Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month: Early Symptoms and Risk Factors

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, making it an ideal time for you to understand this serious form of cancer that according to the CDC, accounts for 3% of all cancers in women and causes more deaths each year than any other cancer of the female reproductive system.
Unlike many other cancer types, ovarian cancer has no preventative screening. While you can have Pap smears to check for cervical cancer and mammograms to help detect breast cancer, there is currently no method to regularly screen for ovarian cancer. Unfortunately, the majority of ovarian cancer cases are discovered in the later stages when the disease is least treatable. These facts mean that being aware of your ovarian cancer risk factors and following with your OB-GYN or primary care physician are crucial measures.