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Ovarian cancer has emerged as one of the most common malignancies affecting
women in India and has demonstrated an increase in the incidence rates over the
years. Ovarian cancer doesn’t have a high profile unlike that of a breast
cancer, but it’s one of the most serious issues for women globally – and the
fifth most common cancers diagnosed in women overall that leads to the maximum
number of deaths in Gynecological Cancers.
The fact that ovarian cancer has vague symptoms makes it difficult to identify
the symptoms which are often unseen until the disease has progressed
significantly. It is additionally alluded to as one of the silent killers. Women
who are diagnosed when they are younger tend to have a poorer survival rate than
those older than 60 years in cases of epithelial cancers. The younger patients
often however suffer from non-epithelial ovarian cancers which have a better
prognosis
Risk factors of Ovarian Cancer
The risk of developing ovarian cancer in the course time for women is about 2%.
However, some women have a greater risk of developing it which is why it’s
important to be aware about the symptoms of ovarian cancer. Different cancers
have different risk factors although there are some risks associated with more
than one cancer.
- Age
- Family history
- Reproductive history
Other Ovarian Cancer risk factors include –
- Being overweight
- Using Hormonal Replacement Therapy (HRT)
- Diabetes
- Smoking
Signs and symptoms of Ovarian Cancer
The symptoms of ovarian cancers are frequently ambiguous and non-particular. The
following symptoms in ladies over 50 years old should raise doubt of ovarian
tumor.
- Bloating
- Pelvic or abdominal pain
- Trouble eating or feeling full quickly
- Urinary symptoms such as urgency (always feeling like you have to go) or
frequency (having to go often)
If these symptoms are evident, persistent and frequent, you should get further
evaluation done.
How is ovarian cancer treated?
In younger age groups (below 35), the ovarian tumors are usually benign
(Non-cancerous), borderline or cancers like germ cell tumors or sex cord Stromal
tumors. In these cases, fertility preservation surgery can be done.
The standard investigation for ovarian cancer includes tumor markers namely CA
125 and CA 19.9 in epithelial ovarian cancer and AFP, bHCG, and LDH in germ cell
tumor, MRI of abdomen (if there is any ovarian pathology in sonography).
Contrary to old Paradigms, the recent studies have shown that upfront surgery
followed by chemotherapy provides the highest survival result. If the patient is
fit to undergo a major surgery, the patient is evaluated for a supra-major
surgery called cytoreduction and the complete removal of disease in this
cytoreduction surgery is usually followed by 6 cycles of chemotherapy which is
associated with the highest survival rates.
Newer technologies like HIPEC and PIPAC are now available for ovarian cancer
which have recurred many times and also those which are resistant to
conventional chemotherapy.
The most ideal approach to ovarian cancers in being aware of the vague symptoms,
getting these symptoms assessed at the earliest and in case of proven Ovarian
cancer to get treated from a certified gynecologic oncologist who are trained at
giving the best and latest treatment.
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