Ovarian cancer is one of the more rare cancers that affects women. Although it doesn’t have the same incidence as others, such as lung or breast cancer, it is still very fatal. Ovarian cancer is tumor growth within the ovaries, the reproductive organs that hold on to a woman’s eggs. According to the American Cancer Society, ovarian cancer ranks fifth in cancer death among women and accounts for more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system. Dr. Amandla Haynes, Care Coordinator for the Capital Area Healthy Start Coalition, took the time to speak with AFIYA Magazine regarding this topic.
Could you share more about some of the differences in symptoms with ovarian cancer?
Dr. Haynes: Some symptoms that may be present include abdominal pain, nausea, bloating and indigestion, similar to other forms of cancer. However, ovarian cancer can also have an insidious appearance, and you may not know it’s there, at times. It may often get overlooked, and the symptomology might be confused with something else. For example, Black women often go to the doctor for ovarian cysts, which can cause problems such as menstrual changes, heavy bleeding, and cramp pains. With ovarian cancer, you may not have the same type of symptoms, so it can be a lot more complex to diagnose. It is normally only detected when another cancer has taken place.
How helpful can pap smears be in detecting any signs of ovarian cancer?
Dr. Haynes: It’s always recommended to get these checks. It’s especially important for those who have something such as endometriosis, a condition that could lead to ovarian cancer due to the endometrial cells passing through the body and feeding the ovaries. Women dealing with obesity, diabetes, endometriosis, thyroid conditions and other metabolic or hormonal issues should be more vigilant in getting those checkups, and their providers should be more critical during their evaluations.
Studies show that Black women develop ovarian cancer at a lower rate but are more inclined to pass away from it. Is there anything that we should consider as it relates to that?
Dr. Haynes: The stress levels of black women is a big one and something that must definitely be dealt with. As black women, that historical PTSD can accelerate many health conditions we have. Even now in this modern society, we are still under scrutiny in the medical system. We do not always get the same type of treatment and attention as other groups of women. What we must do is stay on top of our own health, make sure we’re getting routine check-ups, educating ourselves on the conditions we face and advocate for ourselves, often.
As it relates to this, can birth control tie into increasing the risk of developing ovarian cancer?
Dr. Haynes: The main function of hormonal-based birth control is to slow down or stop ovulation. A lot of birth control pills work directly on that mechanism of function. If you’re a woman who has been on the pill, shot, implant or something similar for years and you’ve never had a child, eventually your ovaries will becomes used to the abnormal activity of not releasing eggs and not responding to hormones normally. When you think about how birth control works, I’d say that it could have an adverse effect on women in the long term, if they were consistently on hormonal methods of birth control. You want to give your body a break to re-adjust to what is normal.
What we must do is stay on top of our own health, make sure we’re getting routine check-ups, educating ourselves on the conditions we face and advocate for ourselves, often.
Can obesity increase a woman’s risk of developing ovarian cancer?
Dr. Haynes: Obesity is one of those things that can trigger abnormal occurrences in the body because the body must produce much more of everything and work harder to metabolize. When natural functions within the body are prevented, it opens the door for many other things to go wrong. Normally dormant genes become active. This is a why obesity is a risk for many different health concerns, and cancer is one of them. For women, it becomes more dangerous because we have a lot of hormones and things that are signaling during breastfeeding, while in postpartum, during our menstrual cycles, etc. So that excess fatty tissue along with your body having to do so much work, kind of hinders the effectiveness of the signals. It can be a contributing factor.
What would be your advice to Black women, as it relates to ovarian cancer?
Dr. Haynes: Maintain your regular check-ups, especially if there is a family history of it, if you’ve been on birth control for a long period of time, or if you have not yet had kids. Having a child is, in a sense, nature’s way of regulating you. At times, not having kids can have an adverse effect on your body which is why they advocate for check-ups after a certain age to check your reproductive health.
Eat well and stay hydrated. Getting enough rest is extremely important. Allowing your body the time to metabolize things and reset at night is key. Our body does a lot of healing when we rest. Keep stress down. Mental health is important and so it’s good to find healthy ways to reduce stress whether it be through exercise, reading, journaling, or enjoying a hobby. Decrease the risk factors and address any inequities you may come across.
AFIYA Magazine looks to enhance the awareness and knowledge of wellness issues important to African-American women while providing a platform for us to grow, expand, and develop within our personal and professional lives.