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- info@womenscancercentre.com
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This information includes common symptoms, type, diagnosis of ovarian cancer and treatment you may be offered. Being diagnosed with ovarian cancer is distressful for patient and her close relatives; our team will guide and support you throughout cancer journey. This leaflet is to supplement the support you will get.
Cancer is a disease of cells in the body that don’t have control over their growth. Normal cells grow and multiply in a systematic manner. The new cells are made only when they are needed. Due to changes in this normal process, cells don’t have control and they grow & multiply too quickly. As they grow more & more, they damage normal tissue and organs of the body.
Ovarian cancer occurs when normal cells in the ovary change into abnormal cells and grow disproportionately without any control. Ovarian cancer occurs most commonly in 50-60 years of age group, but can happen in younger (<20 years) or older women. Ovarian cancer is the 3rd most common female cancer in India. Sometimes ovarian cancer can be hereditary.
There are three types of ovarian cancer. Below information is for epithelial ovarian cancer which is most common (90%).
In most cases, the reason behind ovarian cancer is unknown. However, there are factors that can be responsible for ovarian cancer (Not having risk factors doesn’t mean that you won’t get cancer or having risk factors doesn’t mean that you will get cancer).
Symptoms of ovarian cancer can include:
These symptoms are common feelings. Conditions other than ovarian cancer might also cause these. But if you start feeling these symptoms and if they continue for more than a day or two, you should tell your doctor.
Many women don’t have symptoms of ovarian cancer, but they come to know when a growth is found.
These Investigations are used commonly to detect or suspect ovarian cancer.
Final diagnosis of ovarian cancer can be done by histo-pathological examination of ovarian tissue specimen only.
Cancer staging is a way in which doctors look at how far a cancer has spread. This is done by doing surgery.
Surgery and chemotherapy are essential pillars for ovarian cancer treatment and generally both are given in majority patients. For most women, surgery to remove cancer is the first treatment which is followed by chemotherapy if needed. Other women might need first treatment with chemotherapy followed by surgery according to the spread of ovarian cancer. Chemotherapy is a medical term for medicine that kills cancer cells and stops their growth.
If you want to have a baby after cancer treatment, tell your doctor at the time of diagnosis of cancer and before cancer treatment planning. Usually women with ovarian cancer are unable to get pregnant after treatment, but for some women it may be possible to plan treatment so that pregnancy is still possible.
After treatment, we will check you every 3-month interval for the first 2 years after treatment. This close follow-up visit intended to see if the cancer comes back. Follow-up visits usually include blood tests, examination and imaging tests. If you have symptoms similar to the time of diagnosis, then tell your doctor.
If the cancer comes back or spreads, you might require more surgery, chemotherapy or targeted therapy. Your doctor will give you more information and suitable option for treatment in this situation.
If ovarian, breast, prostate or pancreatic cancer runs in your family, talk to your doctor. There might be things you can do to keep from getting cancer or early diagnosis. Experts recommend ovarian cancer screening for patients with high risk for ovarian cancer.
It is important to follow all your doctors’ instructions about visits and tests. It’s also important to talk to your doctor about any side effects or problems you have during treatment. It is important to inform your doctor about any symptoms or side effects to follow his/her instructions carefully. Always express your expectations and feelings about treatment with your doctor. Anytime you are offered treatment plan, it is better to ask:
