PFAS Exposure and Ovarian Cancer
Recent studies have identified a strong link between exposure to PFAS and an increased risk for ovarian cancer. PFAS are forever chemicals, which means that once they are released into the environment, they persist there indefinitely. Similarly, once they get inside the human body, they remain there forever, being able to cause severe, potentially life-threatening diseases like ovarian cancer.
What is Ovarian Cancer?
Ovarian cancer is characterized by the growth of cells that forms in the ovaries. The cells multiply quickly and destroy healthy body tissues.
Ovarian cancer is the 5th leading cause of cancer death among women in the U.S. It is the deadliest cancer of the female reproductive system. Each year, about 21,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and nearly 14,000 die from the disease.
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Ovarian Cancer Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer may include:
- Abdominal bloating or swelling
- Quickly feeling full when eating
- Weight loss
- Discomfort in the pelvic area
- Fatigue
- Back pain
- Changes in bowel habits, such as constipation
- A frequent need to urinate
Treatment
In most cases, surgery is the main treatment for ovarian cancer, which is recommended when most of the cancer or affected tissue can be successfully removed. Certain patients with early-stage ovarian cancer may undergo minimally-invasive procedures to remove ovarian tumors and/or preserve fertility.
What is the Life Expectancy With Ovarian Cancer?
For all forms of ovarian cancer taken cumulatively, about 3 in 4 women with ovarian cancer live for at least 1 year after diagnosis. Almost half of the women with the disease are still alive at least 5 years after being diagnosed. Women diagnosed when they are under the age of 65 do better than older women.
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