Ovarian cancer

What are ovaries?

The female reproductive organs include the ovaries (Ovary), which are oval-shaped and generally about 2-3 cm in size. They are located on both sides of the uterine horns, with the fallopian tubes extending from the uterus or womb, which connects to the vagina. The ovaries and fallopian tubes are located in the pelvic cavity, which, besides containing female reproductive organs, also houses important organs such as the bladder, rectum, and lymph nodes.

The ovaries have two main functions:

1. Produce eggs which combine with male sperm to form an embryo. The egg implants in the uterine cavity.
2. Produce female hormones (estrogen and progesterone) which regulate female functions every month. One ovary in a woman of reproductive age produces one egg. The egg travels through the fallopian tube into the uterus. If the egg is not fertilized, it will be expelled.

Causes of ovarian cancer

• Environmental factors such as chemicals and food, as it has been found that industrial countries have more ovarian cancer cases than agricultural countries.
• Women who have no children or have few children.
• Those who have had breast cancer, uterine cancer, or gastrointestinal cancer have a higher chance of developing ovarian cancer than normal people.

Is heredity a cause of ovarian cancer?

Ovarian cancer has many types, and heredity can be a contributing cause of ovarian cancer. In patients whose grandmothers or mothers had breast or colon cancer, genetic transmission to their children may occur.

Symptoms

1. Some cases may have no symptoms but are discovered incidentally by doctors.
2. Frequent bloating and abdominal fullness.
3. A mass in the lower abdomen.
4. If the cancerous mass grows large, it may press on the bladder or distal intestines, causing difficulty urinating or defecating.
5. In the late stages, fluid may accumulate in the abdominal cavity, causing the abdomen to enlarge.
6. Loss of appetite, weight loss, and wasting.

Diagnosis

• Internal examination may detect a mass in the lower abdomen. A mass in the ovary can be palpated in postmenopausal women because normally the ovaries atrophy after menopause.
• Internal examination results may reveal ovarian cancer cells.
• High-frequency ultrasound can help detect masses in the abdomen, especially in obese patients or those with thick abdominal walls where manual palpation is difficult.

What to do when detected

Surgery is the first treatment option chosen by doctors. If the tumor cannot be completely removed due to extensive spread, doctors will try to remove as much as possible and then continue treatment with chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

If you are of reproductive age and want to have children, what are the options if ovarian cancer occurs but you do not want the ovaries removed?

Normally, there are two ovaries, and the affected ovary will be removed along with chemotherapy for treatment. Patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer who are of reproductive age will be treated with chemotherapy, which is effective for younger patients and those with early-stage ovarian cancer. These patients usually have normal menstruation and can marry and have children. However, this depends on the type of cancer.

How to prevent ovarian cancer

Since early-stage ovarian cancer often has no symptoms and the exact cause is unknown, prevention is difficult. Therefore, the best method is to have internal examinations or see a doctor for high-frequency ultrasound at least once a year.