Our deepest condolences go out to Pierce Brosnan and his family as his beloved daughter, Charlotte, (both shown above) lost her 3-year battle with ovarian cancer, at the young age of 41. It is so sad to hear that another beautiful life has succumb to this terrible disease. Although ovarian cancer awareness month isn’t until September it’s important that EVERY woman EVERY DAY know the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer because it can affect any of us. Statistics from the National Cancer Institute report that 1 out of 100 women will get ovarian cancer in her lifetime. The risk goes up exponentially to 5 out of 100 if one family member has had ovarian cancer, and 7 out of 100 if two or three relatives have had it. Many of the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer are nonspecific, such as abdominal pressure, bloating, and pelvic pain. Only 20% of ovarian cancers are found before the tumor has spread beyond the ovaries. The frightening thing about ovarian cancer is that it is hard to detect early. Many times, women with ovarian cancer have no symptoms or just mild symptoms until the disease is in an advanced stage and is hard to treat.
According to the American Cancer Society, ovarian cancer ranks 5th in cancer deaths among women. The National Cancer Institute estimates that in 2013 more than 22,000 women in the United States will develop ovarian cancer, and more than 15,000 will die from the disease. Ovarian cancer usually occurs in women over age 50, but can also affect younger women. In the case of Pierce Brosnan’s daughter, Charlotte she had a strong family history as her mother, actress Cassandra Harris (pictured below) and grandmother both died from the disease, and she may have even have had a genetic mutation such as BRCA1 or BRCA2 which significantly increases one’s risk for ovarian cancer. Although the exact cause of ovarian cancer is unknown scientists are working hard to figure out genetic markers, and things that not only increase but also decrease our risk for developing this disease.
Pierce Brosnan and wife Cassandra Harris, Charlotte’s mother.
Because of the aggressive nature of ovarian cancer and the nonspecific symptoms it is important that women be aware of the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer, because the sooner ovarian cancer is found and treated, the better the chance for recovery.
For more information about ovarian cancer click here http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/ovary/page2 Become informed and help us stop ovarian cancer!
Dr. V