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Ovarian Cancer and Elders – What You Need to Know

Elder Care in Wilton Manors FL: Older adults are more prone to developing chronic medical conditions, including cancer. One type of cancer they may be at risk for developing is ovarian cancer.

Elder Care in Wilton Manors FL

Older adults are more prone to developing chronic medical conditions, including cancer. One type of cancer they may be at risk for developing is ovarian cancer. This disease occurs when a tumor grows on an ovary. It is not always easy to notice early symptoms of ovarian cancer because they are very subtle, but getting yearly exams from their doctor will help the doctor find the tumor before the disease progresses.

If your loved one is diagnosed with ovarian cancer, making the right choices for their health will help them battle this disease. However, you may want to consider hiring caregivers to help your loved one with chores and other tasks they are unable to accomplish on their own. This caregiver can also help keep the elder comfortable and provide transportation to and from doctor’s appointments.

The best thing you can do for your loved one is educate yourself on ovarian cancer. Here is some information that will help you better understand the senior’s condition.

 

Risk Factors

You may not fully know what caused your elderly mom to develop ovarian cancer, but there are some risk factors that may have played a role.

  • Increasing age
  • Smoking
  • Overweight or obese
  • Lack of physical activities
  • Use of talcum powder
  • History of infertility or use of fertility drugs
  • Late menopause
  • Family history
  • Exposure to asbestos
  • Hormone replacement therapy

 

Testing

There a number of tests and screenings that can be conducted to formally diagnose the elder with ovarian cancer. This includes:

  • CA 125. A CA 125 test consists of a pelvic or abdomen ultrasound. This may help the doctor locate the tumor.
  • CT scan. A CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis may be necessary if the CA 125 test is not successful. A CT scan can help determine the extent of the disease.
  • MRI. An MRI may be used with a CT scan in order to get an image of other pelvic tumors.

 

These are just a few tests that can be done, but the elder should discuss other options with their physician.

 

Treatment

There are several treatment options for ovarian cancer, like:

  • Surgery: The doctor may suggest performing surgery to remove the malignant tumor.
  • Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is an aggressive treatment that can increase the senior’s survival rate. It is typically suggested for women with Stage II-IV ovarian cancer after surgery.
  • Radiotherapy. Another aggressive treatment option is radiotherapy. It may be used for elders in the early stages of the disease in order to reduce the size of the tumor.

 

Ovarian cancer can be a terrifying experience for both the senior and their caregiver, but there is still hope. You may want to consider joining a support group in order to get more advice on how to fight this condition and what to expect.

If you or a family member are in need of elder care in Wilton Manors, FL, call the caring professionals at Star Multi Care today at (954) 870-4770. Providing service in Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Weston, Southwest Ranches, Pembroke Pines, Cooper City, Lighthouse Point, and Wilton Manors.

 

Source: http://patient.info/doctor/ovarian-cancer-pro

Stephen Sternbach

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