Ovaries are the female
reproductive organs, which produces the eggs and any cancer that occurs in this
region are called ovarian cancer. This is the fifth most common cancer found in
women.
Cause:
The cause for the occurrence of this cancer is still not elusive.
Risk
Factors: The risk factors that has been identified to
increase the chance of occurrence of ovarian cancer will include cancer in the
family pedigree, age (if you are more than 55 years old) and never becoming
pregnant.
Symptoms:
The
symptoms of ovarian cancer will include –
·
abdominal swelling,
·
pressure or pain in the uterine region
or the lower tummy,
·
frequent urination, urinary urgency,
·
back pain,
·
leg pain,
·
unusual vaginal bleeding and
·
feeling of fullness in the tummy very
quickly.
The point to be noted
is that not that all of these symptoms indicate the presence of ovarian cancer
and neither all of these symptoms are present in the case of an ovarian cancer.
Ovarian cancer could also be a silent killer with no symptoms.
Some of the other
uncommon symptoms associated with ovarian cancer include digestive symptoms
like constipation, increased gas, indigestion, lack of appetite, nausea and
vomiting, weight gain or loss. One of the rarest symptoms that have been
related to ovarian cancer is the excessive hair growth which is dark and
coarse.
Signs
and Tests:
The normal examination
for ovarian cancer is hand examination observing for lumps in the abdominal and
the pelvic regions. However, in advanced stages the ovarian cancer exhibits
itself as swollen belly area with fluid accumulation, which is known as
ascites.
Other tests that are to
be performed if ovarian cancer is suspected includes
·
complete blood count and blood chemistry
·
pregnancy test
·
CT and/ or MRI of the abdomen and pelvic
region
·
Pelvic ultrasound
·
Pelvic laproscopy
·
Biopsy if unusual lumps are found – has
to be tested whether it is benign or not.
Stages
of Ovarian Cancer:
Stage
I: One
or both the ovaries are affected. The
surface of the ovaries maybe affected and fluid might be accumulated in the
abdominal region.
Stage
II: The
spread of the cancer from one or both of the ovaries to other organs in the
pelvic region. Fallopian tubes, uterus and other tissues in the pelvis and the
abdomen might be affected with cancerous cells.
Stage
III: Lymph nodes and regions outside the pelvic regions
are affected.
Stage
IV: This
is the final stage of ovarian cancer
spreading to the rest of the body.
Treatment:
1.
Surgery is the best option to treat any
kind and stage of the ovarian cancer, especially at the early stages. This is
the best option to remove any abnormal growth in the ovaries, even if
identified as harmless. Surgery will involve the following techniques:
·
Removal of ovaries and fallopian tubes
(depending on the type and the region of the ovary that is being affected
·
Partial or complete removal of the
omentum, the fatty layer in the abdominal region
·
Removal of affected lymph nodes.
2.
Chemotherapy is one of the best
treatments that could be deployed at the early stages of ovarian cancer and
could be employed when the cancer recurs.
3.
Radiation therapy is rarely used for the
treatment of ovarian cancer as this could damage the fertility of the tissue.
