Showing posts with label ovarian cancer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ovarian cancer. Show all posts

Tuesday, 10 June 2014

The Treatment of Ovarian Cancer Depends on the Stage of the Cancer- Advanced Ovarian Cancer Treatment in India

As with all other cancers, the decision to pursue a particular avenue of ovarian cancer treatment depends largely on the stage of the cancer at diagnoses. Additionally, any ovarian cancer treatment decision should take place through close and open lines of communication between both the oncologist and patient

  • The difficulty in diagnosing ovarian cancer in the early stages is due to the lack of specific symptoms. Early-stage ovarian cancer does not cause obvious symptoms. By the time symptoms become noticeable, the cancer has grown and metastasized. The symptoms of ovarian cancer are often overlooked or attributed to other conditions such as depression or irritable bowel syndrome. Symptoms commonly include abdominal pressure, bloating or swelling, discomfort or pain in the pelvis, or urinary urgency. Additional symptoms may include indigestion, flatulence, nausea, appetite loss, changes in bowel or bladder habits, pain during intercourse, lack of energy, low-back pain and menstrual changes. Symptoms caused by ovarian cancer persist longer than two weeks and are unresponsive to antibiotics or other treatments.

Risk factors and causes


·         Scientists continue to study the genes responsible for familial ovarian cancer. This research is beginning to yield clues about how these genes normally work and how disrupting their action can lead to cancer. This information eventually is expected to lead to new drugs for preventing and treating familial ovarian cancer. Research in this area has already led to better ways to detect high-risk genes and assess a woman's ovarian cancer risk. A better understanding of how genetic and hormonal factors (such as oral contraceptive use) interact may also lead to better ways to prevent ovarian cancer.

Surgery
Three types of surgeries are involved in treating ovarian cancer such as :–
Chemotherapy
After surgery, you'll most likely be treated with chemotherapy - drugs designed to kill any remaining cancer cells. Chemotherapy may also be used as the initial treatment in some women with advanced ovarian cancer. Chemotherapy drugs can be administered in a vein (intravenously) or injected directly into the abdominal cavity, or both methods of administering the drugs can be used. Chemotherapy drugs can be given alone or in combination.
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams to kill cancer cells. The use of radiation therapy to treat ovarian cancer has declined in recent years, but Gyneconcologist use it in certain cases, such as when patient have a recurrence of cancer at the original site or if she can't tolerate chemotherapy. Gyneconcologist may use whole abdominal radiation to treat ovarian cancer that remains or recurs in the abdomen.                                                                                                                                                                                                                              For more information visit:          http://www.medworldindia.com                                  https://www.facebook.com/medworld.india                                                                                                                                                         Please scan and email your medical reports  to us at care@medworldindia.com and we shall get you a Free Medical Opinion from India’s Best Doctors.

Call Us : +91-9811058159
Mail Us : care@medworldindia.com




Monday, 3 March 2014

Ovarian Cancer Treatment in India: A woman's lifetime risk of dying from ovarian cancer is 2.1 per cent.

Ovarian cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the ovaries. Women have two ovaries, one on each side of the uterus. The ovaries - each about the size of an almond - produce eggs (ova) as well as the hormones estrogen, progesterone. Ovarian cancer often goes undetected until it has spread within the pelvis and abdomen. At this late stage, ovarian cancer is difficult to treat and is often fatal. 

Ovarian cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the ovaries. Women have two ovaries, one on each side of the uterus. The ovaries — each about the size of an almond — produce eggs (ova) as well as the hormones estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. Ovarian cancer often goes undetected until it has spread within the pelvis and abdomen. At this late stage, ovarian cancer is difficult to treat and is often fatal.


What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of ovarian cancer are not specific to the disease, and they often mimic those of many other more-common conditions, including digestive and bladder problems. When ovarian cancer symptoms are present, they tend to be persistent and worsen with time.

Ovarian Cancer  Treatment in India: A woman's lifetime risk of dying from ovarian cancer is 2.1 per cent.

It is one of the most common cancers in women after breast and cervix cancer. It is called a 'silent killer' as it is asymptomatic in early stages and 85 per cent of cases are diagnosed in the advanced stage. A woman's lifetime risk of dying from ovarian cancer is 2.1 percent.

What constitutes ovarian cancer?

It largely means tumours of epithelial origin, but it can also arise from other elements namely germ cells and stroma. Epithelial ovarian cancers typically occur in postmenopausal women and are in advanced stage at the time of diagnosis, whereas germ cell tumours occur at a young age, are detected in the early stages and are completely curable.




How is it diagnosed?
  • Exploratory Surgery : This surgery is performed for confirming the diagnosis of ovarian cancer.
  • Ultrasound : High-frequency sound waves are produced in order to get precise images of the structures inside the body.
  • Blood Tests : CA 125 blood test is performed for those women who are suspected of having ovarian cancer or previously had ovarian cancer. This blood test helps in detecting a protein antigen that can be found at abnormally high levels in the blood serum of those women who have ovarian cancer.
  • Positron Emission Tomographic Scan (PET) : This test helps in defining those areas that altered blood supply and also helps in identifying cancer.
  • Upper G.I. and Lower G.I. Scopy : It helps in ruling out the primary cancer present in G.I. tract.
  • CT scan :This helps in generating two dimensional images of the body that may show whether the cancer has spread.
  • Mammography : Metastatic tumors can be ruled out with this test.
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) : Magnetic energy is used for generating highly detailed images of the anatomy such as tumors.
Are all ovarian masses cancers?

All masses in the ovary are not cancers. TVU helps distinguish benign from malignant ovarian cysts. Complex cysts, defined as cysts with both solid and cystic components, septations and echogenicity, are malignant and require exploration. In contrast simple cysts that are thin walled, less than 5-10 cm and without septations are usually benign.

Can we detect  early?

Screening for ovarian cancer has not been successful as natural history of ovarian cancer is not well understood. There is no well-defined precursor lesion and the length of time from localised tumour to dissemination is unknown. Multiple efforts are underway to develop effective screening methods. Pelvic examination, CA 125, and TVU with Doppler are studied as screening methods in high-risk individuals.

Is ovarian cancer genetic?

Around 5-10 per cent of patients carry germline mutation. Breast-ovarian cancer syndrome accounts for approximately 90 per cent of hereditary ovarian cancer and is suspected whenever there are multiple affected family members with , bilateral or early onset breast cancer, both breast and ovarian cancer in the same individual, or a male relative with breast cancer.


What are the treatment of Ovarian Cancer modalities?

Ovarian Cancer Treatment depends on the age, stage, tumour type and the desire to preserve fertility. Surgery and chemotherapy is the mainstay of treatment.


How do I prevent?

Chemoprevention is by oral contraceptives. Surgical prevention is by bilateral oophorectomy, tubal ligation and hysterectomy. Risk-reducing bilateral  oophorectomy is strongly recommended in women who carry germline mutation for hereditary ovarian cancer, because of high mortality of ovarian cancer and lack of effective screening and preventive approaches. 

Fortunately, risk of ovarian cancer does not rise dramatically until the late 30s in women with germline mutation, so women have the opportunity to complete their family prior to surgery. Since ovarian cancer is one of the common cancers in women and there are no effective population screening methods, high index of suspicion is necessary for early diagnosis. With the new trends in chemotherapy, survival is increasing in ovarian cancer patients and awareness is necessary among the public for seeking early medical attention.

Latest and Advanced Minimally Invasive Surgery for Ovarian Cancer in India

Indian Hospitals gives women with ovarian cancer access to the latest in cancer treatment. For example, Indian surgeons use fertility-sparing surgery, minimally and robotic surgery in select cases, when app minimally invasive surgery — also called laparoscopic surgery — for several conditions. In minimally invasive procedures, your doctor makes one or more incisions, each about a half-inch long, to insert a tube. The number of incisions depends on the type of surgery. The tube or tubes let the doctor slip in tiny video cameras and specially designed surgical instruments to perform the procedure.

When you have minimally invasive surgery, you're likely to lose less blood and have less postoperative pain, fewer and smaller scars, and a faster recovery than you would after open surgery. Depending on your condition, you may need only a short hospital stay. For some conditions, your doctor may recommend robotic surgery. That technology gives your doctor great precision, flexibility and control by providing a magnified, 3-D view of the surgical site.


For more information visit:          http://www.medworldindia.com       
                    
https://www.facebook.com/medworld.india

Please scan and email your medical reports  to us at care@medworldindia.com and we shall get you a Free Medical Opinion from India’s Best Doctors.

Call Us : +91-9811058159
Mail Us : care@medworldindia.com




Saturday, 1 February 2014

What`s new in ovarian cancer research and treatment?


Ovarian cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the ovaries. Women have two ovaries, one on each side of the uterus. The ovaries - each about the size of an almond - produce eggs (ova) as well as the hormones estrogen, progesterone. Ovarian cancer often goes undetected until it has spread within the pelvis and abdomen. At this late stage, ovarian cancer is difficult to treat and is often fatal. Ovarian cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the ovaries. Women have two ovaries, one on each side of the uterus. The ovaries — each about the size of an almond — produce eggs (ova) as well as the hormones estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. Ovarian cancer often goes undetected until it has spread within the pelvis and abdomen. At this late stage, ovarian cancer is difficult to treat and is often fatal.

Ovarian cancer treatment is for cancer of the ovaries, the second most common form of gynecological cancer with an estimated 21,800 new cases expected to be diagnosed in 2010. The ovaries are a major part of a woman’s reproductive system in that they are responsible for producing two female hormones (estrogen and progesterone) and releasing eggs into the fallopian tubes for pregnancy to occur.
As with all other cancers, the decision to pursue a particular avenue of ovarian cancer treatment depends largely on the stage of the cancer at diagnoses. Additionally, any ovarian cancer treatment decision should take place through close and open lines of communication between both the oncologist and patient

  • The difficulty in diagnosing ovarian cancer in the early stages is due to the lack of specific symptoms. Early-stage ovarian cancer does not cause obvious symptoms. By the time symptoms become noticeable, the cancer has grown and metastasized. The symptoms of ovarian cancer are often overlooked or attributed to other conditions such as depression or irritable bowel syndrome. Symptoms commonly include abdominal pressure, bloating or swelling, discomfort or pain in the pelvis, or urinary urgency. Additional symptoms may include indigestion, flatulence, nausea, appetite loss, changes in bowel or bladder habits, pain during intercourse, lack of energy, low-back pain and menstrual changes. Symptoms caused by ovarian cancer persist longer than two weeks and are unresponsive to antibiotics or other treatments.

Risk factorsand causes

·         Scientists continue to study the genes responsible for familial ovarian cancer. This research is beginning to yield clues about how these genes normally work and how disrupting their action can lead to cancer. This information eventually is expected to lead to new drugs for preventing and treating familial ovarian cancer. Research in this area has already led to better ways to detect high-risk genes and assess a woman's ovarian cancer risk. A better understanding of how genetic and hormonal factors (such as oral contraceptive use) interact may also lead to better ways to prevent ovarian cancer.

  • Treatment for ovarian cancer depends on the size of the tumor and its aggressiveness -- that is, whether it has metastasized. A surgical procedure called a laparotomy is performed to examine the abdominal cavity for sings of cancer in other organs. Tissue samples, or biopsies, may be taken for further testing. Treatment typically includes a combination of regimens.
Surgery
  • The goal of surgery is to remove as much of the tumor as possible. Along with the affected ovary, the surgeon will usually remove the second ovary along with the Fallopian tubes and uterus, according to the Mayo Clinic. Neighboring lymph nodes and the omentum, a layer of fatty abdominal tissue, may also be removed because these are common sites of ovarian cancer metastasis.
Chemotherapy
  • Chemotherapy is generally administered after surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells. A combination of intravenous carboplatin and paclitaxel is administered first. The most common side effects are abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. If that regimen is ineffective, bevacizumab is administered. Bevacizumab interrupts the blood supply to the tumor, causing it to shrink. The most serious side effect associated with bevacizumab is bowel perforation.
Radiation Therapy
  • Radiation therapy is ineffective for treating ovarian cancer, although it may be used for advanced cases.


Indian Hospitals gives women with ovarian cancer access to the latest in cancer treatment. For example, Indian surgeons use fertility-sparing surgery, minimally and robotic surgery in select cases, when app minimally invasive surgery — also called laparoscopic surgery — for several conditions. In minimally invasive procedures, your doctor makes one or more incisions, each about a half-inch long, to insert a tube. The number of incisions depends on the type of surgery. The tube or tubes let the doctor slip in tiny video cameras and specially designed surgical instruments to perform the procedure.

When you have minimally invasive surgery, you're likely to lose less blood and have less postoperative pain, fewer and smaller scars, and a faster recovery than you would after open surgery. Depending on your condition, you may need only a short hospital stay. For some conditions, your doctor may recommend robotic surgery. That technology gives your doctor great precision, flexibility and control by providing a magnified, 3-D view of the surgical site.


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