Ovarian cancer may not be a common conversation topic in your household, but if you are caring for an elderly mother or grandmother, making sure she is aware of its symptoms is an important step you can take toward helping her be aware of changes in her body that may need medical attention. Every September is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in the United States, opening up the opportunities to talk about and learn about this dangerous form of cancer that women need to be aware of. Use this month to talk to your loved one about ovarian cancer, its symptoms, and risk factors. Hire personal care providers to assist your loved one once they are going through treatment.
What is Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian cancer is a cancer that begins in the ovaries. A group of cells will begin to multiply too quickly and then destroy the healthy tissue around them.
There are three types of ovarian cancer.
Epithelial ovarian cancer. This form of ovarian cancer is the most common, especially among the elderly. It can be categorized as serous carcinoma or mucinous carcinoma.
Stromal tumors. These tumors are rare but are also often diagnosed at an earlier stage than other ovarian cancers.
Germ cell tumors. Occurring at a younger age for most women, this type of ovarian cancer is fairly rare.
Ovarian Cancer Symptoms
Early ovarian cancer often doesn’t present any symptoms, and when the symptoms first appear, they are often easily attributed to other possible, less serious causes.
Symptoms and indications of ovarian cancer can include:
- A need to urinate more frequently and urgently than before.
- Swelling and bloating in the abdominal area
- Getting full quickly or feeling uncomfortably full after eating a small amount of food.
- Increased bouts of constipation.
- General discomfort or pain in the pelvic area
- Fatigue
- Weight loss.
Ovarian Cancer Risk Factors
Some factors can increase the risk of developing ovarian cancer, with the two risk factors that most greatly increase the likelihood of the disease developing being age and a family history of ovarian cancer, especially if your loved one has inherited the high-risk gene changes that are often related to ovarian cancer. The genes that increase ovarian cancer risk include BRCA1 and BRCA2.
Other factors, such as being overweight, never having been pregnant, and having a late menopause, may also increase the risk.
Getting Help During Ovarian Cancer Treatment
If your loved one gets diagnosed with ovarian cancer, her care team will develop a treatment plan that will most likely require surgery, radiation, and perhaps chemotherapy. Cancer treatment is often a long and exhausting process, and your loved one may need some help at home as she receives her treatment, especially if there are no family members or friends to assist her.
Personal care at home providers can step in and help around the home as your loved one goes through treatment. A personal care at home provider can help with meal preparation and even clean up if your loved one is too exhausted. If your loved one needs help with grooming, getting dressed, bathing, or any of her other personal care at home activities, a trained provider can help her with those daily living activities. The road to recovery may seem long, but having professional help with her personal care at home aide can be just the support she needs.
If you or an aging loved one is considering Personal Care Services in Whitehall, PA, please get in touch with the caring staff at Extended Family Care Allentown today. Call 610-432-6766
Extended Family Care Allentown is a Trusted Home Care Agency in Allentown, Pennsylvania, including Bethlehem, Easton, Emmaus, Macungie, Whitehall, Schnecksville, Catasauqua, Northampton, and Nazareth.
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