Symptoms of ovarian cancer, such as irregular bleeding, stomach swelling, or abdominal pain, can be very difficult to identify, especially because they can be mistaken for other less serious problems, such as urinary tract infections or hormonal changes.
For example, the best ways to identify changes that may indicate ovarian cancer early are to be aware of any abnormal symptoms, to go to regular appointments with a gynecologist, or to have preventive tests, for example.
- In most cases.
- Ovarian cancer causes no symptoms.
- Especially in the early stages; However.
- Some of the symptoms that may be related to its development include constant stomach pain and bleeding out of menstruation.
Select how you feel to learn about your risk of developing this type of cancer:
In these cases, it is recommended that the gynecologist be consulted as soon as possible to identify the cause of symptoms and eliminate or confirm the cancer diagnosis.
When ovarian cancer is identified at an early stage, the chances of recovery are much higher and therefore it is important to be aware of these symptoms, especially when you are over 50 years old.
Regular visits to the gynecologist every 6 months are a great way to identify ovarian cancer before causing symptoms because, during these visits, your doctor performs a test, called a pelvic exam, in which you feel a woman’s abdomen and look for shape changes.and size of the ovaries.
For example, if your doctor discovers changes that may indicate cancer, you may order more specific tests to confirm the diagnosis.These consultations, in addition to helping with early diagnosis of ovarian cancer, can also help identify changes in the uterus or tubes, for example.
Preventive tests are indicated for women at higher risk of developing cancer and are usually indicated by the gynecologist even in the absence of symptoms. These tests usually include a transvaginal ultrasound to evaluate the shape and composition of the ovaries or a blood test, which detects CA-125 Protein, a protein that increases in the event of cancer.
Learn more about this blood test: CA-125 test
Ovarian cancer is more common in women ages 50 to 70, but can occur at any age, especially in women who:
However, even with one or more risk factors, the woman may not have cancer.
After diagnosis and surgery to remove ovarian cancer, your gynecologist will classify the cancer according to the affected organs:
The more advanced the stage of ovarian cancer, the harder it will be to completely cure the disease.
Treatment for ovarian cancer is usually guided by a gynecologist and begins with surgery to remove as many affected cells as possible and therefore varies depending on the type of cancer and its severity.
Therefore, if the cancer does not spread to other regions, it is possible to remove only the ovary and fallopian tube from this side; However, in cases where the cancer spread to other areas of the body, it may be necessary to remove both the ovaries, uterus, lymph nodes, and other surrounding structures that may be affected.
After surgery, radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy may be indicated to destroy the remaining cancer cells, and if many cancer cells remain, it may be more difficult to cure.