Tampa Bay Radiation Oncology

Ovarian cancer is the fifth-leading cause of cancer deaths among women in the United States. According to the 

, an estimated 21,410 women will receive a new diagnosis of ovarian cancer in 2021, and about 13,770 women will die from the disease.

As a woman, you are at risk. Let's discuss the symptoms as well as your risk factors and treatment options for ovarian cancer.

The symptoms of ovarian cancer vary and may include bloating, abdominal pressure or pain, feeling full quickly after eating small amounts of food, frequent urination, constipation or diarrhea. Many of these symptoms are easily mistaken as common digestive issues. However, if these symptoms have persisted for more than two weeks and are new or unusual for you, it's time to visit a doctor for testing.

Other less common symptoms of ovarian cancer include chronic fatigue, back pain, pain during intercourse and menstrual irregularities.

What Is My Risk of Developing Ovarian Cancer?

Risk factors for ovarian cancer include age, race/ethnicity, family history and genetics. Age-related changes in the ovaries make older women more likely to develop this type of cancer. But while ovarian cancer mainly affects older women (ages 50+), it can happen to any woman at any age.

People with a family history of breast or ovarian cancers are at an increased chance of developing the disease, and women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) may also be at higher risk.

If you have the signs and/or symptoms of ovarian cancer, your doctor will probably perform a number of tests, including a complete pelvic exam, a transvaginal ultrasound and radiological tests. Some physicians will recommend a CT scan and blood tests as well. Because these tests offer no definitive answers when used individually, the best way for your doctor to make the most accurate diagnosis is by using the different tests in combination with one another.

If a tumor is detected, your doctor may perform laparoscopic surgery to remove some tissue to test for the presence of ovarian cancer and determine the extent of the spread of cancer cells.

What are My Treatment Options for Ovarian Cancer?

Ovarian cancer treatment options can vary depending on the type of ovarian tumor and the extent of the spread of cancer cells throughout the body. Treatment options for ovarian cancer can include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.

During surgery, doctors attempt to remove all visible and detectable tumors. Chemotherapy may then be used to destroy any residual cancer cells that may not have been removed through surgery. Other targeted therapies and drugs like angiogenesis inhibitors may be recommended in conjunction with chemotherapy.

Radiation may be used if the patient is not a good candidate for surgery—or sometimes before or after surgery to improve results.

For more news on cancer updates, research and education, don’t forget to 

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Learn more about the symptoms, risk factors and treatment options for ovarian cancer.

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Radiation therapy has various physical side effects, but the process of cancer treatment undoubtedly impacts your mental well-being, as well. Experimental evidence from the National Cancer Institute suggests that psychological stress can affect a tumor’s ability to grow and spread. This implies that a healthy mind translates to a healthy body.

Stress is inevitable; that’s a universal truth. Fortunately, there are several ways you can cope with its effects. Here are five of our favorite options for overcoming stress and anxiety to promote your mental wellness and emotional resilience during your radiation therapy.

Light exercise or a fitness routine consisting of strength and aerobic exercises are recommended for patients under cancer care. If you need to start with an easier alternative to build up your stamina, try light yoga or walking for at least 10 minutes a day. The idea is to get your blood pumping to reduce stress hormones and stimulate the production of happy hormones called endorphins.

Regularly practicing meditation and mindfulness offers long-term benefits, especially in reducing stress and anxiety. Cancer Research UK found out that meditation can:

Find the perfect spot and meditate for 20 to 30 minutes a day to ease your agitation and restlessness.

Sleeping for seven to eight hours a night meets the basic requirement for your body to function properly. If you’re having trouble sleeping, try these:

Ensure your surroundings are conducive (dark, cool temperature)

Avoid caffeine, sugar and other stimulants

Discontinue the use of electronic or light-producing devices 30 minutes before bedtime

4. Social and Emotional Support: Get With Your Tribe

Having cancer and going through treatment can make you feel isolated. Surround yourself with people who can provide emotional and motivational support; they’re an essential lifeline. For health reasons, you may turn to an online social support group of fellow cancer patients, but video chats or even phone calls with family and friends are also beneficial.

Nourishing your body with nutrient-dense foods also nourishes your mind. Your doctor may recommend a calorie-dense and high-protein diet for weight maintenance. Whatever your recommended eating plan, your healthful diet should still include:

Probiotics and prebiotics (fermented foods or supplements)

Cut out refined foods, processed meats, high-sodium foods and beverages loaded with sugar. And if you want to boost your metabolism and maintain your weight, eat meals frequently in smaller portions–about 6 to 8 times a day. Choose colorful or flavorful foods that tempt your eyes and delight your taste buds.

Here are five options for overcoming stress and anxiety to promote your mental wellness and emotional resilience during your radiation therapy.

5 Ways to Support Your Mental Wellness During Radiation Therapy

Gel polishes have become popular options for long-lasting, chip-free manicures and pedicures in recent years.

The strength in gel polish comes from a UV curing process. The polish contains chemicals called photoinitiators, which require UV light to harden. This photoreaction process strengthens and sets the gel and speeds up the nail drying time.

However, this convenience may come at a cost as nail lamps expose the skin to harmful ultraviolet light. So, if you’re getting gel service every couple of weeks, you’re increasing UV exposure and your risk of 

There are three types of UV rays; all are damaging to the skin, but only two reach the earth’s surface–UVA and UVB. UV rays come naturally from the sun, providing the production of beneficial vitamin D but also causing sunburns after prolonged exposure.

Artificial sources of UV rays—and radiation—include lamps used extensively in the food industry and medical laboratories for disinfecting surfaces and phototherapy. UV lamps are also used for curing resins and in suntanning beds. 

While UV radiation has benefits (natural vitamin D production), long-term exposure can be harmful and cause signs of premature aging like wrinkles and leathery skin. These rays can deeply penetrate the skin, damaging DNA in the skin cells and weakening the immune system, making it hard for the body to fend off infections and increase skin cancer risk, including melanoma.

Nail lamps emit varying amounts of UV radiation because they come in different light wavelengths and their intensities depend on the bulb wattage. Therefore, higher-wattage UV lamps emit more radiation. The number of bulbs in the lamp also differs. Another factor that affects the lamp’s ability to cure gel polish is how close the bulbs are to the fingernails. Therefore, for the UV lamp to cure the gel faster, bulbs may be placed close to the nails, increasing UV exposure to the surrounding skin. Some models allow the technician to move the lamp progressively closer during the curing process.

Skin Cancer Can Develop on Hands, Feet and Under Nails

Skin cancer can develop under the nails on both feet and hands, as well as on fingers and toes. Melanoma under the nail can look like a light- to dark-brown colored band on the nail, usually vertical. Any dark band on the nail that slowly expands and covers more of the surface or dark nail pigmentation that expands to the surrounding skin should be examined. Also, see your doctor if you see reddish sores, scaly spots or warts on your hands or feet, particularly if they seem to take a longer than normal time to heal.

What you should know about UV manicures and cancer risk.

Could Your UV Manicure Increase Your Risk for Skin Cancer?

Vegetables and fruits are an essential part of our diet, and nutritionists, doctors and dietitians all recommend the inclusion of vegetables and fruits in well-rounded meals.

Incorporating fruits and vegetables in your diet is proven to be effective against one of the world’s leading causes of death: cardiovascular disease. A meta-analysis of cohort studies following 469,551 participants discovered that an increased intake of fruits and vegetables reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease by four percent for each serving.

The risk of certain cancers, diabetes and gastrointestinal diseases can also be reduced by incorporating fruits and vegetables into your way of eating, so long as it remains balanced and is complemented by an active lifestyle.

Incorporating Fruits and Vegetables into Your Diet

You can include fruits and vegetables in your diet by considering the serving sizes for the daily recommended intake. Depending on your age and certain conditions, five servings per day of fruits and vegetables is the magic number for daily intake as recommended by the National Cancer Institute. All you need is two cups of fruits and three cups of vegetables per day to get your five servings.

The fruits can be fresh, chopped or canned (with no sugar added), while vegetables are best raw, lightly cooked (such as steaming, flash cooking) is a better option than cooking veggies to mush, since they’ll retain more of their beneficial minerals and nutrients.

So, guys, it’s time to dig into five servings a day to live longer, fuller lives and reduce the risks of free radicals – all thanks to the immunity-enhancing antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables.

Remember when you were a child and your parents said to eat your vegetables to grow up strong and healthy? Well, it’s still true.

Tampa Bay Radiation Oncology

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