Cancer is a terrifying prospect for anyone, and early diagnosis is crucial for increasing the chances of survival. Unfortunately for sufferers of some cancers, their illnesses are not discovered until they have spread to other parts of the body. This is particularly true for ovarian cancer, one of the deadliest cancers affecting women. With common symptoms such as bloating, abdominal pain, and feeling full quickly, it is often mistaken for less critical conditions. However, maintaining a healthy weight is one key factor which could both improve the chances of early detection and survival, and reduce the risk of developing the disease in the first place.
This year, it is estimated that 21,290 women in the United States will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer, while 14,180 will lose their lives to the disease1. Numerous studies have indicated that an increased body mass index (BMI) is linked to a higher risk for ovarian cancer and a reduced chance of survival. This is particularly significant in America, where obesity is a significant and growing epidemic. More than 35 percent of women in the United States are classed as obese, meaning they face a double threat: a higher chance of developing and surviving ovarian cancer.
Researchers from the University of Notre Dame and affiliated Harper Cancer Research Institute (HCRI) sought to understand the link between BMI and ovarian cancer. They discovered crucial insights centered around mesothelial cells, the cells lining the abdomen. “In 3-D tissue culture models, we found that lipid-loading the mesothelial cells, or growing them in the presence of components that make up fat, increased the ability of tumor cells to bind to them,” says M. Sharon Stack, the study’s lead researcher.
To study this further, the research team used mice that had been fed a high-fat diet (40 percent fat) as part of a diet-induced obesity (DIO) protocol. They injected the mice with fluorescent ovarian cancer cells and monitored metastatic seeding in the abdomen using in vivo imaging. The results showed that obesity enhances ovarian cancer metastatic success.
The researchers hope that their study and others like it will lead to more effective therapies and interventions. In the meantime, maintaining a healthy weight is a vital step in reducing your risk of developing the disease and enhancing your chances of early detection if you are diagnosed.
However, it’s essential not to wait for a cancer diagnosis before taking action. Many experts believe that prevention is better than cure. Plenty of cancer-fighting foods, herbs, supplements, and integrative therapies are available to help ward off cancer and halt its spread. You can start using these natural options right away — on your own.
One well-known example is vitamin C. Studies are increasingly showing that vitamin C may cause cancer cells to die. Although you might not hear about these natural treatments from your doctor, alternative doctors and integrative medicine specialists have been using such methods to combat cancer — before and after diagnosis — for the past 30 years.
Reports indicate that as many as 91 percent of oncologists would refuse conventional treatment if they were diagnosed with cancer themselves2. Instead, they would likely seek more natural treatments as cancer doctors often receive rewards from pharmaceutical companies for recommending their drugs. The best approach is to be proactive, seeking out natural treatments and striving to maintain a healthy lifestyle. As the famous saying goes, “to thine own self be true” — and that’s excellent advice in sickness and in health.
