Ovarian Cancer Signs And Symptoms
Ovarian cancer diagnosis, the GP will examine you with one or more of the above complaints and if necessary refer you to a specialist. When there is a suspicion of ovarian cancer, the doctor first carries out a focused physical examination. If that first study reveals suspicious abnormalities, a vaginal ultrasound usually follows (research with sound waves where a device that emits sound waves is inserted into the vagina) and a blood test. Usually, in the case of ovarian cancer, a laparoscopy (looking operation) is also performed. During that examination, the doctor examines the abdominal cavity with a special viewing tube, a laparoscope. A biopsy can also be done immediately during a laparoscopy takes (removal of a piece of tissue to be examined in the labor containing cancer cells).
When diagnosed with ovarian cancer, the doctors want to know at what stage the disease is located, whether cancer has spread and if so, to which parts of the body. That helps the doctors to determine the treatment. That is why scans are taken. In a CT scan or computed tomography, detailed cross-sections of the body are taken with X-rays. With an MR-scan or MRI ( magnetic resonance imaging ) a magnetic field is generated with which images of the body's interior are made. In a PET scan ( positron emission tomography) a small amount of radioactive fluid is injected to make any tumors visible in the photo throughout the body.
Other investigations that can be performed to detect metastases and to determine the stage include an ultrasound of the liver, kidneys, ureters, and bladder, an X-ray of the lungs, a laparotomy (abdominal surgery) and a colonoscopy. In a laparotomy, the doctor examines the tumor by means of a cut in the abdominal wall and assesses the extent of the disease. The doctor can immediately proceed to the treatment during surgery (see surgery ). A colonoscopy is a specialized examination in which the doctor examines the inside of the colon using the flexible 'viewing tube' for the presence of malignant tumors.
Ovarian Cancer Stages
On the basis of the studies described above, the physician can determine the stage of the disease. That is the extent to which the disease has expanded in the body. We distinguish four stages for ovarian cancer. They are indicated with Roman numerals from I (initial stage) to IV (advanced stage). At stages I and II there are no metastases. In stage III there are metastases to the abdominal cavity, in stage IV there are metastases via the bloodstream to other organs, which in ovarian cancer only occurs in a small minority.
Ovarian Cancer Treatments
The ovarian cancer treatment is discussed and planned in a consultation where specialists from different disciplines and ideally also the GP are involved. This team of doctors, each from his or her own field of expertise, mainly takes into account the extent of the disease and the general condition of the patient for the choice of treatment. The attending physician then discusses the treatment proposal with the patient. In consultation with the patient, the treating physician records the final treatment.
The most commonly used treatments for ovarian cancer are surgery and treatment with medicines (chemotherapy or targeted therapy). The treating physician will usually recommend a combination of both treatments, depending on the nature, location, and extent of the tumor, the general condition and the age of the patient. Irradiation (radiotherapy) is rarely used in ovarian cancer.
If the disease is detected early, the specialist may suggest a curative treatment depending on the type of ovarian cancer, the location and the extent of the tumor. That is a treatment that is focused on healing.
However, if the disease can not be cured anymore, then a therapy is still possible. The aim of this treatment is to reduce the disease as far as possible and to keep it under control as long as possible in order to maximize survival and improve the quality of life. This is called palliative or non-curative treatment.
Sometimes different treatments are possible. In that case, do not hesitate to ask your specialist in detail about the advantages and disadvantages of the different treatments. When in doubt, a second opinion from another specialist can also be clarifying and useful.
*Image source : Genetics Home Reference - NIH
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