With September as Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, it’s the perfect time to consider when your last visit to the doctor was. As one of the most common types of cancer found in women, it also has the highest mortality rate of all gynecological cancers. This is largely due to symptoms going unnoticed, leading to delayed diagnoses and treatment. However, an ultrasound offers the best means of screening.
If you’ve neglected your check up, here are a few reasons why it’s important to schedule an appointment as soon as possible:
Risk
Ovarian is the fifth most deadly cancer, causing over 14,000 deathsin the United States alone every year. As women get older, especially if they have a family history of the disease, their risk increases. Most women are diagnosed in their fifties or sixties, with a median age of diagnosis at 63.
Symptoms
Early symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea, gas, constipation, and frequent urination. These signs may be accompanied by fluctuations in weight, changes in the menstrual cycle, lower back pain, and discomfort while having sex. Take note of possible symptoms and visit a doctor as soon as possible for an ultrasound and blood tests.
Treatment
If you’re diagnosed with ovarian cancer, there are treatments available. Options include surgery, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. If the cancer is treated before it has spread beyond the ovaries, the five-year relative survival rate is high at 92%. After this survival rates decrease, making it clear just how essential early detection is.
If you need an ultrasound in Queens, NY, Main Street Radiology has been providing the community with medical imaging services, from mammograms to MRIs, for over 50 years. They are accredited by the American College of Radiology and use cutting-edge analysis tools. For your convenience, they have four locations: two addresses in Bayside, and one each in Flushing and Jackson Heights, which you can find online. To schedule an appointment at the branch nearest you, call (718) 428-1500.
