Ovarian cancer refers to oncological pathology, primary or secondary damage to hormone-producing sex glands. This disease is quite common in gynecology. As a rule, women of menopausal or pre-menopausal period are susceptible to it, although, in some cases, this pathology is also diagnosed in women younger than forty years of age.
Reasons
There are several reasons that can trigger the onset of this pathological process:
a small number of pregnancies;
short lactation;
heredity, burdened by the presence of breast and ovarian cancer in close relatives;
benign cysts and ovarian tumors;
ovarian dysfunction;
infertility.
With prolonged use of hormonal contraception, over five years, the probability of ovarian cancer is reduced by almost half.
Symptoms
The manifestations of this disease are quite diverse due to the large number of its morphological forms. With a localized form of cancer, the symptoms of this disease are practically absent. Signs such as constipation, nausea, flatulence, loss of appetite, fatigue, weakness, malaise, manifest themselves only as the tumor process spreads.
In cases of peritoneal lesions, ascites is observed, with metastases in the lungs, tumor pleurisy develops. Respiratory and cardiovascular insufficiency is noted in the late stages of the disease. As a rule, metastasis occurs in the bones, lungs, liver.
With a masculinizing tumor, menstruation ceases, breast reduction, and figure changes are noted.
Diagnostics
The methods by which this disease can be diagnosed are quite diverse – it is an instrumental, gynecological and physical examination. During palpation of the abdomen, the presence of a tumor and ascites is determined. During gynecological examination, the presence of a neoplasm is determined, but it is impossible to conclude that it is benign during this procedure.
In the process of rectovaginal examination, the presence of an invasion of ovarian cancer is determined. To determine the contours, internal structure, size and prevalence of the formation, CT and ultrasound of the pelvis are performed.
Diagnostic laparoscopy is performed for a biopsy to be able to determine the histotype of the tumor.
As additional studies, to exclude the focus of cancer or its metastases, the following are prescribed:
cystoscopy;
Ultrasound of the pleural cavity and thyroid gland;
radiography of the lungs and stomach and other studies.
Treatment
In order to make the final choice of tactics for the treatment of this disease, it is necessary to take into account several important factors:
patient’s age;
the presence of somatic diseases;
sensitivity of a certain histotype to chemotherapeutic and radiation treatment;
morphological structure of the tumor;
stage of the disease.
Complex therapy of this disease is required, where surgical treatment, radiotherapy and polychemotherapy are combined.
During surgical treatment, resection of the large omentum is performed. In elderly patients with weakened immunity, supravaginal amputation of the uterus and large omentum may be prescribed.
In the later stages of the disease, surgical intervention is carried out with maximum removal of tumor masses, with further chemotherapy.
If the process is inoperable, only a biopsy of the tumor tissue is prescribed.
In ovarian cancer, polychemiotepapia can be both a completely independent method of treatment, and enter the preparatory stage for surgery and also be used in the postoperative period.
