Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Mar 24: Ovarian cancer, often referred to as the “silent killer,” is emerging as a serious health concern among women in Jammu and Kashmir.
Doctors said that ovarian cancer is a disease in which abnormal cells grow in the ovaries—the organs responsible for producing eggs and female hormones. These cancer cells multiply rapidly and can spread to other parts of the body if not detected early. “Late diagnosis continues to claim lives due to low awareness and subtle symptoms,” they said.
Dr Maimoona Akhter a gynaecologist said that exact cause is not always known, but several factors increase the risk that includes increasing age (especially after menopause), Family history or inherited genes like BRCA1/BRCA2, Obesity and hormonal therapy, late childbirth or not having children, Lifestyle changes and reproductive patterns
Studies also highlight that changing lifestyles, delayed marriages, and reduced childbirth rates may be contributing factors.
Dr Shabeena an oncologist said: “We are seeing ovarian cancer increasingly among younger women in the Valley, which is a worrying trend and calls for urgent awareness.”
She said that one of the biggest challenges is that symptoms are vague and easily mistaken for common problems.
She said that the symptoms that shouldn’t be ignored include the persistent abdominal bloating, Pelvic or abdominal pain, feeling full quickly, frequent urination and back pain and fatigue.
She added that because these signs resemble digestive or menstrual issues, many women delay seeking medical help.
“Most women dismiss early symptoms as routine discomfort, which leads to diagnosis at advanced stages.” Doctors said.
They said that if not detected early, ovarian cancer can: spread to abdomen and other organs (metastasis), cause fluid accumulation (ascites), lead to severe weight loss and weakness and reduce survival chances significantly
They said that over 70% of patients are diagnosed in advanced stages, where survival rates are much lower.
They added that ovarian cancer constitutes a notable proportion of female cancers in Kashmir and the majority of patients are from rural areas while most cases present late (Stage III & IV).
They attributed this to lack of awareness, limited screening, and delayed referrals.
They said that there is no guaranteed way to prevent ovarian cancer, however doctors recommend: regular gynecological check-ups, awareness of family history, maintaining healthy weight and timely evaluation of persistent symptoms
“Awareness is the strongest weapon. Women must not ignore persistent bloating or pelvic discomfort.” they said.
Doctors said that treatment depends on the stage and type of cancer and usually includes surgery – to remove tumor and affected organs, chemotherapy – standard treatment after surgery, targeted therapy – newer drugs for specific cancer types and advanced treatments – like HIPEC and PARP inhibitors (in specialized centers).
They said that early-stage detection can push survival rates above 80%, but late-stage cases have significantly poorer outcomes.
