Home / Ovarian cancer / Ovarian cancer stage 4 — this sentence?

Ovarian cancer stage 4 — this sentence?

Sadly, but most often are diagnosed with ovarian cancer stage 4. The reason is that the disease in the initial stages practically does not manifest itself. And the risk group includes women over the age of sixty who ignore regular gynaecological examinations. Patients come with complaints of a distended stomach. And it is the metastases in the abdominal cavity and small pelvis organs.

The clinical picture of stage 4 ovarian cancer

The fourth stage is diagnosed in the presence of distant metastases and pleural fluid. The second affects the ovaries, pelvic organs, liver, lungs.

Clinical symptoms of ovarian cancer stage 4:

  • the menstrual cycle (when gormonichno the tumor in the body);
  • the increase in volume of the abdomen (with active metastasis in the abdominal cavity);
  • General weakness, fatigue, decreased performance;
  • various malfunctions of the gastrointestinal tract (diarrhea, constipation, symptoms of intestinal obstruction);
  • bloating, flatulence;
  • decreased appetite or complete refusal of food;
  • weight loss (only the stomach may remain enlarged);
  • signs of intoxication (nausea, vomiting);
  • frequent urination, oliguria;
  • in marked ascites, shortness of breath;
  • continuous intense abdominal pain that radiates to the hypochondrium and the epigastrium;
  • persistent low-grade fever.

Diagnosis of ovarian cancer stage 4

To establish and confirm the diagnosis help the following procedures:

diagnostika raka yaichnikov 1. Cytology smears taken from the cervical canal, the cervix and its cavity (produced by the gynecologist during the inspection).

2. Scraping the uterus with subsequent analysis of the material.

3. Puncture the posterior fornix or abdominal cavity.

4. X-rays of the intestines, stomach, ultrasound examination of the liver, pelvic organs, chest x-ray (for detection and analysis of areas affected by metastases).

5. Barium enema, and if necessary, intravenous urography.

Performs radionuclide studies, computed tomography, thermography.

To produce endoscopic analysis allows the following activities:

  • laparoscopy;
  • sigmoidoscopy (visual examination of the rectal mucosa with the help of special devices);
  • cystoscopy (examination of the inner surface of the bladder);
  • fibrocolonoscopy (endoscopic analysis of the colon);
  • fibrogastroscopy (internal examination of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum);
  • culdoscopy (inspection of pelvic organs with an endoscope).

Ovarian cancer stage 4 treatment

Methods:

1. Surgical.

The effectiveness of operational method in 4 stages is not large enough because of extensive metastasis. But the bulk of the tumor cells is concentrated in the abdominal cavity. During surgery the doctor can remove most of them. Because of this cancer can be contained.

2. Chemotherapy.

The method's job is to stop the tumor process, relieve symptoms, improve the condition of life of the patient. Chemotherapy is performed after surgery. Or may be the main treatment (in case of impossibility of surgical intervention). Because of the neglect of the process of chemotherapy courses administered in the shortest possible time.

3. A palliative therapy.

Task pain management, symptomatic treatment of comorbidities.

How many are living with ovarian cancer stage 4? The prognosis for this diagnosis is poor. Five-year survival is 20%. Frequent recurrence after surgery and chemotherapy. The percentage of complications is quite high – 70%.