Ovarian cancer ranks seventh among oncopathologies and is the third most common cancer in gynecological oncology after cervical and uterine body cancer. It can be difficult to detect in its early stages, as symptoms usually don’t appear until the tumor is large enough to spread to other organs. Candidate of Medical Sciences Yulia Vakhabova, an oncologist at the European Medical Center (EMC) Institute of Oncology, told socialbites.ca about this.
According to the expert, the first signs of the disease can be: pain and cramps in the abdomen and pelvis; swelling; nausea; loss of appetite or excessive satiety; menstrual irregularities; sudden weight loss.
“Ovarian cancer has non-specific symptoms that can indicate many different diseases, so it is very important to undergo a comprehensive examination to rule out the disease. It is also impossible to detect this tumor during a gynecological examination. To confirm the diagnosis, ultrasound, CT, biopsy are performed, ”the doctor explained.
It is 100% impossible to say exactly what caused the formation of a malignant tumor in the ovaries. Still, the doctor noted that there are risk groups that are more likely to develop cancer in this organ.
“First of all, these are women who have a gene with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations. As a rule, this mutation is inherited. Therefore, it is very important to examine the family history. This mutation also causes the development of breast cancer. Therefore, you should be careful if close relatives, especially at a young age up to 40 years, have not only a malignant tumor in the ovaries, but also in the mammary gland. The presence of this mutation can be determined by genetic testing. If found, a woman should be examined every six months by a breast specialist and a gynecologist to detect a tumor at the very beginning of development, when it responds well to treatment, ”warned the oncologist.
Also at risk are: women over 50; those undergoing hormone therapy in the postmenopausal period; Patients with Lynch syndrome and endometriosis; those who have undergone hormone therapy associated with infertility.
“As a preventative measure, it is recommended that women entering the risk zone undergo regular screenings. It is very important for women over 50 to see a gynecologist every six months. If the disease is detected at an early stage, the prognosis is generally favorable and there is a good chance of a full recovery. Unfortunately, it is not customary for us to have regular check-ups for ovarian cancer, such as for breast cancer. Therefore, in most cases, a malignant tumor is already found when it grows and metastasizes, ”the doctor concluded.
Formerly socialbites.ca Wrote about breast cancer prevention.