Ovarian cancer is perhaps one of the most dangerous diseases because more than 80% of these cases are diagnosed in late stages. At that point, there’s also the chance that the cancer has metastasized, or spread to other parts of the body very quickly, often without the patient knowing. It is also the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths among women, with more than 22,000 U.S. women facing a potential diagnosis in the next few years, and around 15,000 die from it.
If it’s caught at an early stage (Stage 1-2), however, a woman has more than a 90 percent chance of long-term survival. Only about 20 percent of cases are caught in their early stage when the disease is most curable.
Although it seems Black women have a lower incidence rate of ovarian cancer than their white counterparts, it is unclear due to the fact that ovarian cancer detection tests are not sensitive enough for African American women. African American women are shown to have lower levels of circulating ovarian cancer markers (like the CA 125 protein), which makes it difficult for many tests to measure.
Key signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer that women should be aware of include bloating, pelvic or stomach pain, backaches, changes in eating habits or feeling full quickly, constipation, menstrual changes and pain during sex, according to The National Ovarian Cancer Coalition. While these signs aren’t direct indicators of cancer, if they continue for more than 14 days, women should pay close attention to them and mention their concerns to an OB/GYN immediately.
Since the symptoms of ovarian cancer are very unclear and could easily be conflated with other minor health issues, the fact still remains that these often-overlooked symptoms contribute heavily to ovarian cancer’s high rate of diagnoses at an advanced stage, thus requiring more aggressive, rigorous and invasive methods of treatment.
Another contributing factor to the disproportionate treatment in the Black community is that most African American patients aren’t aware of their family’s medical history.
In an interview with Ebony Magazine, Dr. Lisa M. Johnson, founder of Ivy Obstetrics & Gynecology in New York City said, “a lot of the symptoms that women experience as they age are considered acceptable changes that come with life. They don’t necessarily talk to their daughters or granddaughters about what they’ve experienced because that’s not considered proper.”
Johnson continued by saying that her young female patients say “‘Oh, my grandmother had a hysterectomy, but I don’t know why, or my cousin had cancer but no one will talk about it.’” She also said that this is often not the case when it comes to many of her white patients who come to her office with more than enough information about their family history, possibly because they feel more comfortable inquiring about the important information.
Dr. Johnson also suggested that Black women should get more comfortable researching their risk factors for developing ovarian cancer later in life. The National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, states that genetic predisposition, personal or family history of ovarian, breast, or colon cancer, increasing age, and undesired infertility all play into the susceptibility of developing ovarian cancer.
There are currently no FDA approved screenings for ovarian cancer, but there are three tests available to assess risk for ovarian cancer, one being OVA1. OVA1 may be the best option for African American women because other risk detection methods can’t accurately detect risk for ovarian cancer in African American women, ultimately leading to misdiagnosis and under-diagnosis.
It’s important to self-advocate so work closely with your doctor to keep an eye for potential warning signs and ask for the proper screening when a pelvic mass is discovered. Dig deep into your family’s history for clues and stay informed about the disease overall. For more information, please visit www.cancer.org/cancer/ovarian-cancer.
Jasmine Browley holds an MA in journalism from Columbia College Chicago, and has contributed to Ebony, Jet and MADE Magazine among others. So, clearly, she knows some stuff. Follow her digital journey @JasmineBrowley.