Ovarian Cancer

Exposure to asbestos has been known to cause a number of diseases and a number of forms of cancer. A recent World Health Organization International Agency for Research on Cancer notes that there is a potential link between exposure to asbestos and ovarian cancer. While it is not set in stone, the idea is being researched further.

Ovarian cancer is a tumor that arises from the ovaries. It is the fifth leading cause of death from cancer in women and the leading cause of death from gynecological cancer. Any woman has a lifetime risk of ovarian cancer of about 1.5% which makes ovarian cancer the second most common gynecologic malignancy, following breast cancer.

Unfortunately, while much progress has been made in treating and detecting breast cancer, the same cannot be said for ovarian cancer. Because it produces non-specific symptoms, ovarian cancer has been called the “silent killer.” The nondescript symptoms produced by ovarian cancer in the early stages contribute to diagnostic delay which means that ovarian cancer is frequently undiagnosed until it is in a late stage and has a poor prognosis. The symptoms most frequently reported include abdominal pain or discomfort, bloating, back pain, urinary urgency, and constipation. Any of those symptoms can be related to one of any more common, less deadly problems.

There is no known specific cause of ovarian cancer. There are a number of things that are believed to play a role but nothing with a direct link. The new IARC study shows that it is not all tied to genetics and past pregnancies but outside factors may play a role as well. While it says that there may be a connection, there is nothing conclusive, yet.

Contact an Asbestos Exposure Attorney

If you have been exposed to asbestos and are concerned for your health, contact a mesothelioma attorney from Williams Kherkher at 1-800-381-7955 to discuss your situation and to learn more about testing for asbestos-related diseases.