Cancer
groups spotlight Ovarian Cancer Month
By
Sandra Porter
Online Forty-Niner
Contributing Writer
According to the American Cancer Society, ovarian cancer affects more than
22,000 women a year. This is why September marks National Ovarian Cancer Awareness
Month.
Ovarian cancer is caused by malignant tumors that spread throughout a woman’s
reproductive organs, which can have serious effects if detected in their late
stages.
Women
now have various options for detection
of and treatment for ovarian cancer to
help fight this disease.
According to the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, www.ovarian.org, women
having their first child after the age of 30, women who have a family history
of ovarian, breast or colon cancer and women who have been diagnosed with
unexplained infertility have a higher risk for this type of cancer.
Symptoms may range from severe pelvic pressure, abdominal swelling and vaginal
bleeding to back pain, fatigue, bloating, constipation and urinary urgency.
Starting at the age of 18, women can start visiting their gynecologist for
regular pelvic examinations.
Women
who fall into a high risk category should
ask their physician about an Ovarian Pap Test. This
new diagnostic test may help in detecting
pre-cancerous or cancerous changes in
the ovaries according
to the NOCC.
Students
may also visit the Women’s Resource Center located
in the LA3-105 for more information on women’s health and support groups.
“
The Health Resource Center is a fully accredited, ambulatory health center
offering licensed medical physicians and nurses,” said Vic Cannon, budget
and operations coordinator of University Health Services.
CSULB offers a staff of gynecologist and nurse practitioners to its students
via the HRC located on campus.
In
the late 1970s, women’s health screenings
became an important part of the regular services offered to CSULB students,
according to Cannon.
Students insured by the university health program may schedule regular
Pap tests with the physicians at the HRC.
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