Ovarian cancer is the condition in females in which the ovaries cells start to replicate in an uncontrolled pattern, resulting in cancer. With any disease, some misconceptions often spread. And they can affect your mental peace. It might happen that you must be thinking about a thing that does not even exist. Therefore we have decided to bust the myths associated with ovarian cancer. Here in this article, we will do that. So keep reading.
If you are diagnosed with ovarian cancer, you must not lose any hope. Sometimes it can be treated well. You must attend frequent visits with your healthcare provider. The treatment might also be difficult, but it is all worth it. Make sure you attend all the appointments with your doctor. To get an expert opinion, you can visit an Oncologist in Lahore.
If you have any misconceptions about a disease, you can clarify them with your healthcare provider. And please do not believe in things that lack a scientific background.
What Are The Myths And Truths About Ovarian Cancer?
The myths and truths about ovarian cancer are:
Myth
The symptoms of ovarian cancer are not severe. Therefore you do not get to know about it.
Truth
It might be true that the symptoms of ovarian cancer are subtle, and you might mix them with other health conditions. But often, women complain about how they feel consistently. They have consistent changes in their health status. Sex becomes more painful for them.
Moreover, they also have difficulty eating food. In some cases, women can feel something pressing on their abdomen. So it rings bells to get evaluated. When a woman feels uncomfortable for a long time and medications do not show enough response to it, the chances are high that they report to the healthcare provider soon.
You must keep in mind that if you have any symptoms of ovarian cancer, visit the healthcare provider as soon as possible.
Myth
Pap smear will help catch ovarian cancer.
Truth
Often people misconstrue that in your annual check-up when your gynecologist performs a pap smear, it can tell about ovarian cancer. You must know that a pap smear helps detect cervical cancer. During the procedure, the healthcare provider takes the cells from your cervix and observes them under the microscope.
Cervix is the canal that connects your vagina to the uterus. Your ovaries are placed even above the uterus. Therefore pap smear does not help in the detection of ovarian cancer. However, during the annual visit, you would tell your healthcare provider about how you feel generally. If your doctor is smart enough to catch it, they can reach the final diagnosis soon.
A Pap smear has its own importance. Even if it does not help detect ovarian cancer, it helps detect cervical cancer. Therefore you must get it done whenever your healthcare provider asks for it.
Myth
Having ovarian cysts means ovarian cancer.
Truth
Ovarian cysts are quite common, and in most cases, they are normal. Not all the time they are cancerous. In menstruating women, they are common. Often they resolve it sometime on their own.
A very few ovarian cysts are cancerous. Therefore not all the time they indicate ovarian cancer. However, if your healthcare provider asks you to get further evaluated and they suspect something is wrong, you must get it done as soon as possible. Do not delay it.
Myth
Having no family history of ovarian cancer means you are not at risk.
Truth
Having a family history of ovarian cancer might increase the risk for you. But that does not mean that it gives you a green signal, and you can never get it. Any woman can get it at any time of their life. Therefore you must take little changes in your life seriously and report to the healthcare provider.
Sometimes age plays a role in ovarian cancer. Often the women diagnosed with ovarian cancer are above 63. Therefore you can never take the symptoms lightly, especially if they happen after menopause. But that also does not mean that at a young age, you can not get ovarian cancer.
The Bottom Line
Believing in myths can make your life miserable. You must think wisely and believe in things having scientific backing. If you can not decide what is right, it is always a good idea to talk to the healthcare provider. They can guide you better. To get an expert opinion, you can visit Mid City Hospital.
