Oncology

Ovarian Cancer: Understanding Risks, Symptoms, and Treatment

admin Aug 30, 2024

What is ovarian cancer?

Ovarian cancer happens when abnormal cells in a female's ovaries grow as well as proliferate out of control.

Ovaries are part of reproductive system of woman. These two round, walnut-sized organs produce eggs during woman's reproductive years.

What are the symptoms of ovarian cancer?

Ovarian cancer can develop and spread throughout a woman's abdomen prior to it causing any symptoms. This can make early detection tough. Ovarian cancer symptoms may comprise:

Pelvic or abdominal pain, discomfort or bloating.
Changes in female's eating habits, getting full early as well as losing appetite.
Vaginal discharge/ unusual bleeding, especially if the bleeding happens outside of woman's typical menstrual cycle or post she has gone through menopause.
Bowel changes, such as diarrhoea or constipation.
An increase in the size of female's belly.
Peeing more often (or frequent urination).

Risk factors of ovarian cancer

The specific cause of ovarian cancer isn't yet explored. But few women have a slightly higher risk of developing the condition. Ovarian cancer risk factors comprise:

Being over the age of 60.
Obesity.
A medical/family history of ovarian cancer (others in woman's biological family have had the disease) or have inherited a gene alteration (BRCA1 or BRCA2) or Lynch syndrome.
Never being pregnant or bearing kids later in life.
Endometriosis.
There's also a raised chances/likelihood of developing ovarian cancer as woman grows older.

How is ovarian cancer diagnosed?

Despite years of research, scientists haven't yet developed a successful ovarian cancer screening test. For this reason, the condition is often tough to diagnose in the early stages.

If a woman's healthcare provider suspects ovarian cancer, they'll ask about symptoms as well as perform a pelvic exam. During the exam, they'll look for any abnormal growths or enlarged organs.

They may recommend additional tests comprising:

Imaging tests

Providers may utilise several imaging tests, comprising:

Pelvic ultrasound.
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging).
CT scan (computed tomography).
PET scan (positron emission tomography).

Blood tests

Surgical evaluation

Laparoscopy

What are the stages of ovarian cancer?

There are four stages of cancer affecting the ovaries. In this cancer staging system, the lowest number depicts the least severe condition, whereas higher numbers depict more advanced stages of the disease.

Stage I: This stage is categorised into three sub-stages (Stage IA, Stage IB as well as Stage IC). In the case of the first sub-stage, cancer is present only in one ovary/one oviduct. Stage IB has cancer in both ovaries/fallopian tubes. In Stage IC, cancer is found in both ovaries/oviducts as well as is found outside of woman's ovary (on the outside of the organ itself or in the space surrounding the ovary, referred to as the peritoneal cavity).

Stage II: This stage is also classified into a few additional stages. In case of Stage IIA, the cancer is no longer only in woman's ovary but has also spread to female's womb. In Stage IIB, the cancer has disseminated to other nearby structures in woman's pelvis.

Stage III: This stage comprises three sub-stages. In Stage IIIA, the cancer has disseminated beyond woman's pelvis to her belly (microscopically)/within lymph nodes. The second sub-stage (Stage IIIB), the tumour - dimension - is up to 2 centimetres in size as well as has spread beyond her pelvis or within her lymph nodes. In case of Stage IIIC, the cancer has moved outside of woman's pelvis area as well as is larger in size (more than 2 centimetres) or may be within woman's lymph nodes. At this point, it could affect other organs, like woman's liver and spleen.

Stage IV: During this stage, the cancer is most severe. In this stage, the cancer has spread to the inside of vital organs like liver or spleen. In Stage IVA, it's detected near woman's lungs, as well as in Stage IVB, the cancer has disseminated to the lymph nodes of woman's groin or into her chest.

How is ovarian cancer treated?

The objective in treating cancer is to take out as much, if not all, cancer from female’s body as possible. Predominant ovarian cancer treatments comprise:

Surgery. This typically involves the removal of female's reproductive organs as well as any organ that has cancer on it. The surgeon may utilise laparoscopy (a minimally invasive surgery) or laparotomy (open surgery that needs an abdominal cut).

Chemotherapy. Healthcare provider may recommend chemotherapy either prior to or post-surgery. Chemotherapy are drugs designed to target as well as destroy cancerous cells. Healthcare provider may give woman chemotherapy intravenously (through a vein) or orally (in pill form).

Targeted therapy. This cancer treatment utilises drugs to recognise as well as attack cancer cells. Targeted therapy alters the way cancer cells grow as well as divide.

Hormone therapy. Few ovarian cancers utilise hormones to grow. This type of therapy inhibits hormones, slowing or stopping the growth of cancer.

Radiation therapy. Healthcare providers rarely utilise radiation therapy for treatment of ovarian cancer.

In a nutshell, Ovarian cancer begins in woman's ovaries — small organs in the reproductive system of females where eggs form. Ovarian cancer is sometimes tough to detect because symptoms often don't develop until later stages. Healthcare professionals treat ovarian cancer with surgery, chemotherapy as well as other cancer treatments.