Research Paper on:
Medical Views on Ovarian Cancer

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
not detected early enough to be treated successfully. And, while ovarian cancer does not seem to attack an enormous number of women, its numbers are high: "It causes more deaths  than any other malignancy of the female reproductive system, with 14,200 deaths currently estimated annually" (Igoe, 1997; p. 122). In the following paper we present a general overview of ovarian  cancer, discussing etiology, signs and symptoms, pathogenesis, therapy and prognosis. Etiology One of the most obvious factors that increase ones risk for ovarian cancer appears to be hereditary.  If a womans mother, or any other relative, has contracted ovarian cancer the chances are incredibly good that ovarian cancer is a very high possibility. It also appears as though  the women who have had breast cancer are at a greater risk for contracting ovarian cancer. Interestingly enough, however, new studies have discovered other factors which can contribute to a  greater risk, or a lesser risk. For example, it has been found that using the pill and having children reduce the risk. It has also been discovered that tubal ligations  and hysterectomies play a part in the reduction of risks. Aside from these facts, however, one fact remains valid and that is that any woman can get ovarian cancer. It  just so happens that some women are more at risk. Signs and Symptoms The problem with ovarian cancer, as mentioned, is that it is not diagnosed early enough  for treatment to be effective. This is due to the fact that signs and symptoms are not very obvious and can easily be tossed off as signs of growing older.  For example, a woman may experience a change in her menstrual cycle, perhaps it suddenly starts being longer. She may dismiss this as a sign of impending menopause or just