Leon Barretto

May 8 is observed as World Ovarian Cancer Day. World Ovarian Cancer day is an initiative of the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition. World Ovarian Cancer Day is celebrated to spread awareness of the disease and the struggles of patients, their families and friends with the fatal disease. Ovarian cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the ovaries. Ovarian cancer grows quickly and can progress from early stages to advanced within a year. It has 4 stages. Ovarian cancer has a teal color.

Ovarian cancer is the seventh most commonly diagnosed cancer in women worldwide with over 250,000 new cases a year. It's not clear what causes ovarian cancer, though doctors have identified factors that can increase the risk of the disease. Ovarian cancer has been termed the silent killer because its presenting symptoms are often mistaken for other benign conditions, particularly the ones that affect the gastrointestinal system, or simply changes in a woman's body as she ages.

Types of ovarian cancer

The type of cell where the cancer begins determines the type of ovarian cancer you have. Ovarian cancer types include:

• Epithelial tumors, which begin in the thin layer of tissue that covers the outside of the ovaries. About 90 percent of ovarian cancers are epithelial tumors.
• Stromal tumors, which begin in the ovarian tissue that contains hormone-producing cells. These tumors are usually diagnosed at an earlier stage than other ovarian tumors. About 7 percent of ovarian tumors are stromal.
• Germ cell tumors, which begin in the egg-producing cells. These rare ovarian cancers tend to occur in younger women

According to a study published in the journal Nutrition and Cancer, including more vegetables in your diet, Vitamin A, can reduce your risk of ovarian cancer. According to the study, women who ate any kind of vegetables had a 40% reduced risk of cancer. Include these 5 vegetables in your diet to reduce your cancer risk.

• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Kale
• Cabbage