Ovarian cancer is when cells begin to uncontrollably reproduce in the ovaries, and may spread to other parts of the body. It ranks number five in cancer deaths among women and accounts for more deaths than any other cancer of the reproductive systems of women. It starts in the ovaries and can spread to the rest of the body, giving the woman's lifetime chance of dying from the disease 1 in 100. This cancer mainly develops in older women- about half of the women who are diagnosed are over 63 years old (post-menopausal), and is more common in Caucasian women than African American women.
Ovarian cancer can be referred as the "silent killer" because there are no early signs, warnings, or symptoms. Nothing is noticeable until the later stages …show more content…
If it does spread, it is most often found throughout the lymphatic system, the liver, and the lungs.
Discovering an ovarian mass or abnormality during a pelvic exam, ultrasound, or CA-125 is the first step of diagnosis. The uses of RMIs and ultrasounds can reveal if masses are benign cysts or cancerous. A biopsy is necessary to confirm if it is cancerous. If it is positive, the stage and grade of the cancer are determined. If advanced stages are detected, additional testing may be done.
Treatments for ovarian cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. During surgery, a gynecologic oncologist will determine if the cancer has spread by removing lymph nodes, tissue samples, and fluid from the abdomen to be tested. If, while the surgery is underway, it is clear that the cancer has spread, the gynecologic oncologist will remove as much of the cancer as possible. Some surgical options for this cancer include salpingo-oophorectormies, hysterectomies, lymph node dissections, omentectomies, and cytoreductive/debulking surgery. Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells by stopping the cells' ability to grow and divide. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is used to reduce the size of a tumor before surgery, and adjuvant chemotherapy is used to kill cancer that is left over after surgery. Other types of chemotherapy include maintenance
Ovarian cancer can be referred as the "silent killer" because there are no early signs, warnings, or symptoms. Nothing is noticeable until the later stages …show more content…
If it does spread, it is most often found throughout the lymphatic system, the liver, and the lungs.
Discovering an ovarian mass or abnormality during a pelvic exam, ultrasound, or CA-125 is the first step of diagnosis. The uses of RMIs and ultrasounds can reveal if masses are benign cysts or cancerous. A biopsy is necessary to confirm if it is cancerous. If it is positive, the stage and grade of the cancer are determined. If advanced stages are detected, additional testing may be done.
Treatments for ovarian cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. During surgery, a gynecologic oncologist will determine if the cancer has spread by removing lymph nodes, tissue samples, and fluid from the abdomen to be tested. If, while the surgery is underway, it is clear that the cancer has spread, the gynecologic oncologist will remove as much of the cancer as possible. Some surgical options for this cancer include salpingo-oophorectormies, hysterectomies, lymph node dissections, omentectomies, and cytoreductive/debulking surgery. Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells by stopping the cells' ability to grow and divide. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is used to reduce the size of a tumor before surgery, and adjuvant chemotherapy is used to kill cancer that is left over after surgery. Other types of chemotherapy include maintenance