Cancer is a deadly disease in which diseased cells in the human body multiply uncontrollably. Even if cancerous cells have spread all over the body, the cancer is named after the place where it first appeared in the body.
What is Ovarian Cancer?
Ovarian cancer is also a disease that originates in the ovaries or related areas of the fallopian tubes and peritoneum. group disease. Women have two ovaries, one on each side of the uterus, located in the pelvis. The ovaries are responsible for the production of female hormones and eggs in the female body.
In other words, the hormones produced in the ovaries provide the emergence of female characteristics. Women have two fallopian tubes, a pair of long and thin ones, on either side of the uterus. Eggs are produced in the fallopian tubes, pass through the ovaries to the uterus. The peritoneum is the lining of the tissue that covers the organs in the woman. Cancer that occurs anywhere in this structure is called ovarian cancer.
Even though there are many different cells in the structure of the ovary, epithelial cells form the basic structure of the ovaries. Cancer may occur as a result of the uncontrolled growth of epithelial cells or cells in the embryonic period. Postmenopausal cancer occurs mostly in epithelial cells.
Ovarian cancer or ovarian cancer is one of the most common cancer diseases in women. Studies by scientists have proven that ovarian cancer has an important place in female mortality rates. The main reason for this is that the diagnosis of the disease can only be made in the later stages. As with all progressive cancers, ovarian cancer is very difficult to treat. However, it is not a case that every patient will be diagnosed after the cancer has progressed. It has been determined that individuals who have regular health screenings have a very high recovery rate after early diagnosis.
Although cancerous cells are found in the ovary, they tend to suppress nearby organs if left untreated. If the masses formed due to cancerous cells spread to other organs, it is called metastasis. new tumors are formed. For this reason, treatment should be started quickly after the diagnosis of the disease.
What are the Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer?
The progression of ovarian cancer occurs in three stages:
1. In this stage, cancer cells appear in only one ovary. At this stage, the cancer has not spread to other organs yet. However, in the continuation of the first stage, cancer also affects the other ovary. Thus, the second phase of the 1st phase is completed. In the ongoing process, cancer cells exceed the limits of the ovary and cancer cells are seen outside the ovary.
2. In this stage, cancer cells reach the uterus and tubes and progress to the bladder and even the intestines. Towards the end of this stage, cancerous cells even reach the abdominal fluid by exceeding the ovarian border.
3. In stage 1, the cancer is now in the abdominal cavity and has surrounded the lymph nodes. It has spread to all nearby organs and metastasized. Because of all this, there is a constant feeling of swelling in the abdomen. In addition to this feeling of swelling, there is also physical swelling. Uncertain discomforts are felt in the pelvic and abdominal region. Loss of appetite is common, and a small amount of food eaten also causes a feeling of bloating.
Symptoms such as urinating more often than normal and incontinence also manifest themselves. Apart from these main symptoms, other symptoms include pain during sex, back pain, vaginal bleeding (especially in women after menopause), weight loss, constant fatigue and indigestion, and a feeling of sickness. Since the disease has many symptoms in this way, women need to know their body well. Because all symptoms other than normal conditions can be an opportunity for early diagnosis and are of vital importance.
What are the Causes of Ovarian Cancer?
The main cause of ovarian cancer is advancing age. The fact that the majority of cases occur after menopause is the main proof of this. Genetic factors are also very important in this type of cancer. Having a family history of cancer, especially previous ovarian cancer in a sister or mother, is one of the most important reasons that increase the risk of cancer.
It is the defect of the genes called BRCA1 and BRCA2 that causes cancer to occur. These defective genes increase the risk of ovarian cancer as well as increase the risk of breast cancer. However, this does not necessarily mean that genetic transmission will occur.
Research has shown that only one in ten diseases are caused by genetic reasons. Individuals who have also had breast cancer have a higher risk of developing ovarian cancer. The reason for this is the BRCA genes. Preventive treatments may be required to prevent this. Having one or more complete pregnancies is associated with a lower risk of ovarian cancer.
The more a woman is pregnant, the lower the risk. In addition, having a child after the age of 35 or not having a child at all, despite being desired, is directly proportional to the high risk rate. The risk may be increased in women using certain fertility treatments. However, it should not be forgotten that there are studies that prove this, as well as studies with opposite views.
Women using birth control pills or injectable contraceptive hormones are also in the low risk group. In addition, there are studies showing that obesity also increases the risk of cancer.
How to Diagnose Ovarian Cancer?
A simple screening method to detect ovarian cancer in women who do not show any signs or symptoms. there is none. However, when large-scale screening of the individual for any disease reveals any symptoms, diagnostic tests can be performed on that symptom. The purpose of these tests is to find out what is causing the symptom.
Pelvic examination is also widely used for the diagnosis of ovarian cancer. A high level of the hormone called CA-125 is a risk for cancer, blood tests are done to detect this. Again, MRI, ultrasound and tomography can be used to detect cancer cells. Sometimes, the specialist may request a biopsy or imaging of the ovaries by taking a piece of the ovary. In such cases, a small incision can be made in the abdomen with the method called laparoscopy, and the ovary can be examined with a camera, and a piece taken can be used for diagnosis by examining it with a microscope.
A complete blood count can give an expert opinion on many issues. Cancer occurs Blood tests are performed to detect increased HCG, alpha-fetoprotein produced by cancerous cells, and lactac dehydrogenase. Tests are also done to measure the levels of inhibin, estrogen, and testosterone that increase in cancerous condition. If it is known to be cancerous and it is desired to check whether it has spread, liver function tests and kidney function tests can be done. Ovarian cancer can be diagnosed by examining all these tests as a whole.
What are Ovarian Cancer Treatment Methods?
Ovarian cancer is treated surgically. If cancerous cells are only in the ovary, from these regions, if it has spread to the abdomen, samples are taken from the whole abdomen and cancerous areas are detected. These detected cancerous masses are surgically removed and chemotherapy is started after the surgery. If it is thought that the masses may damage other organs during the surgical intervention, chemotherapy is applied before the surgery. The aim of this treatment is primarily to shrink the cancerous tissues and to ensure that they are removed when they reach a level that will not harm other organs during surgical intervention.
It is very important to remove all the tissues in the abdomen. Because the chemotherapy that will be applied later will only provide better results in this way. Conducting the treatment in this way will increase the probability of recovery and survival of the patient. After the surgery, tests are done to see if the cancer has spread to other organs. If the cancer has not yet spread to other organs, chemotherapy can be abandoned.
However, if it spreads, chemotherapy or radiotherapy is applied regularly and the disease is tried to be treated. How long this treatment will take may vary from patient to patient. Treatment is very successful in the early diagnosis of the disease and the recovery rate of the patients is high. However, the risk increases as the treatment and diagnosis period is delayed.
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