Ovarian Cancer Survivor Month: Doctor Calls for Better Awareness of the Symptoms

Ovarian cancer arises from ovary the female organ which produces eggs 

Ovarian cancer may be asymptomatic in the early stages and is usually picked up on imaging. It may cause nonspecific symptoms like abdominal bloating or swelling, weight loss, back pain, changes in bowel habits, such as constipation or frequent need to urinate

Cause of ovarian cancer is not known but there are factors that can increases the risk of ovarian cancer like older age, family history of ovarian cancer, breast cancer and colon cancer, obesity, inherited gene like BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations. These genes also increase the risk of breast cancer. Early age of menarche or late menopause, endometriosis or use of hormone replacement therapy may also increase the risk of ovarian cancer. IVF treatment also increases the risk of lowgrade ovarian tumours.

There's no sure way to prevent ovarian cancer. But there may be ways to reduce the risk like taking birth control pills or see a genetic counsellor in case of family history or having inherited BRCA mutation.

Diagnosis is made by ultrasound or CT scan abdomen and pelvis. Tumour markers like CA125 is a blood test which can provide clues about the diagnosis and prognosis. Sometimes diagnosis is made after the ovary has been removed in the surgery.

If the disease is detected and treated early survival is better.  Treatment depends on the general health of the patient, stage and type of the cancer. Most of the women require surgery. Surgery usually involves removal of both the ovaries, fallopian tubes and the womb, the layer of fatty tissue in the abdomen known as the omentum and the lymph nodes. 

If a women is desirous of pregnancy and is in the early stages conservative surgery can be performed. Option of embryo freezing or egg frezzing is also explained.

Chemotherapy is decided after the surgery.