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Ovarian Cancer - Symptoms and Treatment
The occurrence rate of ovarian cancer is relatively low, only 1.5 %, and it is only the 7th most common cause of cancer in women. However, cancer of the ovary is the leading cause of death from gynecologic malignancies and the 4th most common cause of cancer-related death in women.
Each year 20,000 new cases are diagnosed, and about 12,000 women will die in the U.S. from ovarian cancer. The peak incidence occurs in females in their 60's and 70's. Poor survival has been attributed to the fact that most women at the time of diagnosis already have extensive (widespread) disease.
The highest incidence of ovarian cancer is in the western industrialized countries, and the lowest incidence is in Japan and the Mediterranean countries. Risk is higher in women who have never had children, had difficulty conceiving, or had fewer pregnancies. No conclusive evidence has shown birth control pills (estrogens) increase the incidence of ovarian cancer. In fact, birth control pills may reduce the risk of developing ovarian cancer. The offspring of females who have ovarian cancer are at some increased risk for the disease, although this has been shown not to be as strong a risk factor as seen in the case of breast cancer.
Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer
Common symptoms include abdominal pain, increasing abdominal girth, and abnormal abnormal uterine bleeding. The symptoms have usually been present for a long time and ignored. Thus 75% of these tumors are widely disseminated at the time of diagnosis.
Evaluation and Treatment of Ovarian Cancer
Evaluation often involves CT scanning of the abdomen, ultrasound, or MRI scanning of the abdomen. Laparoscopy with biopsy of the ovary has been helpful in some cases. Other tests such as chest x-ray, cystoscopy, IVP, and barium enema have been used to assess the extent of cancer spread.
Treatment is based on the extent of tumor spread. Some combination of surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy are commonly used. Chemotherapy in advanced ovarian cancer has improved the five year survival to between 20 and 30%. The gynecological oncologist is the expert in the treatment of this disease.
Hope this article will provide you information about ovarian cancer.
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