cells must be replicated in order to release an egg,” says Nicole E. Williams, MD, of The Gynecology Institute of Chicago. “The more replication, the greater the risk that mistakes in DNA can occur, which can lead to cancer.”