Early Symptoms Of Ovarian Cancer

Published on May 28 2010, in the categories: Disease stages, Ovarian cancer

In most cases, ovarian cancer occurs after age of 50 , but experts say that 17% of cases it develops in women younger than 40 years. It is difficult to detect in its early stages, because symptoms are mild or nonexistent until the disease reaches advanced stage. According to the American Institute for Cancer, the most common symptoms are: abdominal and pelvic pain, vaginal bleeding, irregular menstruation, back pain that worsens with unexplained, tiredness, bloating, nausea, vomiting or lack of appetite. Given the growing number of young women affected by ovarian cancer, many researches have been oriented to develop options that do not affect fertility.

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We must know that the traditional treatment of ovarian cancer involves removal of the ovaries and uterus, leading to an inability to pregnancy. However, if diagnosed in early stages, researchers from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University found that women can be operated without affecting fertility.

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"If the patient is young and wants to get pregnant in the future doen't need a hysterectomy (removal of uterus) or total castration. It's much safer to call a procedure that does not influence the efficiency of conservation treatment, but allows patients to fulfill their dream of giving birth. So if I talk about the stage of disease, cure can be achieved, "explains Dr. Beth Karlan, director of the Institute" Women's Cancer Research, American newspaper quoted the Los Angeles Times. There are also numerous studies that show that a woman can get pregnant, even after chemotherapy treatment.

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Next stage of research determine whether this conservation procedure can be recommended to all young women with ovarian cancer at an early stage, as Jason says Dr. Wright, the leader of this study. This reasonable option must be taken into account by both the doctor and the patient. Transvaginal ultrasound, more accurate in identifying ovarian cancer 

Transvaginal ultrasound is more accurate in diagnosis of ovarian cancer, according to the doctors from the University of Kentucky Medical, Today's Days quoted in the publication. They selected 272 women from a group of 31,748 women included in a project of the university, who made an annual transvaginal ultrasound to compare which of the diagnostic methods are more effective in making a diagnosis of ovarian cancer. The results show that transvaginal ultrasound is capable to detect a possible malignancy in the ovaries in 73% of cases while the present simple analysis of patient symptoms was effective in diagnosing only benign formations.

Hormone therapy increases the risk of ovarian cancer Women following hormone therapy after menopause are at greater risk of developing ovarian cancer, risk remained high even at two years after estrogen treatment has ended, says a study that appeared in the publication Journal of the American Medical Association "and cited by CNN. Even a short-term therapy (less than four years) is associated with an increase of 30-40% risk of ovarian cancer. In the past, hormone therapy was linked to a series of health problems. For example, a 2002 study showed that women taking hormones for a period long had a high risk to breast cancer, stroke or heart disease.

Obesity increases the risk of ovarian cancer by 80% Overweight women show a higher risk of suffering from ovarian cancer compared with those with normal weight.Scientists believe that the link between obesity and ovarian cancer is due to adipose tissue, which retains the excess fat around the stomach and secreting estrogen (female hormone). It seems that this hormone can stimulate ovarian cell growth and plays an important role in cancer.

Ovarian Cancer Symptom

Published on May 28 2010, in the categories: Ovarian cancer

Ovarian cysts are a very common condition, being the second leading cause of gynecologic consultation. Assistant Professor Dr. Anca Simionescu, MD Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital Philanthropy, says that every woman has once in a life time at least one ovarian cyst, but it can be discovered or not. Ovarian cysts occur very frequently to young women, sexually active. The formations are mostly benign (not cancerous), which disappear by itself. And cysts may occur at menopause and only 5% -6% of these cases are malignant (cancerous).

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Typology Not any visible bands on ultrasounds teste means that it may be a cyst Ovary is a mass of follicles, some of them may be confused with cysts. Dr. Anca Simionescu defined that an ovarian cyst is a formation more than 3 inches from the ovary. There are several types of ovarian cysts. The most common are functional cysts that may be treated spontaneously without hormonal treatment. They result from a hormone that regulates the hiperfunctionare ovary.

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There are organic cysts (dermoid - contains tissue similar to skin, endometriosis - uterine lining proliferation), they do not disappear spontaneously, but require treatment. Usually, functional cysts are discovered incidentally, during a routine exam. Sometimes cysts are manifested by certain symptoms: sensation of abdominal weight, pain during intercourse, low bleeding, delayed menstruation.

Ovarian tumors The big problem is represented by the pathology of ovarian tumors. For ovarian cancer there is no specific screening tests as it happens in breast cancer and cervical cancer. Contrary to what the patients believe, ecografy is not certain in diagnosing ovarian cancer.Ovarian cancer ranks fourth in terms of gynecological cancers and occurs most often after menopause. Symptoms are commonplace, often digestive nature. The patient usually complains of abdominal discomfort, bloating, gas, fatigue, lack of appetite. "Ovarian cancer can occur as a csolid cyst on ultrasound but it contains vegetation or cloazoane with ascites or peritoneal conglomerates", explains Assistant Professor Doctor Anca Simionescu.

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There are borderline tumors between benign and malignant. The difference between malignant and benign tumors is seen by a clinical exam, ultrasound criteria for malignancy and benign serological tumor markers for highlighting. Most ovarian cancers which secrete substances called tumor markers, present in blood, may attest cancer cells pelvic disseminated or distant.

Complications Patients with ovarian cysts are at risk of suffering complications. It is about the torsion (twisting) of the cyst, and that is a medical emergency. Cyst twisting can lead to fallopian tube twisting, which is necrosis, in which the patient loses his trunk. Twisting is manifested by pain heinous, brutal sole discretion, usually descending on foot. In these conditions, the patient must present to the hospital.

" If it occurs in the first six hours after the first set of crisis, an intervention must be made be removing the cyst . If lasts more than six hours and the trunk is of torsioned and necrosised , unfortunately, the patient loses its annex ",brings up the atention the gynecologist, Anca Simionescu. Another complication is intrachistical bleeding or rupture of a cyst with signs of ascites, easy to be confused with ectopic pregnancy. In this situation is required emergency surgery. Syndrome. Sometimes, the ovaries forme several small cysts, a condition known as polycystic ovary syndrome.

Most times it is a chronic illness that is characterized by menstrual irregularities, excessive hair growth, weight gain.In this case of polycystic ovary syndrome, doctors prescribe hormone therapy to restore menstrual cycles. Use either progesterone or birth control pills that contain progesterone and estrogen. In some cases, are prescribed medications to increase fertility for women with polycystic ovaries that may induce ovulation.

Ovarian Cancer Research

Published on May 27 2010, in the categories: Ovarian cancer

Did you know that...
Salami and hot dogs increase the risk of ovarian cancer disease?

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Women who eat more processed meat such as salami or hot dogs, present an increased risk of ovarian cancer, according to a recent study. At the opposite pole are the women who often consume fish, which are more protected from lethal tumors, says a study by the Queensland Institute of Medical Research in Brisbane, Australia. It is important to mention that scientists haven't found a link between red meat and cancer, and women who consume more chicken are only slightly away from the disease, Reuters. Australian scientists reviewed the data contained in several earlier studies, made on 2,000 women with cancer and 2200 without, by questioning them their about eating habits. Thus it was found that women who eat four or more time processed meat on a week have a 18% higher risk to become ill than those who avoid this kind of meat.

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Meanwhile, women who consume four or more times fish on a week, have a 24% greater protection against this disease. Until now, studies of ovarian cancer have focused on the exposure to estrogen, which means that women who entered puberty earlier and late menopause have a higher risk to get sick. Few factors related to diet were identified as having contact with this deadly cancer. Fish, a great ally It is however unclear how processed meat and fish influences predisposition to ovarian cancer. According to the theory, processed meat contains compounds that harm cells and cause cancer. Omega 3 which can be found in fish is beneficial in many ways, and it has also anticancer properties, as it is believed.

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Previous research has shown that there are many reasons to limit consumption of red meat and processed ones that can cause colon cancer and heart disease. They should not be consumed daily, but occasionally, explains McCullough, from the American Cancer Society.
Coffee decreases the risk of ovarian cancer? Caffeine decreases the ovarian cancer risk, according to a survey. This was most evident among women who have never taken oral contraceptives or hormone-based drugs, during menopause, the researchers said. Also, specialists have concluded that consumption of decaffeinated coffee has no health benefit.

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Worldwide as it is estimated, over 190,000 of new cases of cancer are discovered every year, the disease is developing, especially after the age of 50 years. Experts say that typically, women who develop ovarian cancer, don't have symptoms or if they have, those are mild until the disease arrives in an advanced stage.According to a study cited there is no significant link between drinking and smoking habits and the risk of ovarian cancer. In research, experts examined the data obtained from questionnaires to over 121 000 women aged between 30 and 35 years.

Tea keeps the ovarian cancer far away?
Just two cups of tea per day reduces the risk of ovarian cancer by 30% to 46%.Several independent studies conducted both in the U.S. and in Britain or Sweden, have shown that antioxidants form tea help improve blood circulation, reports the Daily Mail. Only in Britain are discovered every day about 6600 new cases of ovarian cancer. Almost 4,400 women die annually killed by this disease, as the statistics cited by the newspaper show.Even though the British are big tea drinkers, 80% of the population has the habit to sip a cup almost every day. Studies have shown that adding milk do not diminish the beneficial effects of tea. 165 million cups of tea are drunk every day in the kingdom.

Ovarian Cancer Research

Published on May 27 2010, in the categories: Ovarian cancer, Tests

Did you know that...A daily cup of tea keeps you away from ovarian cancer?

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A daily single cup of tea reduces ovarian cancer risk, after a recent study. More than two cups a day, reduces the risk of ovarian cancer by 12-13% in case of the black tea, say the Australian researchers, quoted by The Telegraph. The most effective is green tea, but black has almost the same effect on tumors, as is mentioned in the journal Cancer Causes and Control. One cup of black tea reduces the risk of disease by 10% installation, while a green tea reduces it by 20%. Ovarian cancer is the fifth cause of mortality among women. Also called "the shadow killer" because symptoms do not appear until the disease is very advanced. Risk factors include family history and possibly breast cancer already treated. The most vulnerable are suprapornderale women and those who do hormone therapy.

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The study conducted by the Queensland Institute of Medical Research assessed 2,800 women aged betweem 18 to 79 years, diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Similar results are obtained in the case of herbal tea. This study not only support the earlier findings, made by the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. The research done here have concluded that regular consumption of tea can even halve the risk of ovarian cancer. Another study conducted last year showed that three cups of tea reduces the risk of illness of breast cancer to young women by 37%.
Talcum powder can increase the risk of ovarian cancer illness to women?

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Women who use talcum powder every day are 41% higher predisposed to ovarian cancer.Scientists fear that talcum powder applied in intimate areas in small amounts can reach the ovaries causing inflammation that allows cancer cells grow. Although previous studiesgave the answer to several problematic questions, surveys conducted in the United States show that the chances of ovarian cancer diseases are quite high, informs Daily Mail. 

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Experts School of Medicine at Harvard University in Boston, studied over 3,000 women and found out that using talcum powder once a week can increase to 36% the chances to ovarian cancer illness, reaching 41% for the ones who use talc every day. Also for people who have in their family history cases of the disease, the chances are higher. The findings that using talcum powder on other body parts do not cause disease risks were published in the American Cancer Epidermiologia journal.

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A substance of turmeric is used to treat cancer?
Cancer cells treated with a substance found in Indian saffron, curcumin, become more susceptible to traditional cancer treatment.The discovery is especially important in case the cancer cells are resistant to chemotherapy, which is met often according the EmaxHealth. Experiments conducted by the researchers at University of South Dakota have shown that if cancer cells are pretreated with curcumin, the ingredient from which is made the so healthy Indian saffron shrinks the illness effects considerably, as in the radiation sessions case.
Ultrasonic analysis are essential in detecting ovarian cancer?
Ultrasound is much better in diagnosing ovarian cancer than a medical examination, shows a study by U.S. researchers. It seems that ultrasound helps to detect malignant tumors in 73% of cases, with much better results than analysis of a patient's symptoms, informs Science Daily. However, physicians may be guided by the analysis of symptoms for the detection of benign tumors (which are detected at a rate of 91% in this way). The study was conducted on a sample of 272 women.

Ovarian Cancer Article

Published on May 26 2010, in the categories: Ovarian cancer

The ovaries are two in number and are part of the female reproductive system, located in the pelvis. Each ovary has the size of an almond. The ovaries produce female hormones: progesterone and also estrogen. It has a longer function in releasing the eggs. An egg released from the ovary travels through the fallopian tubes to the uterus. Once women reach the menopause the ovaries don’t release eggs anymore and the hormones produced are in quantities much smaller.

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What is ovarian cancer? Cancer starts and develops in the cells that form the tissues, which in return form the organs of the body. Normally cells grow and divide to form new cells for the body’s necessity. After a while these cells grow old and die, while other cells take their place. Sometimes this process works poorly. New cells form even though the body does not need them and old cells do not die when they should. These extra cells can form a mass or tumor called knob.

Tumors can be of two types - benign or malignant: Benign tumors are not cancer: * Benign tumors are in very rare cases life-threatening * Generally benign tumors can be removed and they don’t grow back * Benign tumors do not invade tissues around them * Cells in benign tumors do not spread to other body part.

Malignant tumors are cancerous: * Malignant tumors are generally more serious than benign tumors - they may threaten life * Malignant tumors can often be removed, but sometimes they grow back * Malignant tumors can invade and cause harm nearby tissues and organs * Cells from malignant tumors can spread to other parts of body, cancer cells can spread through the separation of original tumor (primary tumor), entering the lymphatic or blood circulation, cancer cells invade other organs and form new tumors that can damage these organs; cancer spread is called metastasis. Benign and malignant ovarian cysts: an ovarian cyst can be found on the surface or inside the ovary. A cyst usually contains a liquid, but it may also contain solid tissue. Most ovarian cysts are benign (not cancer).

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Most ovarian cysts disappear on their own time. Sometimes when the doctor detects that the ovarian cysts do not disappear, to exclude cancer the doctor recommends further tests. Ovarian cancer Ovarian cancer can invade, emerge and spread to other organs:

* Invades: ovarina a malignant tumor, may develop and invade the organs near the ovaries like, the uterus and fallopian tubes; 

*Emerges: ovarian cancer, may spread the cells in the abdomen where they can lead to the formation of new tumors in organs and tissues (the doctor will designate these new tumors, or implanted seeds);

*Spreads: cancer cells can spread through the lymphatic system are lymph nodes in the pelvis, abdomen and chest cavity, cancer cells can also spread through the bloodstream to organs such as liver and lungs.

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When cancer spreads from the original site to other parts of the body, the new tumors have the same kind of abnormal cells and the same name. For example, if ovarian cancer spreads to liver, the cancer cells from the liver are actually the ovarian cancer ones. The disease is called metastasis ovarian cancer, not liver cancer. It is therefore treated as ovarian cancer, and not liver cancer. Doctors call the new tumor "distant" or metastasis.

A pathologist doctor follows with a microscope the cancer cells from the tissue or fluid. If the pathologist finds cancer cells the doctor will describe the degree of malignancy of cells. Grades 1, 2, 3 describe how cancer cells look and grow. Grade 1 cells have less chance to grow and spread as opposed to grade 3.

Ovarian Cancer Survival Rates

Published on May 26 2010, in the categories: Ovarian cancer

Abnormal vaginal bleeding and abdominal pain are just a few of the disease manifestations. Most ovarian tumors are detected in advanced stages, when chances of survival are reduced. Regular gynecological checks are the only measures in order to detect early ovarian cancer. The affection is considered a "silent killer" because of the unclear symptoms from early stages, the disease having a silent evolution.

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In stage I, this kind of cancer affects one or both ovaries, and in the second stage the disease extends to the organs near the ovaries (uterus and fallopian tubes),. In stage III, cancer cells spread to tissues outside the lymph nodes or pelvic area, and in the last stage, metastases occur in organs such as liver. In most cases, ovarian cancer is detected in stage III, when chances of survival by up to five years, drop about 35 percent.

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There is no way to prevent ovarian cancer. However, doctors say that using oral contraceptives may decrease the risk of this disease. Also, pregnancy and breast-feeding might protect women from ovarian cancer. Absence of tasks, risk of disease Among the risk factors involved in ovarian cancer are the hereditary ones, the "women with relatives diagnosed with breast cancer and / or ovarian cancer (especially before menopause)," are more exposed, said Dragos Median, specialist in medical oncology from the "Philanthropy” Clinical Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology " from Bucharest. Digestive disorders, possible signs 

In many cases, ovarian cancer symptoms can be confused with some disorders of the digestive area. Thus, people with this type of cancer may have bloating, constipation and abdominal discomfort. Irregular periods, frequent urination and abnormal vaginal bleeding are other symptoms that should alarm every woman, because they can be, in turn, signs of disease. Gynecological checks and pelvic ultrasounds can detect ovarian tumor, therefore doctors recommend that any woman should go to the gynecologist at least once a year. The diagnosis requires some further investigation like: biopsy and imaging tests such as computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging of the abdomen and pelvis.

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Regarding the tumor markers, Dragos Median doctor believes that they "are more helpful in monitoring and less in diagnostics. For ovarian cancer, the protein CA125 (tumor marker specific for ovarian cancer) is "increased by 50 percent in early cases and by 80-90 percent in advanced cases, but it could register a slight increase in other diseases too," said the specialist.

Survival at 5 years after screening Stage, Survival rates:I 90%; II, 60-70%; III 15-35%; IV, 5-15%

Ovarian cancer is one of the most rare forms of cancer, and survival rates are very low - only 30% in Britain, without increasing in the past 30 years, according to Target Ovarian Cancer.Data from Cancer Research UK show, however, that survival rate was 20% 10 years ago. Its improvement is largely attributable to pill use contraceptives, which are said to have a protective effect against this disease.
In a study conducted on a sample of 351 women with incidental epithelial ovarian cancer (discovered accidentally), researchers found that a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and grains was associated with a higher rate of survival.

Increased meat consumption was associated with lower survival duration.The conclusion "suggests that patterns of food from three to five years before the diagnosis of epithelial ovarian cancer, have the potential to influence the survival time, Therese A. Dolecek, research professor of epidemiology at the University of Illinois from Chicago, and colleagues wrote in their report published in the March, in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

Information On Ovarian Cancer

Published on May 26 2010, in the categories: Ovarian cancer

A new study from „ Science Daily” shows that cells which normally help the constitution of the fallopian tubes can cause ovarian cancer.

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The researchers form Georgia Institute of Technology, together with researchers from the Ovarian Cancer Institute found out that PAX8 protein is found not only in the cells involved in the development of fallopian tubes but also in the cells that lead to ovarian cancer, although it cannot be found in an unaffected ovarian tissue. The discovery opens new ways of diagnostic methods and therapeutic interventions, but opens also new ways to ovarian cancer research.

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The study appeared on March in 'Gynecologic Oncology. " 'The discoveries made, give us new perspectives on the molecular and genetic understanding of different cancers and emphasizes, making us realize once again that cancer is a deviation of normal human development, due to genetic and epigenetic changes, "said Nathan Bowen , researcher at the Georgia Coalition of Anti-Cancer and Ovarian Cancer Institute (ICO). Bowen and his colleagues from ICO used cancerous and non-cancerous tissues, taken directly from the operating room for the purpose of investigating the molecular profile of ovarian cancer tissue, in order to determine the causes of cancer, to achieve a reliable diagnostic test after performing the blood test and to understand the reason why these cells are resistant to chemotherapy.

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In 2003, a group of researchers from Stanford University involved in breast cancer study found that the pairs of genes 8 are only part of cancerous ovarian tissue, and not in the breast one. Considering the research results from Stanford, ICO began to investigate the possibility that these genes could be important markers in the discovery and research of the ovarian cancer cases.

Researchers began looking for evidence of PAX8 existence (protein composed of eight pairs of genes), a step to establish if the gene can be a biological marker for the ovarian cancer. PAX8 protein was found not only in the ovarian cancer cells but also in the secretor ones and in the fallopian tubes forming process. In addition, it was found and determined that the protein is not in the normal epithelium surface of the ovary.

Bowen assumes that cancer apparition is influenced be the PAX8 protein, which leads to an increase of adult stem cells number from the ovarian surface, leading eventually to the occurrence of ovarian cancer. During embryonic whenever this gene is activated, it leads to the development of the fetal uterine tromp but while it is active in the ovarian healthy mature cells, that migrate inside the ovary, it will form ovarian cysts. Normally, cysts growth is controlled by feedback mechanisms of cells, which stops their growth, but in cancer, when these feedback mechanisms are mutated, the cysts grow and get out of control, to metastasize.

'The new discovery is a path that could lead to establishment of new treatments based on molecular profile ", said Bowen.”Biology is, in fact, a system that processes information and produces final products and decisions. The decisions are taken by the cells, such as the pair of genes 8. Bowen will try to find out why the pairs of genes 8 are active and were they are heading to: to a gene that makes decisions or to a final gene. 'This is the hardest task in the cancer investigation" said Bowen.

'Now that we cut through human genomics, we must find out which of the thousands of cancer genes are activated simultaneously.' This research was possible due to the donations behalf of the 'Anti-Cancer Coalition' from Georgia and of the Laboratory of the Ovarian Cancer Research Institute.

Cancer Ovarian

Published on May 26 2010, in the categories: Ovarian cancer

Is ovarian cancer hereditary? A woman can inherit a genetic the risk of ovarian cancer from the maternal or paternal line, especially if one first degree relative (mother, father, brother, sister) has or had ovarian, breast, colon or prostate cancer. Moreover, women with strong family history of ovarian cancer are more likely to develop this type of cancer at younger ages (under 50).

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Studies have shown that the inheritance of a defective BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes increases a woman's risk of developing ovarian cancer by 10% to 40%. Normally these genes are designed to prevent the appearance of cancer cells, but if someone inherits these genes as mutated, she becomes more susceptible to developing breast or ovarian cancer.

All women have a lower risk or higher for this condition. The symptoms exist - they are vague and nonspecific at first, but over time they become more obvious. Early detection of ovarian cancer increases the chances of survival. The Papanicolau test does not detect ovarian cancer.
What are the risk factors for ovarian cancer?

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While the presence of one or more risk factors increases the risk of ovarian cancer, does not necessarily mean that the respective person will develop the disease.Risk factors include:

* Genetic predisposition;

* Personal or family history of ovarian cancer, breast or colon;

* Old age;

* Infertility.
What are the diagnostic tests used to detect ovarian cancer? The Papanicolau test does not detect ovarian cancer. The tests used for this purpose are:

A vaginal exam annually for women older than 18 years and rectovaginal exam for people over 35 years.

Abdominal ultrasound: is used as a screening method for this disease. It is non-invasive, painless, inexpensive method through which the tumor may be visualized.

Transvaginal ultrasound is used especially in cases with increased risk of ovarian cancer and in situations where greater accuracy is required in the visualization of the tumor.

Blood tests are used to measure tumor markers (CA 125). These tests are not specific, because there are other diseases besides ovarian cancer which may cause the growth of these markers. Meanwhile some ovarian cancers may not produce enough CA-125 to induce positive value of the test.

If one of these tests is positive , further the investigation will continue with more efficient imaging methods like CT scan or MRI.

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What are the treatment options for ovarian cancer?
The treatment for this disease varies from one patient to another depending on the stage of the diagnosed disease, the patient's age and general conditions of his state. Doctors have three therapeutic methods for dealing with ovarian cancer:

Surgery: Surgery for tumor resection is the main method of treatment in ovarian cancer. It also has a very important role because the resected part is sent anatomic-pathological examination to indicate the type of tumor, stage of development and lymphatic metastasis.

Chemotherapy: it bases on using a kind of drugs, which once placed in circulation kills all cancer cells. It is used mostly as auxiliary therapy after surgery.

Radiation therapy: This therapy uses high energy X-rays to kill cancer cells and tumor miscosa.

The disease:
Because of the fact that each woman diagnosed with ovarian cancer has its particularities, it is very hard to make a general prognosis. Ovarian cancer is one of the diseases where early detection is essential for effective treatment. If the disease is diagnosed and treated early, when not exceeded ovary cancer survival rate at 5 years is 90%.

Latest Treatments In Ovarian Cancer

Published on May 26 2010, in the categories: treatments

The ovarian cancer is a complex association of several measures including treatment which aims improving the survival time. Therapeutic intervention is made according to the clinical stage. Treatments of ovarian cancer may be: surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormone therapy, immunotherapy. Surgery intervention has priority over other therapeutic ones. A complete and correct initial surgery is crucial for the treatment of ovarian cancer.Subsequent therapy success is largely determined by the initial surgical instrument. Surgical excision was practiced in borderline ovarian tumors (border line) and ovarian cancers stadium I and II. Exfoliated cancer cells in the peritoneal cavity can always generate great new tumors.

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Consider now that only patients in stages I and IB tumors with well / medium differentiated in terms of histology, do not require adjuvant therapy. In over two thirds of women diagnosed of ovarian cancer in stage II and III, the tumor is disseminated in the pelvis, creating an appreciably tumor mass . The surgical act in these cases is ment to remove the largest part of the lesions , therefore the residual mass rather than the quantity of the removed tumor mass is crucial for the subsequent evolution. Despite the extensive primary surgery, many patients with ovarian cancer die. Starting from this observation, it was proposed a new implementation of a control intervention (a second look - with thw examination of abdomen and pelvis, following the same procedure as in primary surgery case). If there are obvious tumor masses, the pelvic lymph and paraaortic nodes must be biopsies. Residual tumor mass should be resected if possible.

2. Chemotherapy.
Adjuvant therapy is the main method used to aply surgical or initial treatment of advanced ovarian cancers. Chemotherapy may be applied as: alone or by polichemotherapy:

a. Monotherapy Agents are mainly used alkilanti agents (melphalan, Clorambucil, Ciclophosphamida, Thiotepa), but Carboplatin, Cisplatin, Doxorubicin, Nexametilmelamina, Taxol.
b. Politherapy. Combined chemotherapy have a complete response between 20-90% (significant improvement of survival). The combination can include: two chemotherapy (CTX, cisplatin), three chemotherapy (cisplatin, doxorubicin, Ciclophosphamida) or 4 chemotherapy (Hexametilmelamina, Ciclophosphamida, Metrothexate, 5-fluorouracil). In conclusion, chemotherapy has its well established place in treating ovarian cancer, it is necessary even in the adjuvant treatment of stage I disease and it is the most important in advanced stages.

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3. Radiotherapy. Is used as adjuvant therapy in ovarian cancer after maximal surgical citoreduction, for treatment applied on the inoperable tumors that do not respond to chemotherapy. This therapy "rescues" patients with persistent disease after primary treatment, chemotherapy and second-look surgery. It can be used as a palliative treatment for patients with pelvic masses or metastases (brain, liver, bone). Radioisotopes used are: The 196 and P 32. Dose and dose fractionation schedules irradiating tumoricide represents a compromise between the doses needed for tumor mass destruction and the danger of significant aggression of the normal tissues. In conclusion, radiotherapy is a feasible method to treat ovarian cancer, but it has its own rolw in the after surgery and chemotherapy treatment .

4. Hormone therapy.
The introduction of hormonal therapy in the ovarian cancer treatment was not based on the presence of estrogen and progesterone receptors. The preparations used were: Megace, medroxyprogesterone, tamoxifen. Here, enter into discussion the young women with stage IA and border-line tumors.

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5. Immunotherapy.
This method uses administration of interferon gamma, TNF, IL-2, Lak, Corynebacterium parvum vaccine, melphalan, levamisole, BCG, Polidin. The nonspecific immunotherapy associated with chemotherapy proved to be active in the ovarian cancer, but its singular use is still ambiguous.

Signs Of Ovarian Cancer

Published on May 26 2010, in the categories: Cases, Ovarian cancer

For the first time experts warn women of cancer signs that may announce the ovarian cancer, a very dangerous and unpredictable illness.If you are suddenly experiencing weeks of bloating, frequently need to urinate, changes in eating habits and abdominal or pelvic pain - or a combination of these - the experts say that it could be an early ovarian cancer.

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"There was a myth about the fact that there are no symptoms of ovarian cancer and can't do anything to trace it in its early stage. But this is not true," said Dr. Barbara Goff, a specialist from the Washington University.There is no early screening test but the pelvic exam is considered the main way to detect ovarian cancer. Experts say that a woman should consult their doctor immediately if they encounter daily for at least three weeks these symptoms:

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- Flatulence ;

- Abdominal or pelvic pain ;

- Difficulty or feeling nutrition fast saturation ;

- Frequent or urgent urination;

"But this guide of symptoms is problematic ," said Debbie Saslow, director of the cancer society study of breast cancer and gynecological. Many women with these symptoms might have an irritable bowel rather than ovarian cancer. Also, there are not high accuracy tests to confirm the existence of cancer at its early stage. Therefore, a problem raises : treating these symptoms as a hundred percent sure , could lead to ovarian cancer biopsies or specific treatments that might do more harm than good.

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However, experts have decided to make this announcement because the sudden appearance of these symptoms to an healthy woman could be a very important clue. An accurate assessment includes questions about the existence of any breast or ovarian cancer cases in the family or if the patient has been discovered presenting genetic mutations associated with cancer symptoms. Women should initially consult a gynecologist and then an expert in ovarian cancer which will test her with ultrasound, blood tests and palpation. Unfortunately, none of them is of great accuracy. Especially blood test, can be also problematic. Survival rate is much higher if the cancer is found early, but only one in five cases are detected in early stages.

Can we prevent ovarian cancer?Until today, an efficient method for ovarian cancer prevention is not yet known. But, there are some recommendations on lifestyle, rational diet, stress reduction are unspecific risk factors for cancer disease and their contribution in the development of various cancers, has been demonstrated by multiple studies on population.There are certain methods that have proven that a woman can reduce the risk of developing ovarian cancer.

These include:
Oral contraceptives: several studies have shown that birth control pills reduce the risk of ovarian cancer, especially among women who use them for many years;

Breastfeeding and pregnancy: birth to one or more children, especially if the first pregnancy occurs under the age of 25 years and breastfeeding are protective factors for ovarian cancer and decrease the risk of such diseases;

Tubal ligation: it is a surgery in which the fallopian tubes are tied to prevent pregnancy. It was noted that this procedure reduces the relative risk of developing ovarian cancer. It is used especially for those with a high risk of ovarian cancer and only after a discussion with your doctor.

Prophylactic Ovarectomia: means surgical removal of one or both ovaries. It is a well established guidance, addressing only to those with a very high risk of cancer. The surgery eliminates the risk of ovarian cancer, but not the less common type of cancer called primary peritoneal carcinoma, which is similar in presentation and treatment of ovarian cancer spreading.