Ovarian cancer – symptoms, treatment and causes of ovarian cancer

Proven content

Ovarian cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women living in highly industrialized Western countries and the leading cause of death in people with genital cancers. The causes of this cancer are not entirely clear. It is known, however, that it can occur at any stage of life, and the highest number of cases is recorded among women who have not yet given birth.

Ovarian cancer – causes

The causes of ovarian cancer are unknown.

This cancer occurs in women of all ages, both in childhood and older age, but it is rare over the age of 75. Ovarian cancer most often affects women between the ages of 40 and 70, with the highest percentage of cases occurring in the 50–60s. year of life. A high risk of malignant transformation of the ovarian epithelium occurs in women with normal and uninterrupted ovulation. It has also been observed that the incidence of ovarian cancer is higher in women who have not yet given birth and those who have rarely become pregnant.

Other factors that may influence the occurrence of ovarian cancer are presented below.

1. It has been shown that the risk of ovarian cancer decreases with the number of births, and that each subsequent pregnancy reduces the risk of cancer by 10-15%. The protective effect of anovulation may be related to the reduction in the number of inclusion cysts.
2. Some authors have argued that both the early onset of menstruation and the late age of menopause increase the risk of ovarian cancer. Treatment of infertility with drugs that stimulate ovulation also increases the likelihood of developing cancer.
3. Some infertile, non-ovulating women, despite the protective role of anovulation, are at increased risk of ovarian cancer due to undefined disorders.
4. It is also believed that gynecological operations, such as: hysterectomy or unilateral adnexectomy, reduce the risk of ovarian cancer. It is worth mentioning that complete removal of the ovaries does not provide 100% protection against cancer, which can develop from peritoneal epithelial cells, primary cells from the ovary, fallopian tube and peritoneum, as well as ovarian endometriosis “splinter” after their removal.
5. The use of oral contraception lowers the risk of ovarian cancer. It has been noticed that the protective effect of contraception starts after six months of its use and the longer the contraceptive pill is taken.
6. A specific blood group plays a role in ovarian cancer. It has been proven that women with blood group A suffer much more frequently from malignant neoplasms of the ovary than women with blood group 0.
7. Diet is also important. High consistency in the daily diet of milk, butter, eggs, vegetable and animal fats – increases the risk of ovarian cancer, while vegetables, fish and brown bread – reduce this risk.

Ovarian cancer inheritance

A large number of cases of ovarian cancer are the so-called sporadic cancer, which is influenced by environmental factors, but 5-10% of patients with this cancer have a family predisposition. Hereditary ovarian cancer occurs in people in whom at least two patients (first or second degree related) have been identified in the family.

In addition, three genetically dominant autosomal syndromes have been identified that determine the risk of ovarian cancer:

1. local-specific ovarian cancer (HOC),
2. hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC),
3. Lynch II syndrome.

All types of familial ovarian cancer occur in women younger than those who develop sporadic cancer.

The most inherited neoplasms

The most common of the inherited syndromes is breast cancer and ovarian cancer syndrome. It is most often associated with a mutation in the BRCA 1 gene or, less frequently, with the BRCA 2. Women with a genetic predisposition are more than 90% prone to developing breast or ovarian cancer. Today’s medicine is able to recognize the mutations in genes that are responsible for the development of ovarian cancer, both for research and on a mass scale. Mass testing for mutations allows the identification of women at increased risk of ovarian cancer, and this in turn allows for the initiation of medical treatment. However, this kind of research is very costly.

If you want to test for the BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 gene mutation, you can purchase a mail-order genetic test through Medonet Market.

Diagnosis of ovarian cancer

The quiet development of ovarian cancer, the localization of the ovary hindering its examination, and the lack of certain screening methods mean that the cancer is very often diagnosed at an advanced stage. Five-year survival in this group ranges from 15 to 25%, while if the disease is limited to the ovary, the chances of a cure increase to 80-95%. If all stages of ovarian cancer are taken into account, the chances of curing this disease in Western countries are almost 40%.

Detection methods

1. Gynecological examination – is the main method to help detect ovarian tumors. It allows you to determine the size of the lesion, its consistency, mobility and the relationship to the surrounding organs. The onset in women who are one year after the menopause of the investigated ovaries is termed test ovary syndrome after menopause (PMPOS). Then, very detailed diagnostics should be carried out. It is worth mentioning that the accuracy of the gynecological examination depends on many factors, such as: the patient’s cooperation during the examination, obesity, intestinal and bladder filling, and therefore it is not an accurate method, especially in the case of small ovarian tumors.

2. Imaging tests – they include transabdominal ultrasound supplemented with a vaginal probe, which allows to reveal the presence of a tumor, its diameter, determine the structure of the lesion, infiltration of adjacent organs, the presence of fluid and metastases to other abdominal organs. Ultrasound is of great value especially in women after the menopause, in whom the image of the ovaries is characterized by relatively little variability and therefore it is easier to analyze and detect even small pathological changes. Women who have not yet undergone menopause show high variability in ultrasound images of the ovary, and therefore their proper assessment is often difficult.

ultrasound performed with the help of a color Doppler examination to assess the flow in the tumor vessels. It supplements the possibilities of ultrasound to differentiate between benign and malignant lesions.

Computed tomography it is most often performed as a supplement to ultrasound examination, especially in obese women with a predisposition to accumulate gases in the intestines. Thanks to tomography, ovarian tumors can be detected when their diameter is approx. 1 cm.

Using ultrasound and CT scan, diagnostic fine-needle aspiration biopsy can be performed. On the other hand, urographic examination of the kidneys presents diagnostic values ​​useful in differentiating the place from which the pelvic tumor originates.

3. Examination of tumor markers – in addition to the above-mentioned imaging tests, the non-invasive methods used in the detection and differentiation of ovarian lesions include the study of neoplastic markers. Many substances that are produced by ovarian cancer cells have been identified. The most common markers during the test are: CA 15.3, CA 72.4, CA 125, CA 19-9 COX-1, cathepsin L, tetanectin, TPS, CASA, TAG. Do the research included in the Women’s Test Packages. You will then check not only the risk of ovarian cancer, but also the general condition of your body. On Medonet Market you will find packages offered by the uP Patient company:

1. Neoplastic diseases – risk assessment for women,
2. Checking the health of a woman – diagnostic blood tests.

In addition, in addition to tumor markers, the detection and differential diagnosis of ovarian tumors is performed determination of hormones or their metabolites (when hormonal activity of the tumor is suspected).

4. Laparoscopy – is a method that is of some importance both in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. It is a minimally invasive technique that allows to determine the location of the tumor, the nature of the tumor, the stage of clinical advancement and to collect material for histopathological examination. Laparoscopically, we can also determine whether the ovarian cancer responds to the chemotherapy.

The diagnosis of advanced stage ovarian cancer can be avoided by completing the e-packet for women, thanks to which the work of the most important organs can be verified.

Treatment of ovarian cancer

Functional tumors do not need to be surgically treated. The exception is the appearance of acute complications in the form of tumor torsion, rupture, bleeding, and entrapment. Then surgery is necessary.

Cancerous tumors are treated surgically. For benign tumors, surgery involves removing the lesion leaving a healthy part of the ovary (this is very important in young women) or removing the appendages with tumors. If there are other additional indications, e.g. uterine fibroids, its removal is also performed. Laparoscopy is a good method for treating a benign tumor of the ovary.

With malignant tumors of the ovary, the entire reproductive organ must be completely removed together:

1. with lymph nodes,
2. appendix,
3. metastatic foci.

This type of procedure is called surgical cytoreduction. The operation without removal of the reproductive organs is performed only in special cases. In addition to surgery, the patient is prescribed chemotherapy (usually intravenously) and / or radiation therapy. On the other hand, the drugs used during the chemotherapy of ovarian cancer are taxanes and platinum.