Ovarian Cancer Treatment

Ovarian is the 5th leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women. More than 300,000 cases of Ovarian Cancer are recorded globally. Cancer is usually diagnosed in women above 35 years of age and is most common in the age group of 55 to 64 years. 

What is Ovarian Cancer?
Ovarian Cancer, as the name suggests, is cancer that originates from the cells of the Ovaries, which form a part of the female reproductive tract. These are broadly classified into 4 different types, i.e., epithelial ovarian cancer, germ cell ovarian tumours, sex cord-stromal tumours and borderline ovarian tumours. Ovarian Cancer is generally very aggressive and may even resist certain treatments if diagnosed at a later stage.

What are the symptoms of Ovarian Cancer?
The classic symptoms of Ovarian Cancer include:

• Bloating or swelling in the abdomen
• Unexplained loss of appetite
• Pelvic discomfort
• Persistent pain in the back
• Increased urge to urinate
• Pain during intercourse

When should you see a Specialist?
It is advisable to see a specialist as soon as you detect any of the above-mentioned symptoms. All these just point towards the possibility of you having ovarian cancer but are not definitive. In order to confirm whether a patient has ovarian cancer or not, doctors perform some physical examinations and tests. The sooner you consult a specialist, the quicker your diagnosis will be, leading to better treatment outcomes.

What causes Ovarian Cancer? 
There is no specific cause that can be pinpointed and it can be the result of several factors that can disrupt the normal functioning of the DNA, leading to abnormal cell reproduction. These factors include:

• Ageing 
• Being obese
• Having a late pregnancy 
• Never having a full-term pregnancy
• Taking hormones post menopause
• Family history of ovarian cancer 
• Personal history of cancer 

Modalities used for the diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer 

• Pelvic examination
• Blood analysis 
• Computerized tomography or CT scan
• X-ray of pelvis 
• Ultrasound
• Biopsy

Treatment options available for Ovarian Cancer

• Surgery (procedures like unilateral oophorectomy, bilateral oophorectomy and oophorectomy with hysterectomy)
• Radiation therapy
• Chemotherapy
• Targeted drug therapy 
• Immunotherapy