Ovarian cancer is the uncontrolled growth of the cells of one or both the ovaries in the female body. If detected early, ovarian cancer is treatable. Majority (more than 90%) of the ovarian cancers are of epithelial type, i.e. they are caused due to the uncontrolled growth of outermost layer cells of the ovary. Ovaries are the glands present in the female body which are responsible for the formation and expulsion of egg cells that if fertilized are capable of forming zygote (a new life). This zygote then develops in the uterus to from a baby in 9 months’ time. Ovaries are the most important organ in the female body that takes part in the reproductive process. Ideally (omitting exceptions) an ovary produces one egg at a time and alternatively every month. In this article, we will see the causes, risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment options of ovarian cancers.
Causes of ovarian cancer
Even after lots of research on ovarian cancer, the extract cause of it is still unknown. It is believed that ovarian cancer could be caused due to the mutations in the DNA. Genetics play a vital role in the development of ovarian cancer. Heredity, it seems, plays a vital role in ovarian cancer. You could be more susceptible to develop ovarian cancer, if your parents or any relatives had it.
Risk factors
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It is an interesting fact that the women who have had children are less likely to have ovarian cancer as compared to the women who has none.
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Breastfeeding also reduces the risk of ovarian cancer.
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Hysterectomy reduces and the removal of fallopian tubes and ovaries shows reduction in not only the risks of ovarian cancer in women but also reduction in the chances of breast cancer.
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Closure of fallopian tubes (tubal ligation) has shown 72% reduction in the cases of ovarian cancers who are at the risk of ovarian cancer.
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The regular use of oral contraceptives for more than 5 years also helps reduce the risk factor of developing ovarian cancer by 50% in the later stages of the life.
Symptoms of ovarian cancer
Although in most of the cases, ovarian cancer goes unnoticed as it may not cause any initial noticeable symptoms. But in other cases, few woman experience wide array of symptoms that may appear to the patient with ovarian cancer and the commonly seen are:
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Pain in the abdomen or pelvis
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Frequent bloating
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Indigestion or fullness after eating
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Urinary urgency
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Tiredness/fatigue
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Constipation
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Abdominal or vaginal bleeding
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Unintentional weight loss
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Pain while intercourse
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Back pain
It must be noted that most of the symptoms are very common but makes it very difficult to rule out a case of ovarian cancer. A set of the above mentioned symptoms, if seen together, might suggest the doctor that it could be ovarian cancer.
Diagnose ovarian cancer
A doctor might feel a lump on the ovary area during a routine pelvic examination. Ultrasonography also can reveal the presence of a lump in or on the ovary. Although most of the lumps found are not cancers but it requires a further confirmation through biopsy. This is an invasive method of using a needle to collect a sample of the suspected tumor that is then examined microscopically to confirm its histology. Cancer antigen 125 (CA 125) is a blood test sometimes performed in the high-risk women to diagnose the presence of ovarian cancer in the early phase. CA 125 though is not specific to ovarian cancer only, it can be positive in many kinds of other cancers too, like uterine fibrosis, endometriosis, etc. therefore require confirmation with other tests.
Treatment options
Surgical removal of the tumor is the main option available to get rid of ovarian cancer. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy is another options available and the choice depends upon the doctor and the type of cancer found. For the patients detected with advanced ovarian cancer, the combination of surgery to reduce the tumor size and chemotherapy is used. In the patients with advanced ovarian cancer, radiation therapy is not a wise option because high density radio waves will then be required that may harm the vital organs in the proximity. Chemotherapy is considered to be the standard regimen for the treatment of ovarian cancer for decades which is started often after the surgical removal of the tumor and treating any residual tumor cells with chemotherapy.
