Don't Ignore the Warning Signs: Dr. Oz Tells How to Recognize Signs of Hepatitis, Ovarian and Uterine Cancer
Feb. 18, 2010— -- When it comes to silent killers of women, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer and hepatitis are particularly insidious. That's partly because these diseases show little or no specific symptoms, and they cause tens of thousands of deaths every year.
Dr. Mehmet Oz appeared on "Good Morning America" today to discuss the three diseases and tell you how you can recognize the symptoms.
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, and it's the number one cause of liver cancer, Oz said.
The liver is a major detoxifying organ – it creates proteins, stores energy and removes poisons. Hepatitis may be caused by viruses, alcohol, obesity, drug overdoses and even over-the-counter acetaminophen.
There are three types of hepatitis: Hepatitis A is transmitted through contaminated food, water or shellfish, and this type will show up quickly. Hepatitis B and C are sexually transmitted, or passed on through infected blood transfusions or needles, or from mother to child during pregnancy, he said.
Oz said some people can beat back the infection and others can't.
More than 150 million people around the world have hepatitis, and 15,000 Americans die of it every year.
Signs of hepatitis include fatigue, muscle aches, pale stools and dark urine and jaundice, which refers to yellowing of the skin and eyes.
The discoloration in urine, stool and skin occurs because the liver is no longer functioning properly. Because bile isn't getting in to the stools, they become a pale whitish color. The same pigment that should have been in stools instead goes into the urine, explaining its dark color. The pigment also passes into the skin, giving it a yellow appearance.
Uterine cancer is the top cancer of the reproductive system.
The National Cancer Institute estimated that there were 42,000 cases of the disease in 2009 -- and more than 7,700 deaths.
