Ovarian Cancer Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Understanding
Ovarian cancer is cancer that grows and develops in the ovaries or ovaries, the two organs that are on the right and left sides of the uterus. This cancer can occur in middle-aged women and women who have advanced.
There are three main types of ovarian cancer, namely:
- Epithelial cell cancer. Epithelial cells cover the outer layer of the ovary. Eighty-five percent of ovarian cancer cases are of this type.
- Germ cell cancer. Germ cells are cells in the ovaries that can develop into eggs. This type of cancer often occurs in young women. This type of ovarian cancer has a fairly high cure rate.
- Stromal cell cancer. Stromal cell cancer occurs in the connective tissue that forms the inside of the ovaries. This type of cancer also has a high cure rate.
Ovarian cancer has four stages, namely:
- Stage I. Cancer can be found on the surface of the ovaries.
- Stage II. Cancer involving 1/2 part of the ovary which may extend to the pelvis (womb, fallopian tubes, bladder, colon).
- Stage III. Cancer has spread beyond the pelvic cavity to the abdominal wall, abdominal organs, small intestine, lymph nodes, and surface of the liver.
- Stage IV. The last phase of ovarian cancer. The cancer has spread to distant organs –such as the spleen, lungs, liver (internal).
Symptoms
Symptoms of ovarian cancer (ovarian cancer) are often not very clear at first. As many as 60% of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer are in an advanced stage of the disease.
In general, it is rare to find early symptoms in this cancer – even if there are, they are usually vague. These symptoms include swelling in the abdomen, always feeling bloated, pelvic pain, fatigue, weight loss, constipation (constipation), and irregular menstrual bleeding.
There are several other signs that you should also suspect. For example, back pain for no apparent reason, anorexia, and vaginal bleeding when you are not menstruating.
Reason
The causes of ovarian cancer (ovarian cancer) are still being studied. However, there are several theories that explain the mechanism of ovarian cancer.
The first theory explains the minor trauma that continues during the ovulation cycle (egg release cycle every month). The second theory explains that the exposure of the ovaries to gonadotropin hormones can increase the risk of malignancy.
Next is the third theory. This theory explains the contact of carcinogens to the ovaries through the reproductive tract. Carcinogens are substances that can stimulate the occurrence of malignant growth of cancer cells.
Some of the factors associated with an increased risk of ovarian cancer are:
- individual risk factors. Women aged 40 years who only have 1 child or no children, a history of breast cancer or endometrial cancer can increase the risk of ovarian cancer.
- Family history. Women with a family history of breast, ovarian, endometrial, or colon cancer also have an increased risk for ovarian cancer.
- Environmental factor. Several studies suggest that intake of foods containing animal fats such as red meat and chicken in large quantities can increase the risk of getting ovarian cancer.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of ovarian cancer (ovarian cancer) is obtained after the doctor collects information, physical examination and supporting examinations. Information gathering usually includes a family medical history and the presence of symptoms that are suspected signs of ovarian cancer
Blood tests, ultrasound examinations (USG), and biopsies can help clarify the picture of this disease. The ultrasound examination that the doctor will recommend for you includes the abdomen and the area around the intimate organs.
Positive test results for ovarian cancer are usually followed by further tests. Follow-up examinations such as colonoscopy, CT scan, MRI, and chest X-ray are needed to determine the stage and development of cancer.
Complications
Ovarian complications (ovarian cancer) that can occur are spread to various organs of the body. To find out whether the cancer has spread, imaging tests are needed.
Treatment
Treatment of ovarian cancer (ovarian cancer) is very dependent on the stage of cancer, type of disease, choice of therapy, and body condition.
- Atypical ovarian cancer. Atypical cancer has different characteristics from other types of malignant ovarian cancer. Usually found in women aged 40 years (malignancy at the age of 60 years). About 20% of early stages can spread to the stomach and require surgical treatment. Patients with atypical ovarian cancer with an early stage who still want to maintain their fertility can do a unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. This is a surgical procedure to remove ovaries that contain cancer.
- Early stage. The early stages of ovarian cancer are stages I and II. Therapy that can be done at this stage is surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation.
- Advanced stage. This stage always requires optimal surgical therapy followed by chemotherapy after surgery. The goal is to increase the survival rate of sufferers. Radiation of the entire abdomen can be an alternative to chemotherapy.
- Relapsed ovarian cancer. Patients with relapsed ovarian cancer require a second operation with chemotherapy using a different agent. Hormonal therapy may also be used. Therapies that are still under research are stem cell therapy, immunotherapy using interferon, and genetic therapy.
Prevention
You can do some of the following tips as a preventive measure for ovarian cancer (ovarian cancer):
- Having more than 1 child, using at least 1 contraceptive pill, having the fallopian tubes tied, and hysterectomy (removal of the uterus).
- Consume adequate amounts of vegetables, vitamin A and vitamin C.
- Carry out periodic checks. Annual pelvic examinations can be used for early detection of ovarian cancer which does not have high sensitivity.