Ovarian cancer is cancer that starts in the ovaries. The ovaries are the female reproductive organs that produce eggs.
Ovarian cancer is historically called ‘silent killer’. The reason behind its being silent killer would be that the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer do not appear in its early stages. Even the diagnosis generally occurs in an advanced stage of the disease. For diagnosis too, surgery may be the only reliable means to establish whether a woman is affected with ovarian cancer or not! As far as treatment of ovarian cancer is worried, it is also done through surgery at all its stages together with some other cancer specific therapies.
You’ve probably come to these pages while you or someone you know has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. These pages are made to help you access the information you need, from dealing with a new diagnosis – when it can be difficult to take in information and make decisions, discovering what choices you have, to getting through treatments or coping with recurring ovarian cancer, we hope you will find these pages positive and helpful.
Here we will discuss the elaborate ways of diagnosis of ovarian cancer and also ovarian cancer treatment options.
Diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian cancer might not cause symptoms other than abdominal swelling. When the physician suspects ovarian cancer, a medical history, physical examination, as well as other tests will be performed to aid in the diagnosis.
Blood tests
Your doctor may order blood tests. The lab may look into the level of several substances, including CA-125. CA-125 is really a substance found on the surface of ovarian cancer cells and on some normal tissues. A high CA-125 level might be a sign of cancer or other conditions. The CA-125 test isn’t used alone to diagnose ovarian cancer. This test meets the approval of the Food and Drug Administration for monitoring a woman’s response to ovarian cancer treatment and for detecting its return after treatment.
Ultrasound
With an ultrasound test, doctor may want to know about the size, shape and configuration of the cancers inside the ovary. A transvaginal ultrasound may also be made by inserting an ultrasound probe into the vagina.
Physical exam
Your doctor checks general signs of health. Your doctor may press on your abdomen to check on for tumors or an abnormal buildup of fluid (ascites). An example of fluid can be taken to search for ovarian cancer cells.
Pelvic exam
Your doctor feels the ovaries and nearby organs for lumps or other changes in their shape or size. A Pap test belongs to a normal pelvic exam, but it is not used to collect ovarian cells. The Pap test detects cervical cancer. The Pap test isn’t used to diagnose ovarian cancer.
Treatment of Ovarian Cancer
Navigating and understanding treatment choices are critical for an ovarian cancer patient’s survival. All treatment decisions ought to be made by a patient in consultation together with her medical professional.
Chemotherapy
Patients undergo chemotherapy in an effort to kill any cancer cells that stay in the body after surgery.
Surgery
During surgery, doctors make an effort to remove all visible tumors (tumor debulking). The five-year survival rate and disease-free intervals of patients whose surgeon would be a gynecologic oncologist far surpass those of patients whose surgeons weren’t oncologists.
Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis
Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy
After surgery, Chemotherapy is suggested for ovarian cancer treatment, mostly within the advanced stage. Chemotherapy can also be done in earlier stages of ovarian cancer when the disease is high grade. Chemotherapy may also be accomplished for ovarian cancer that has come back (or recurred) following the first treatment.
During chemotherapy, anti-cancer drugs are administered to kill cancer cells. These drugs are usually given through a drip right into a vein. Sometimes tablets and capsules will also be given. At times, it may also be given directly into the abdomen which is known as intraperitoneal chemotherapy.