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Symptoms of ovarian cancer. What are they?

Among malignant tumors, common in women, ovarian cancer ranks fifth. The frequency of occurrence of this disease is approximately seventy cases per 100 thousand people. The average age of patients is 61 years, and in developed countries, the risk of disease is higher. In the initial stages the symptoms of ovarian cancer are nonspecific. As for causal relationships, they are not identified, although it is assumed that the risk groups are those women who:

  • never been pregnant in lifetime,
  • have an adverse heredity (close relatives had malignant disease),
  • patients with diagnosed breast cancer or uterine body.

Symptoms of ovarian cancer

In most cases, symptoms of ovarian cancer occur only in the later stages of the disease. At the beginning of the disease almost not worried. As it is development can occur abdominal tenderness and discomfort, constipation or frequent urination, irregular menstruation or spotting from the vagina.

Bright signs of ovarian cancer can only be for that patient, which is used to carefully monitor their health. At the same time, much depends on the initial dislocation of the tumor if it is located inside of the ovary, some of the early stages it can be completely invisible.

Because the causes of ovarian cancer are not fully understood, it is impossible to speak about possible preventive measures. If we consider symptoms, it is not specific and may resemble other diseases (e.g. inflammation of the ovaries, endometriose). Alarming should be the following symptoms:

  • pressing, dragging pain,
  • unusual and unpleasant physical sensations,
  • menstrual disorders,
  • loss or increase in weight for no apparent reason due to the hormonal failure, which is in direct connection with the ovaries,
  • mucous or purulent discharge, provoked by the destruction of the lymph nodes
  • contrast bloody selection that occurs is not constant, and the result of sexual intercourse, heavy lifting or physical exertion,
  • painless bleeding not related to menses. Particularly disturbing should be this symptom for those who have crossed the age line menopause
  • spasmodic pain in the abdomen, lower back, lower abdomen.

It is important to make the patient?

As a rule, ovarian cancer occurs in women in postmenopause. The danger here lies in the fact that patients at a certain age, ignore the need for regular medical examinations. In addition, trigger lock and psychological sometimes a woman deliberately delaying necessary medical examination, fearing to hear an unfavorable diagnosis.

At the same time, you should know that the delay in diagnosis to progression of the disease. But the treatment efficiency depends on the timing at which the disease is detected for example, metastases in ovarian cancer can affect specific organs, normal functioning of the body becomes impossible.

Diagnosis of the disease

However, to diagnose ovarian cancer on ultrasound impossible. The only way to put a correct diagnosis is the lumbar puncture. The disease spreads very quickly to the abdominal cavity, so cancer cells can be detected even in these liquids. For a study is a diagnosticlaparoscopy or puncture through zadnelateralnuu arch.

>stroenie zhenskoj polovoj sistemyUnfortunately, the diagnostic methods are imperfect. If the tumor is small, it can not even be seen by laparoscopy. For this reason, more than 70% of diagnoses are established in the third-fourth stage of the disease. However, it is very important that early diagnosis, as in this case, five-year survival after treatment is 95%.

Despite the fact that the formation of distant metastases when the disease is rare, all women with suspected cancer are also recommended to undergo a breast examination and x-rays of the stomach and intestines. In the case that it is necessary to clarify the distribution process, perform an MRI or a CT scan of the organs in the abdominal cavity.

Additional information can be obtained through laboratory studies: for example, high levels of the CA125 marker in conjunction with the strong positive results of other studies is the basis for the diagnosis of cancer.

What can help medicine?

The main method of treatment is surgical intervention. Moreover, the volume of the operation may be different depending on how the process is distributed. The material obtained during surgery, be sure is sent for histological examination.

A significant spread of the tumor may require chemotherapy, and after he had surgery. Such medical support can be necessary after surgery.