Ovarian cancer is a cancer that forms in an ovary. Its often termed a "Silent Killer" because its symptoms do not cause alarm amongst the women till it has already reached an advanced stage. Early detection of ovarian cancer offers a 90% cure rate. Sadly, a lack of symptoms from this silent disease means that about 75% of ovarian cancer cases will have spread to the abdomen by the time they are detected.
Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer
Symptoms of ovarian cancer are not specific to the disease, and they often mimic those of many other more-common conditions, including digestive and bladder problems.
When ovarian cancer symptoms are present, they tend to be persistent and worsen with time. Signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer may include:
- Abdominal pressure, fullness, swelling or bloating
- Pelvic discomfort or pain
- Persistent indigestion, gas or nausea
- Changes in bowel habits, such as constipation
- Changes in bladder habits, including a frequent need to urinate
- Loss of appetite or quickly feeling full
- Increased abdominal girth or clothes fitting tighter around your waist
- A persistent lack of energy
- Low back pain
Types of Ovarian Tumors
Types of Ovarian Cancer :-
Epithelial Ovarian Tumors : Epithelial ovarian cancer is the most common type of ovarian cancer, accounting for up to 90% of epithelial ovarian cancers. Epithelial ovarian cancer is named after the epithelial cells that line the ovaries. This type of cancer originates in the epithelium.
Germ Cell: varian Tumors are derived from the egg producing cells within the body of the ovary. This occurs primarily in children and teens and is rare by comparison to epithelial ovarian tumors.
Sex Cord Stromal Tumors: Stromal cord tumors begin in the connective tissue responsible for the production of estrogen and progesterone. This kind of tissue also holds the ovaries in place. Sex cord stromal tumors can affect women of any age.
Diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer
- Blood tests, including complete blood count (CBC), liver and kidney function test.
- A pelvic exam is performed by the doctors checking the vagina, uterus, ovaries, bladder, and rectum for Endometrial Cancer (Uterine Cancer). An instrument called a speculum is used to widen the vagina so the doctor can see the upper portion of the vagina and the cervix.
- The Pap Smear test is often performed during a pelvic exam. The doctor uses a wooden scraper (spatula) or small brush to collect a sample of cells from the cervix and upper vagina. The cells are then sent to a medical laboratory to be checked for abnormal changes.
- A Biopsy may be needed for a definitive diagnosis where the surgeon performs a laparotomy and removes a sample of tissue. A pathologist examines the tissue to check for cancer cells, hyperplasia, or other conditions.
- CA-125 assay (for Ovarian Cancer) is a blood test used to measure the level of CA-125, a tumor marker that is often found in higher-than-normal amounts in the blood of women with ovarian cancer.
Treatment of Ovarian Cancer
Sex Cord Stromal Tumors:The main treatments for ovarian cancer are surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. In some cases two or even all of these treatments will be recommended.
Surgery for Ovarian Cancer:The surgeon may usually perform a Laparotomy (through an abdominal incision) or Laparoscopy Assisted Biopsy (Minimally Invasive procedure where a tube containing a light and camera is inserted into the pelvic cavity through a small incision).
A sample of the tumor is excised and examined immediately under a microscope to confirm ovarian cancer and rule out malignancy. Once ovarian cancer is confirmed, surgeon may decide to perform a suitable procedure like a Hysterectomy (removal of the uterus [womb], bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (removal of the fallopian tubes and ovaries on both sides), omentectomy (removal of the fatty tissue that covers the bowels) or lymphadenectomy (removal of one or more lymph nodes).
Chemotherapy:Involves modern cancer drugs that are administered intravenously or orally to kill cancer cells and to reduce the chances of the tumour returning elsewhere in the body.
Radiation therapy:India's leading Cancer hospitals now have some of the world's most advanced radiation equipment like Linac, Novelis, Gamma Knife and Cyberknife for treating ovarian Cancers. High technology radiation is used to kill cancer cells without affecting the healthy tissues.
Highly Advanced Minimally Invasive Surgery for Ovarian Cancer at Super Speciality Hospitals in India
This is definitely the treatment of choice for early Ovarian cancer. The procedure is also useful in certain cases of recurrent Ovarian cancer that require extensive radical resection, including partial or complete exenteration or removal of the pelvic organs. If the tumor appears to be confined to the ovary, your doctor may recommend a minimally invasive procedure called laparoscopy for biopsy and tumor removal. It allows the surgeon to remove all or parts of your tumor using several small incisions rather than one large incision.
A thin, lighted tube with a camera at its tip (called a laparoscope) is inserted through a tiny incision in the abdominal wall. Guided by the highly magnified image generated by the camera, the surgeon can take a sample of the tissue using specially designed surgical instruments. Like the open surgical procedure laparotomy, laparoscopy can be used to stage (to determine the extent of the tumor) and to remove cancerous tissue.
LAPAROSCOPIC
- Small Incisions (less than ½ an inch)
- Pelvic discomfort or pain
- Patients usually return to work in 5 to 10 days
- Lesser Risk of Infection
- Less Pain
- Less Chance of Hernias
OPEN
- Large Incision (20 cm)
- Hospital stay of about 5 days
- Return to work in about 4 weeks
- Greater Risk of Infection (less than ½ an inch)
- More Painful
- More Chance of Hernias
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